sociaLISe

What would I pack into a social media toolkit for libraries?

- A good definition of ‘social media’ (I’ve mentioned this course by title to a few library-type people and most reactions have been: “Oh, so, you’re learning about Facebook?”)

- Some sort of (online) activity workbook – along the lines of 23 things *

- Library 2.0 : a guide to participatory library service – I’m reading this right now (when I have the time) and it’s really accessible and not jargon-y so some people may find it useful… (I can’t vouch for this title but it seems like it’d be worth reading as well.)

- Links to some of our case studies as examples of libraries testing (or treading) the new waters. And examples of other corporations/organizations who are using 2.0 technologies effectively. I’d also want to include a few case studies about social media gone wrong because these serve as teachable moments.

* Here’s a (fictional) take on 23 things that my RA group came up with last term: RARARA

I’ll admit that the terms Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 were not a part of my vocabulary until October of 2009. When Rosanne (Greene) asked me, ‘Why is there no mention of Web 2.0 on your resume?’ all I could do was furrow my brow and look like I’d forgotten to turn off my flat iron. Two point what now?

So of course I looked it up and felt silly for not knowing the latest buzzwords. And to some extent that’s what they are: buzzwords. Until recently some of us were likely throwing the terms around without a complete understanding of the origins of definitions. I used it as my safety net during co-op interviews – when in doubt my stock response was, “Web 2.0 technologies” and that got me the smiles and nods.

Enter LIS9763.

Having read a few of the articles for this week (and skimming through the rest), I’ve chosen Sarah Houghton’s defintion, quoted in Blyberg’s post, as my favourite because it’s straightforward, resonates with my idea of Library 2.0, and addresses the physical space:

“Library 2.0 simply means making your library’s space (virtual and physical) more interactive, collaborative, and driven by community needs. Examples of where to start include blogs, gaming nights for teens, and collaborative photo sites. The basic drive is to get people back into the library by making the library relevant to what they want and need in their daily lives…to make the library a destination and not an afterthought.”

This definition and Blyberg’s posting both speak to the fact that 2.0 is a shift towards a more user-based and user-friendly system – and this does not necessarily mean that we’ve got to turn into tech wizards overnight to keep up. Yes, technology plays a significant role but our responsibility is still towards the user/community and this means being aware of the trends but placing the needs of our users over the desire to jump on the social media bandwagon.

“L2 is not about technology, but technology is an important component of it…Remember, L2 is about being relevant. If your constituents, by and large, do not have PCs at home, then maybe a major goal should be to provide access at your facilities.” - Blyberg