Facebook & Libraries 2008

Facebook and libraries Julia Gross and Lutie Sheridan ECU Library

Net Gen Source: BdwayDiva1's photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/bdwaydiva1/

Pulling users into our space Source: carinemily's's photostream. Licensed under Creative Commons

Why do libraries need to be there?

Size and importance of the networks

Push services out to our users

Reach users who don’t visit the library

We need to think “outside the box”

Need to market the library

“ libraries core skill is not delivering information ... libraries are about learning and building communities” Stephen Abrams of Sirsidynix

So What is Facebook?

Facebook is a social network

like MySpace

targeting college students initially

Friends upload photos, share links and videos, play games

Free

Mobile

it’s pervasive

The Facebook story

2004 begun by Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg

2006 extended to anyone with email

2007 developers invited in

Facebook applications took off !!

The Face of Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg Source: kk+'s photostream. Licensed under Creative Commons

Who is using Facebook?

90 million active users worldwide

Average age 24+

ECU Facebook network has 3000+ users

Fun stuff

Facebook “friends” Source: ABC http://www.abc.net.au/abccontentsales/programsalesworldwide/download/thelibrarians

What are libraries doing there?

Professional interest groups

Libraries Using Facebook Pages

Librarians and Facebook

Outreach to users

Facebook pages

Library Applications

Catalogue & Database searches

What are libraries doing there?

Australian Library Facebook pages

Yarra Plenty Public Library

National Library of Australia

Deakin University

University of Adelaide

Edith Cowan University

Library events, chat, photos, videos

Facebook Library Applications

Catalogue & Database searches

Web 2.0 integration

Facebook integrates with other Web 2.0 applications

Flickr and Del.icio.us

Can be put onto blogs, and websites,

Extends and connects all Library 2.0

How to measure success?

Facebook Stats

Number of “fans”

Wall postings

Return on Investment ROI vs Innovation

Lutie will now do a DEMO

Edith Cowan University Library page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Perth-Australia/Edith-Cowan-University-Library/9885748046

And finally… was it worth it?

References Abrams, Stephen http://www.sirsidynix.com/Resources/Pdfs/Company/Abram/State_Libraty_of_Victoria.pdf Chu, Melanie & Meulemans, Yvonne Nalani The Problems and Potential of MySpace and Facebook Usage in Academic Libraries Internet Reference Services Quarterly, Vol. 13(1), 69-85, 2008 Farkas, Meredith http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/2006/05/10/libraries-in-social-networking-software/