This is only going to be a short post as I've tried LinkedIn before and I'm not a fan. Although in the name of 23 things I'm giving it another go and have updated my profile and started adding people to my network.
I see why it's a good thing to have a social network that is purely professional, especially when you read those horror stories on the news about interviewers finding prospective employees on Facebook then not giving them the job based on what they've found!
I find that LinkedIn is not very intuitive, and quite difficult to use. Maybe the more I use it, the easier it'll get. However I remain sceptical.
Showing posts with label Social Networking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Social Networking. Show all posts
Monday, 15 March 2010
Friday, 12 March 2010
Thing 13 - Facebook and Libraries
I've been a member of Facebook for a few years now and use it as a way of keeping in touch those people that I don't see regularly and that live long distances from me. Also, I'll have to admit that I do like seeing what other people are up to! Obviously there are things about Facebook that I don't like such as those stupid applications like Cafe World & Farmville and the increasing "oops, sorry something has gone wrong" messages.
In terms of using Facebook in a library context, there are definitely some benefits.
It offers an alternative method of communicating with the library's users as well as giving them an alternative point of entry into the library's information and resources. It can be used as a promotional tool for the library's events, training and services and can provide readers with instant news updates. A Facebook presence can also raise the library's profile in the public domain and encourages interaction between the library and readers in the form of feedback. Therefore it has the ability to act as an excellent marketing tool. Another feature which is particularly beneficial to libraries is the library-specific applications which can be used to personalise your page. You can include feeds from Delicious of your useful links, you can search SOLO, Copac, Worldcat and Jstor and I've discovered that there is an application which displays your guides created by the new LibGuides software which the Bodleian Libraries has just purchased.
There are inevitably some downsides to using Facebook in libraries. It is a social networking service and it is important to maintain a professional image. There are continued concerns over privacy and security issues, as there are with any social networking service. There is often a low uptake, which may be because users do not want libraries encroaching into their social space.
Overall, I would say that Facebook offers another medium for libraries to interact with their users and stay current in the online environment.
In terms of using Facebook in a library context, there are definitely some benefits.
It offers an alternative method of communicating with the library's users as well as giving them an alternative point of entry into the library's information and resources. It can be used as a promotional tool for the library's events, training and services and can provide readers with instant news updates. A Facebook presence can also raise the library's profile in the public domain and encourages interaction between the library and readers in the form of feedback. Therefore it has the ability to act as an excellent marketing tool. Another feature which is particularly beneficial to libraries is the library-specific applications which can be used to personalise your page. You can include feeds from Delicious of your useful links, you can search SOLO, Copac, Worldcat and Jstor and I've discovered that there is an application which displays your guides created by the new LibGuides software which the Bodleian Libraries has just purchased.
There are inevitably some downsides to using Facebook in libraries. It is a social networking service and it is important to maintain a professional image. There are continued concerns over privacy and security issues, as there are with any social networking service. There is often a low uptake, which may be because users do not want libraries encroaching into their social space.
Overall, I would say that Facebook offers another medium for libraries to interact with their users and stay current in the online environment.
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