INF 506 - OLJ 4 A-Z of Social Networking!!

The A-Z of Social Networking for Libraries is a great blog giving simple snippets of information about a range of subjects.
http://socialnetworkinglibrarian.com/index.php/archive/a-to-z-of-social-networking-for-libraries/

I'm going to consider how a library could use this knowledge to help it embrace the Library 2.0 ethos.

Library 2.0 is a term that refers more to our attitude (Davis, 2005), than to a specific type of social networking. In order to best serve our youth, who are engaging in social networking in as many forms as they can, we the Teacher Librarians need to focus on how we can use these emerging technologies to connect with them, personally and in our endeavours to serve their learning needs. O’Reilly (2005) describes Library 2.0 as a way to “deliver rich user experiences” (p.1).This subject has rekindled my zeal to make a difference, to impact the students in a deeper way than ever before. While feeling on a steep learning curve, if I can openly share this new knowledge with my colleagues, then what a flow on effect this will have for our students to see their library staff using technology in new and exciting ways that impact their lives and learning. E-books have been on our library agenda for some time. We can see the growing importance of them to students who are using them more widely now on their phones and iPads. Our library needs to take the next step to meet this need so that all students have access to this technology. The next logical step would be to include textbooks as an e-resource. Our library doesn’t have its own blog. Currently, we use an out-dated home page of the library catalogue to share information, quizzes and upcoming events. I feel that our students and teachers would be far more interested in a blog, which they could contribute and respond to. There could be a combination of basic library information that users could access, in forms such as videos, podcasts, links to other services and websites (Encyclopedia Britannica, ANZRAC etc) to touch on a few. This would be achievable, but would require the approval of the Headmaster, and also the commitment of one or two library staff to ensure that the blog was relevant, updated and questions were being answered! Finally, to podcasting. What a fabulous way to service the “time poor”, remedial and extended students! The opportunity to revisit specific information at a time and place suitable to individuals is gold. The library could facilitate this, with staff able to upload podcasts, and under supervision the students also able to do the same.