Facebook is one of the world's most popular online social networking tools. It helps you keep in touch with people from work, current friends, people from your past...you'll be surprised at who you'll find on Facebook! Many people use Facebook to keep in touch with both professional and social contacts. And many people also find that the way they use Facebook changes as they go along.
It is worth noting that social networks including Facebook incorporate many of the tools we are exploring in this program into one location —blogging, photo and video sharing, internal e-mail, message boards, and IM. One stop shopping is part of their appeal; one user name, one password, all the info in one spot.
Getting Started
The easiest way to learn about Facebook is just to sign on and try it out. Go to the Facebook site and create a free account.
After you create your account, go to the Settings link in the upper right corner of the screen. From here you can adjust your account, privacy and application settings. Choose Account Settings and fill in whatever information you feel comfortable sharing. Don't feel pressured to add too much. You can always add (or subtract) later. Explore the Privacy and Application settings as well. Remember, you can always change them later.
Okay, now that you are set up, it is time to have fun....
Try each of these popular Facebook functions, then take some time to play on your own.
1. Use the Search box in the upper left to search for a friend by name. (All of the AurThings Team members are on Facebook.) When you find a potential friend, send him or her a friend request.
2. Once you have a friend, look through his or her profile to see which groups he or she is in. Click on a group that sounds interesting. Join that group. Here are a few groups that may be of interest:
- American Library Association Members
- Library 2.0 Interest Group
- Libraries Using Facebook Pages
- Librarians and Facebook
3. Visit a friend's page. Post a comment on his or her Wall.
4. Again, look at a friend's page. Find an application that interests you. (Applications are features such as games, illustrated lists of books that someone is reading, maps of a person's travels, and more.) Click on the application. Add it to your page. (Usually there's a clear link to instructions on the application.)
5. Update your status (at the top of your profile page).
6. Check your Facebook Profile at least once in the next week.
Why are Facebook and other social networking sites important for academic librarians? Read Joe Murphy and Heather Moulaison's article "Social Networking Literacy Competencies for Librarians: Exploring Considerations and Engaging Participation" to learn some interesting reasons -- not necessarily the ones you'd think of.
Blog about your experience in Facebook. Which groups did you join and why? Give your opinion on social networking sites in general and more specifically, whether or not you think they are useful in a library setting.
CHALLENGE
MySpace and Facebook may grab the headlines in social networking, but there are many other social networks. Often, these online communities are created around interests with people-to-people recommendations and communication. These specialized social networks allow like-minded users to find and interact with one another, whether around crafts or cars or any other shared interest. Compare and contrast a few of these and write a blog post about your experience.
- Gather Gather describes itself as the “leading social networking and media site for adults, with some of the highest quality user-generated content on the internet.” Most of the discussion on Gather is in a debate format, focused around a single issue, book, or theme to appeal to busy professionals. American Public Media is heavily invested in this site as an outlet for National Public Radio listeners.
- Ning Ning is an alternative social network that is meant for a higher level of customization by its users. The networks are created around special interests, and any user (including you!) can easily create a network. You can visit the Library 2.0 group or any of the other many library groups created in Ning.
Other social networks provide recommendations and reviews, promote career development, or revolve around an interest like music, pets, or food. Here are just a few for you to explore:
Education
Music
Food
Movies
Books
Hobbies
Getting Things Done
You get the idea; there is a social network for everyone. And, on the chance you can't find a social network that matches your interests, you could always start one of your own.
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