This document discusses how social media and technology can be leveraged to promote children's literature and reading. It notes that while kids are active online, they primarily interact with peers rather than adults. It encourages embracing new tools and finding ways to tie stories to technology through innovations like live Twitter chats with authors. The key is not casting books as the heroes and technology as villains, but finding trusted online sources and communities to spread awareness of children's literature in a positive manner.

1. Social Media, Children’s Books, and
the Goblet of Fire
(okay, not really… but it sounds so dramatic!)
October 26, 2010
The Lewis Library and Technology Center

2. I’m geeky so you don’t have to be.

3. I
Web 2.0!

4. Telling Fibs since 2006

6. A LIBRARY GROWS!
Donations. Read-aloud ideas. Resources.
EVERYONE, online and offline,
wants kids to read.

7. Web 2.0
The Social Web
Web 3.0
• The names of the networks might change, but
it’s not going away.
• It’s big.
• It’s global.
• Did I mention it’s not going away?

8. Y.A.W.S.A.D.
think of
Trust
Influence

9. If Facebook were a country…
… it would be the third most populous nation on
Earth.
Over 500 million members, with more than 150
million added in 2009.

11. A Few More Stats
Late 2009: over 234,000,000 websites
on the net
Late 2009 (per Blog Pulse): over
126,000,000 blogs
on the net

12. The Blogosphere!
(collectively, all the blogs that are out there.)

13. Knock, Knock. Who’s There?
teachers, writers, illustrators, librarians,
editors, agents, literacy advocates,
publishers, book designers, students,
reviewers, reporters, kids, parents
potential friends, potential champions,
potential readers

14. ?
What are they/we looking for?

15. CONNECTION

16. INFORMATION

17. CONTEXT

20. Blogs
Act as home base or website
Create a place for interaction
Can demonstrate expertise
A blog can give people reasons to keep
coming back to a site time and again to form a community.

27. Community Events… Online!
• Carnival of Children’s Literature (monthly)
• Poetry Friday (weekly)
• Non-Fiction Monday (weekly)
Poetry prompts, collections of reviews, what’s in your to be read
pile, literacy roundup, etc. plus etc.!

28. Bigger Still
• Share a Story – Shape a Future
• Guys Lit Wire book drive
• Operation Teen Book Drop
• The Haiti/Earthquake Booklists
• Cover controversies
• National Poetry Month, 2010

31. Why do we do what we do?
We love children’s literature, of course!

32. How Can People Benefit From the
Kidlitosphere?
• Knowledge
• Access
• Context
• Resources
• More resources
• And a few more resources
Jump in! The water’s fine….

33. Filter!
thatth
that’s one thing he hated…
the NOISE! NOISE!
NOISE! NOISE!

35. A Listening Efficiency Tip
• Get on JacketFlap or get a Google Reader
account and SUBSCRIBE to blogs as you find
them.
Visiting blogs each day takes time. Bring content
TO you so it’s there for your on your terms.

37. Say “Please” and “Thank You”
There are different ways to ask for help:
Some are more effective than others.
When someone helps or is nice to you, show
appreciation. You can make fans for life.

38. and the real-time web
What are you doing?
12:01:01 p.m.
Hey, what about now?
12:01:02 p.m.

41. Let’s Chat!
#kidlitchat – Tuesday nights at 6 PM our time
Transcripts are stored at The Happy Accident
(http://www.thehappyaccident.net)
HOW TO CHAT: http://bit.ly/writerchats
(great article by Debbie Ridpath Ohi)

42. 6:00 PM Pacific time
#YAlitchat - Wednesday
#kidlitart – Thursday
7:00 PM Pacific time
#pblitchat - Monday
http://bit.ly/writerchats - @inkyelbows
#followreader, #writechat, #litchat, #scribechat,
#edchat, #scriptchat, #younameititexistschat

43. Knock, Knock. Who’s There?
teachers, writers, illustrators, librarians,
editors, agents, literacy advocates,
publishers, book designers, students,
reviewers, reporters, kids, parents
potential friends, potential champions,
potential readers

44. #speakloudly became speakloudly.org

50. People are People
We are not just one thing online any more than
we are one thing offline.

51. So… how does this relate to kids and
reading?
It’s complicated.

52. Kids these days…
They are active online, but in general…
They don’t read blogs. They don’t connect with
adults on Twitter or Facebook.
They talk with peers via updates or in
communities.
(oh yeah, they text. A LOT.)

53. TRUTH
• teens get on social networks to talk to their
peers but not to those who have power over
them (via @zephoria)
Microsoft researcher danah boyd
http://www.danah.org
http://www.zephoria.org

64. So, again… how does this affect kids
and reading?
• They are digital natives
• They don’t interact with adults online
• They do interact among their peers
• They need communities where it is safe to talk
And…

65. Books and Stories Need Mindshare
As we tweet and blog, we spread the word.
We reach and form new communities.
We give context and content.
But we also need…

66. INNOVATION!
• Tweeting Animal Farm
• Skype Author Visits
• Live Twitter Chats
• Yes, the 39 Clues
• Inkpop.com
We need ways to tie story and technology
together, particularly since…

67. thE futurE includEs

68. We must NOT demonize video games, social
networks, e-readers, and iPads. We cannot
cast these as the villains with
“the book” as the hero.
(it didn’t work for our parents, either)

70. Embrace the Tools
• Find trusted sources. Become trusted sources.
• Put children’s literature – in a positive way –
into the zeitgeist.
• Experiment. Explore. Act like a kid!
(I know… I’m preaching to the choir!)

71. Thanks to Susan Erickson for bringing me
here today, and to all of you for coming on
out.
Questions? Comments? Feedback?
Future winning lottery numbers?
Greg Pincus
greg@thehappyaccident.net