There is certainly a lot of information to digest on social networks and their place in the library. Meredith Farkas' blog article contained much to think about and so many links that it was somewhat mind boggling. She wrote an entire book on social network software in our libraries, so we know she must be a great advocate of using this technology as a source of education that libraries can offer to the public.
However, there was one part of her blog that really caught my attention. Yes, all of these technologies are considered "cool." But that is not the reason to use them in our libraries if they don't serve a specific function. She also mentioned that each library needs to determine what their patrons (customers) know and feel about these social networks. She said, "We can’t pretend that what works at one library will work at all of them." But I think we already know that.
She also made a good point in suggesting that libraries need to educate parents on exactly what these social networks are and what the library is wanting to do with them. Do we just want to attract teens? Or do we want to attract teens for the right reasons? And I am not excluding fun as a right reason.
I read so much on this subject that I forgot exactly where I saw it, but it was suggested that one of the qualities a library candidate must have is a sense of humor. Goodness knows we need one during a very busy day when we are stretching ourselves as best we can to help everyone, and a patron (customer) tells us to "quit frogging around" and help him. I think that's a good one for RefGrunt - http://refgrunt.blogspot.com/
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