Social networking and libraries

Facebook and my space are the sites that the younger adults often use. Its rare or even impossible to find some teenager who have not had an account in facebook or myspace. The normal questions one would ask an adult in earlier times this generation uses answerboards and their network friends. I also discovered that there is a profile that people create for their pets in my dog space. I've created one for my dog here and it was fun to see the other dog owners response to your doubts and questions. Its amazing to share views and no wonder the younger generation is hooked on to technology. I was thinking this is a wonderful way to network with support groups - with people with similar interest without having to travel. Good way to plan a seniors group meeting. Having said that, I think these sites prove as important advertisement tools to target this audience. I am sure if we as librarians join this group we could market our programs and also raise our profiles. We could increase our usage by regularly posting new books etc. and also put out lists which are timely like during the HSC times publicize our HSC talks that we plan advertise our collection. Why we an even form groups of networking librarians and discuss concerns and ask for ideas in resolving issues. Such simple things like when we find out a cheapest way of getting a book processed, or find out how a book supplier has hidden cost in his stock.

I signed up for the 2nd life library project. Its like playing a simulated computer game.These can you used in training as well as planning virtual meetings of various librarian groups. Instead of having to travel to a place to get trained. We could all log in and get trained at our own desks.