Thing 20: Libraries & Social Networks

I joined Facebook, mainly because both of my children, in their mid-late 20's, are active members. That's the only way my son does e-mail. Years ago my daughter migrated from Friendster to Facebook. I can also find my cousin's son's band. Fairly quickly I had a few friends: my boss, who has already completed the 23 Things, my daughter, and a high school classmate who was trying to get me to attend a reunion. They wrote on my wall, and I wrote back. I would find postings in gmail.com, which I check more frequently than I would look at Facebook. Without me actively responding or adding links and contacts, I find that after the initial flurry of messages things have slowed down on my Facebook page. When I complete Thing 23 I may consider spending more time on Facebook.

Within Facebook I joined three groups: Librarians & Libraries, 23 Things on a Stick, and Library 2.0 Interest Group.

I know that a number of public libraries, including Hennepin County Library, have made good use of social networks. Our greatest contact with young people is focused on History Day. I could see the benefit of having a page linking to our own library's page on History Day. Our focus would be on bringing people to us who might not otherwise find our resources.