Social Networking

1. How can social networking be used by MLA to connect members?
   This has been a major focus of current MLA President Mark Funk. As a member of the MLANET Editorial Board, I should be thinking of creative ways to employ social networking on the site more than I confess I have. On the other hand, I have had a Facebook profile for some time now, and I include among my friends on that page a number of librarian colleagues scattered around the country. So, at this point I'm tempted to say that incorporating some kind of MLANET-centered social networking scheme might be redundant. But then again, perhaps I'm not being creative enough...
2. Should your library have a Facebook or MySpace page?
   I looked at the sample MySpace pages by Denver Public and the college library. There's always a danger of coming off like the kid's parents trying too hard to be hip. Still, those pages were well done, and were obviously created by folks a lot younger than me, in addition to being targeted at folks way younger than me. So, perhaps they will succeed in attracting kids to the library resources who may have otherwise been unaware of them.
3. Are there privacy concerns for individuals when using social networking sites?
   Obviously. I wouldn't go posting my home address or SS# or anything.
4. What did you like or not like about your experience with Facebook or MySpace?
   My experience with Facebook has been mostly positive. I actually created my profile at the urging of my library's administration, who wanted us to be available to library users here at the university through that means. At first, I put it off as a waste of time, but once I finally got around to it I quite enjoyed wasting time on Facebook! The applications I keep getting invited to add to my page aren't always welcome, but it's nice to know my friends are thinking of me all the same! I've also had some odd moments, such as the message from a young person who insisted she was related to me in some way - still not sure about that one.
   
   Interestingly, I hear that, now that us old folks are getting in on the Facebook act, the kids are abandoning it - go figure! ;-)

MLA Web 2.0 CE Questions for Week 2

"What's the difference between a blog and a wiki? What sort of things are better suited for a blog and better suited for a wiki?"

In my admittedly limited experience (so far), I would say that a blog focuses more on the blogger's knowledge and expertise in a particular area and the point is to share that knowledge and expertise with others who need it. Comments and even criticism of the blogger's posts are invited, but the focus is on the blogger's store of information. The wiki on the other hand draws on the strengths and knowledge of numerous people - "[multiple] heads are better than one" being the operative principle here.

Here at UAB Lister Hill Library, we've been using wikis to collaborate on projects for a while now - to the point where I've more than once remarked that if one more person asked me to post something on a wiki I was going to scream! There's no denying their potential usefulness and efficiency, however, especially when compared to serial emails and frustrating attempts at scheduling meetings. I even suggested starting a wiki for a group I work with in the local health department, which was looking at various local resources that provide information and referrals to health and social services for residents.

Blogs are less used, and that's probably as it should be. As I noted before, I would have to consider it carefully before I started a blog on any subject. For one thing, I'm not sure I have sufficient expertise in anything to warrant any extensive prattle on the subject, but I'm quite sure I don't have the time (except for assignments like this!) There are some very useful and fascinating blogs out there however. I do like some of the lefty political blogs like Sadly No and more locally Birmingham Blues (Suburban Housewife Gone Bad) and even some library blogs like Learn to Live and my boss, Scott Plutchak's blog, T. Scott. (I better mention that one, don't you think?)

Links to MLA Web 2.0 CE Features

Blogs - http://mlawikiclass.wetpaint.com/page/MLA+Web+2.0+101+Blogs

Wikis - http://mlawikiclass.wetpaint.com/page/MLA+Web+2.0+101+Wikis

RSS Feeds and the Library

Like most people, I have difficulty keeping up with "what's happening now" in my specific areas of interest within librarianship - i.e., consumer health and public health issues and trends. I get frustrated with the sheer amount of information I'm confronted with and would love to get a better handle on ferreting out the gold among the glitter. I'm sure RSS feeds would help, and I have established some RSS links to Bloglines before - although, I must admit, I don't check it every day. (I added the Bloglines alert in my computer's system tray, but it doesn't seem to work - it always says my "user ID is empty". Hmmmm....) One task in this assignment I'm having difficult with is subscribing to an RSS table of contents feed - every journal I've checked for which I'd really like this service either doesn't have an RSS feed or I can't make it work. Can I maybe get points for my advanced age in figuring these things out? ;-)

As far as how my library patrons might use the service, ideally they would include an RSS feed to the library's news (which we have, and few people subscribe to other than us librarians) and/or to a research blog for a specific field, e.g., public health created by the librarian. I'm just not convinced that it would be worth the trouble, to be completely honest.