What do you think about libraries taking part in social networking sites?

I like it. Our YAAB page is a good example of what a library can do in myspace. I think it's a great place to have a presence and advertise books and library events. I think FVRL could also have a page that marketed our online HOMEWORK resources and had the option for homework help chat with a librarian. The arguments against it, saying 'we need to stay out of teen spaces cuz they might not want us there,' are moot because we wouldn't be soliciting friends. We're just there and if teens want to be our friend, then cool.

When I worked as a librarian at Portland Community College one of the student library helpers was adamant that the PCC library should have presence in myspace. She said that she was on her myspace account several times a day and she would appreciate getting messages from the library on that account. What kind of messages? How about new books, change of hours, you need to renew your materials...

I think FVRL would also benefit from a Facebook account. This would attract the "older" crowd and could include messages about hours and events. This would also be one more venue to solicit feedback and ideas from the community regarding the library and what our users would like to see us do.

I think the main concerns are: keeping up with the current social networking sites...don't stay on myspace once the majority of users have moved on; make sure that the personnel time spent on managing the pages is worth the PR and interactions we are getting out of it; can these sites be accessed at the library, or are they blocked by filters?

Meebo & IM

I love Meebo and have been a user for a year or two. When I started using IM I had a yahoo account and I had to download software to my computer to use it. That was fine for my home computer, but what about someone else's computer? Or work? Meebo makes it easy to chat online from any computer.

My heydays of online chat have passed, (I'm too busy at work and don't feel like typing too much when I'm home,) but I do still occasionally sign on to Meebo and chat with a friend. I've heard we have an internal chat program at FVRL, but I have not been signed up for it yet. I definitely see the advantage of coworker chat, especially at a library system where people are in many different locations.

I also see a point to having the ability for the library to IM with the public. I agree with H2 regarding teens and IM, but just because teens have moved on it doesn't mean everyone else has. I think a Meebo widget on our homepage to connect with users is a great idea, and I think it would be attractive to users of all ages.