The document discusses how librarians can benefit from using online social networks for professional development and staying up-to-date. It recommends that librarians join social networks where experts in their field, or "gurus", engage in order to surround themselves with knowledgeable sources and gain awareness of new information through following discussions. Examples of how information spreads through gurus' social connections on Twitter is provided to illustrate this approach.

1. Online Social Networks Why should librarians be there? Common answers you may have already heard: To be where the clients are Awareness of where clients are getting information My answer: To surround yourself with the gurus As sources of our own current awareness- to help with keeping up

2. Journals Newspapers Books Encyclopaedia A history lesson : Information sources before the internet Information seeker Libraries People/ Gurus

3. Online Journals/ Indexes Online Newspapers Websites Books (Or rather the catalogues and indexes to them) Online Encyclopaedias Then came the internet and the web: Forums Information seeker Browse Browse

4. Online Journals/ Indexes Online Newspapers Websites Books (Or rather the catalogues and indexes to them) Online Encyclopaedia Forums Information seeker Search Search Wikis Blogs

5. Online Journals/ Indexes Online Newspapers Websites Books (Or rather the catalogues and indexes to them) Online Encyclopaedias Blogs Wikis Forums Information seeker RSS RSS

6. David Sacks. The New Portals: It’s the Bread, Not the Peanut Butter. http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/31/the-new-portals-its-the-bread-not-the-peanut-butter/

7. Online Journals/ Indexes Online Newspapers Websites Books (Or rather the catalogues and indexes to them) Online Encyclopaedias Blogs Wikis Forums Information seeker Sharing Sharing

8. The elements of a social network: From Gene Smith “Social software building blocks” http:// nform.ca /publications/social-software-building-block

9. From Gene Smith “Social software building blocks” http:// nform.ca /publications/social-software-building-block

10. What you see before you join:

14. The elements of a Twitter home page:

16. Earlier Now

17. International Librarians Australian Librarians Perth Web Developers Gurus that I follow:

18. Real life example (Guru in action):

19. From Graphviz via Sam Sethi via Michael Sauers Robert Scoble’s sphere of influence via Twitter: The guru effect on Twitter:

20. Applications for Twitter delivery: Twitter web SMS IM RSS Email Firefox extensions and plugins Desktop applications for every platform Homepage widgets Blog widgets Google desktop gadget Mobile (phone) web Twittergram for posting voice Apps for reading twitter to voice Facebook application Second life applications Etc etc For a full list see “Twitter Fan wiki”

24. So how do social networks work for current awareness? Find yourself a social network where the people whose opinions you value (your gurus) are. Join Friend or follow those people Be willing to contribute to the conversations. Experience the information flows.