Social Networking

I visited four library MySpace pages, including those of Oshkosh and Winnefox. I really think they need to be more interactive and updated more frequently in order to attract readers. It appears that the last time anyone had logged in to either of those sites was over a month ago, and neither of them has an active blog.

To be effective, I think a library has to commit to maintaining a presence on a social network. If readers know that content is going to be updated on a regular basis, such as every Wednesday, then they would probably be more likely to return and see what's new. If the content doesn't change often enough they will lose interest and find another site that appeals to them.

I think this is an area that libraries should consider getting involved in, even though it may mean additional work for staff. The content doesn't need to be created just for this purpose - many larger libraries have programs going on nearly every week, so it might simply be a matter of posting that content in another place.

I recently spoke with a few representatives from our school district about trends among students, and they both agreed that social networking currently plays a very large role in students' lives. Not only are current students using it, but it appears that they're continuing to use it into their 20s and 30s. It doesn't seem like this is a passing fad, for now at least, which is why I think it may be worth it for libraries to get involved and create a presence. This is something we will probably be looking into over the next year or so, depending on the direction of the long-range plan which my board is currently writing.

I also agree that it's a good idea to try to lead readers to the library's website or staff, either by providing a search feature that links directly to the catalog or by including a Meebo widget.