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! ;-)