Social Software in
Libraries
Hey, why How was I supposed
didn’t you to know you were
friend me on luvz2quack?
MySpace?
Meredith Farkas
Norwich University

Web 1.0: Democratized
Access to Information

Web 2.0: Democratized Participation

What is social software?

What is social software?
My definition: To be defined as social software, a
tool must meet at least two of the following
conditions:

What is social software?
My definition: To be defined as social software, a
tool must meet at least two of the following
conditions:
1. It allows people to communicate, collaborate and
build community online

What is social software?
My definition: To be defined as social software, a
tool must meet at least two of the following
conditions:
1. It allows people to communicate, collaborate and
build community online
2. It can be syndicated, shared, reused or remixed,
or it facilitates syndication

What is social software?
My definition: To be defined as social software, a
tool must meet at least two of the following
conditions:
1. It allows people to communicate, collaborate and
build community online
2. It can be syndicated, shared, reused or remixed,
or it facilitates syndication
3. It allows people to easily learn from and capitalize
on the behavior or knowledge of others

Characteristics of Social
Software

Easy Content Creation
and Sharing

Online Collaboration

Conversations: Real Time

Capitalizing on the
Wisdom of Crowds

Capitalizing on the
Wisdom of Crowds

Transparency

Transparency

Personalization

Personalization

Portability

What Can Social
Software do for
Libraries?

Disseminate Information

Disseminate Information

Disseminate Information

Disseminate Information

Disseminate Information

Disseminate Information

Get Feedback! Start a
Conversation!

Get Feedback! Start a
Conversation!

Get Feedback! Start a
Conversation!

Get Feedback! Start a
Conversation!

Get Feedback! Start a
Conversation!

Give the Library a
Human Face!

Give the Library a
Human Face!

Provide Services to
Remote Users

Provide Services to
Remote Users

Provide Services to
Remote Users

Provide Services Where
our Users Are

Provide Services Where
our Users Are

Provide Services Where
our Users Are

Provide Services Where
our Users Are

Provide Services Where
our Users Are

Provide Services Using
Tools Patrons Use

Provide Services Using
Tools Patrons Use

Capitalize on the Collective
Intelligence of Colleagues
and Users

Capitalize on the Collective
Intelligence of Colleagues
and Users

Capitalize on the Collective
Intelligence of Colleagues
and Users

Capitalize on the Collective
Intelligence of Colleagues
and Users

Capitalize on the Collective
Intelligence of Colleagues
and Users

Capitalize on the Collective
Intelligence of Colleagues
and Users

Strategies for
Implementing Social
Software

Avoid Technolust

Will it improve library
services? Will patrons use it?

Involve Staff at all Levels
in Planning

Involve IT in Planning

Play with Technology!
Kick the Tires!

Trust your patrons.
Learn from them.

Consider Maintenance
and Sustainability

Do you Need a Policy?

In Marketing Focus on
the Functionality

Where to Learn More

Where to Learn More

Where to Learn More

Questions? Just Ask!
mgfarkas@gmail.com
AIM: librarianmer
Links and presentation at
http://meredithfarkas.wetpaint.com