MySpace is YourSpace: Virtual Social Networks & Library Outreach Marlo Young, MLS Tiffini Travis, MLS Kate Peterson, MLS California Academic & Research Libraries Annual Conference 4/22/06 Accompanying Handout:

Presentation Overview What is a virtual social network? Discuss social computing & networking trends among Net Gen college students Provide examples of e-outreach that facilitate library communication, awareness, & personalization through social networking and computing tools

Virtual Social Networks Refers to a category of software applications that help connect friends, business partners, or other individuals together using a variety of online tools Comprised of various social familiarities ranging from casual acquaintance to close relationships

EDUCAUSE Horizon Report 2006 Social Computing The application of computer technology to facilitate interaction & collaboration, a practice known as social computing, is happening all around us.

EDUCAUSE Horizon Report 2006 Social Computing The promise has been—and continues to be—more effective knowledge generation, knowledge sharing, collaboration, learning, and collective decision-making. The promise is beginning to be realized in the areas of distributed learning, research, and campus work settings.

EDUCAUSE Horizon Report 2006 Social Computing The emphasis is on the social part of social computing: what makes this phenomenon interesting and long-lasting is the way it facilitates an almost spontaneous development of communities of people who share similar interests.

Social Networking & Computing Examples MySpace, Facebook, Friendster Other online communities, ex. Second Life, dating Blogs, video blogging IM, SMS, TXTng Wikis Discussion boards Video and photo sharing tools/services Social book-marking apps, folksonomies Podcasting Web 2.0 = new tools, content creation, personal broadcasting

Daily Show Trend Spotting Social Networking

Social Networks Research & Theory Suggests that the social network of an individual is their primary resource Strength of Weak Ties -“Open” networks, with many weak ties & social connections, are more likely to introduce new ideas and opportunities to their members -Weakly tied-together members tend to communicate less frequently, be more different than similar, and provide both more new information into the network and more access to other social networks

Strength of Internet Ties People use the Internet to seek out others in their networks of contacts when they need help The connectedness that the Internet and other media foster within social networks has real payoffs Pew Internet & Am Life Project

Virtual Social Networks & Library Outreach MySpace & Facebook

Alexa.com Social Networking Sites Usage Data

MySpace & Facebook Social networking spaces that integrate bulletins, message boards, blogs, , images, video, pix and music MySpace open to anyone Facebook open to college students and alumni only Virtual Communities, Socialization, Personal Expression

Outreach vis-à-vis MySpace & Facebook Profiles –Individual user profiles which allows you to “add friends” Groups –Groups can be started by anyone and for any purpose- most universities have groups Bulletins, Event Announcements –Can be posted as a user or in a group Many ways to promote your presence to students: in-person & virtually!

MySpace Largest online social networking portal on the web: 69 million users Ranked in Top 10 websites globally Primary age demographic is Contains 50,000 subgroups, including colleges & college-specific subgroups

Facebook Created in 2004 by a student at Harvard Cross between a blog and a yearbook 12.4 million users: 2/3 of U.S. college students have an account Facebook claims that almost every U.S. college/university has a presence in the site

Student Support Service Reaching Out via Facebook Student using Facebook bulletin feature to promote her candidacy

What Makes these Networks of value for Libraries? Personalizing the library, librarian Promoting library awareness, services, resources, workshops, events Staying abreast of student issues Fielding questions that may require research assistance Communication, marketing, outreach Professional connections

Blogs Outreach, Learning, & Connections

Blogs Dynamic two-way communication, learning tool Stand-alone vs. integrated applications Traditional vs. non-traditional uses RSS feeds

Blogs for Educational Purposes Colleges, Universities, & Libraries are hosting blogging services Limitless applications –From individual journaling online to entire class blogs to learning community –Improve literacy and technology skills –Improve critical thinking skills –Allow for more creativity than Course Management Systems

Blog to “Announcements” in Course Management Systems

Stand-Alone Applications

Student Survey Results CSU Long Beach –CASt. Cloud Univ. -MN 92% use MySpace 24% use Facebook 24% use other sites 12% use MySpace 85% use Facebook 3% use other sites 38% have blogs 76% read blogs 2% have blogs 23% read blogs 20 % have webpage 21% have webpage 29 undergrads polled30 undergrads polled

Virtual Communities Library Outreach, Learning, & Literacy

Virtual Learning Community for Undergrads UCSD’s Sixth College Contemporary liberal arts curriculum infused with digital literacies “Digital Learning Ecology” community website “Study Break” discussion forum and news topic to virtually promote the libraries, personal contact, and IL within the site

Study Break presented as a Student Service & Discussion Forum Various Discussion Forums within Digital Community

Study Break Index

Post on Google Scholar

Google Print & Copyright Issues Student Commentary

Library Classification vs. Folksonomies Discussion

Student Comments on Coursework Applicability

Study Break News Item to Promote Library Event

Issues to consider… Match objectives to technologies Workflow, staffing & maintenance Cost Spamming/security Sexual predators Assessment (formative vs. summative)

Conclusion Social Computing Tools provide librarians with a lot of opportunity Extend the library’s reach, communication Personalize the library Create new learning opps. for students Foster community, P2P info-sharing Tools can be integrated into outreach, instruction, and marketing programs