Facebook me!Online social networking as part

of libraries’ web presence?

This research is not affiliated with or sponsored by Facebook.

Kim Holmberg Information Studies| Åbo Akademi, Finland

Web (1.0)

”Read-Only Web”

”On the Internet…”

”Read/Write Web”

Web 2.0

Dogbook

http://library2pointoh.fi

Libraries and library services

Social aspects, ”soft values” Technology

and tools

Web and Web 2.0

Users

Interactivity

Participation

Co-word analysisCo-word analysis

Libraries and library services

Social aspects, ”soft values” Technology

and tools

Web and Web 2.0

Users

Interactivity

Participation

Library 2.0 is a change in interaction between users and libraries in a new culture of participation catalysed by social web technologies

“Founded in February 2004, Facebook is a social utility that helps people communicate more efficiently with their friends, family and coworkers.”

www.facebook.com

comScore Press Release, 14 August 2008Social Networking Explodes Worldwide as Sites Increase their Focus on Cultural Relevance http://www.comscore.com/press/release.asp?press=2396

comScore Press Release, 14 August 2008Social Networking Explodes Worldwide as Sites Increase their Focus on Cultural Relevance http://www.comscore.com/press/release.asp?press=2396

comScore Press Release, 14 August 2008Social Networking Explodes Worldwide as Sites Increase their Focus on Cultural Relevance http://www.comscore.com/press/release.asp?press=2396

Online social networking as part of libraries’ web presence?

The current study

http://webometrics.fi/blog/survey-libraries-in-facebook/

Over 500 groups

Group types:Community OrganizationsNon-Profit OrganizationsEmployment & WorkBooks & Literatureand many more...

- Information- Photos- Video- Posted Items- Discussion Board- Members- The Wall- Eventsand many more...

Survey: Library groups on Facebook

Respondents• USA (13)• Canada (4)• Finland (3)• Sweden • Denmark • Australia

Motivations for creating the page

• To get teens and young adults more involved (9)• Experimenting and researching Library 2.0 (7)• A new way to reach users where they are (6)• Advertising and sharing information (6)• Internal communication (1)

Quote:

”We would like to attract younger people to the library”

”We wanted to reach out to users in places where they are online”

Other ways of using Facebook

• Events (5)• Connect with other librarians (3)• Search application (2)• Posting book reviews• Fan page• Group for a book club

Quote:

”I was able to send out invites to local parents on Facebook that might be interested in bringing their children to our summer reading program this year”

Expectations for presence in Facebook

• Interaction with the community / users (9)• Increased exposure / visibility (6)• Sharing information (events, new books, ...) (5)• Networking with other librarians• Still experimental

Quote:

”I hope it would be a way for us to keep our users up-to-date with activities at the library”

”I’m hoping it will become a place where teens will go to see what’s new at the library, post ideas, look at pictures from events, ...”

Have the expectations been met?

• Yes (13)• Not yet (6)• No (1)• No expectations (1)

Quote:

”They have been more than met! They are having lively discussions on many topics and regularly send me hugs”

”I have had a few new people that came in and said they never knew there was a library here till I invited them to join the group”

Hours and resources for maintenance

• No, just included in the work hours (16)• Own time (7)

Quote:

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!”

“No, work is usually done from home (employer has blocked Facebook from work network!!!)”

Conclusions

• Mostly to get teens and young adults involved• Free, easy-to-use tool for sharing information• Often maintained on librarian’s own time• Doesn’t require a lot of work – it’s worth it?

“By posting User Content to any part of the Site, you automatically grant, and you represent and warrant that you have the right to grant, to the Company an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense) to use, copy, publicly perform, publicly display, reformat, translate, excerpt (in whole or in part) and distribute such User Content for any purpose, commercial, advertising, or otherwise, on or in connection with the Site or the promotion thereof, to prepare derivative works of, or incorporate into other works, such User Content, and to grant and authorize sublicenses of the foregoing.”

Facebook - Terms of Use http://www.facebook.com/terms.php

THANK YOU!

Kim Holmbergfirstname.lastname@abo.fiwww.webometrics.fiwww.library2pointoh.fi