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It’s interesting that Facebook doesn’t do much for me as a medical librarian, but it sure has helped me stay connected with other members this year.

Bart

I think it is a mistake to focus at this point on using SNS to help hospital librarians connect with their clientele. It would be much more helpful to think about how to connect them with each other. Hospital libraries are frequently staffed with one or two people. We need to build connections between them and their colleagues to make it easier for them to do their jobs. We need to build connections between members of this “invisible college”.

Facebook released APIs several months ago and Google announced two days ago that it is going to do this as well. Orkut has the ability to distinguish between groups of friends.

I think we need to start developing software requirements for a system similar to what Bart mentioned in post 1187. My question is: how separate must this system be?

Technology Disconnect: Yes I think my attempts at protecting copyright law interfere with the social networking. Each time I e-mail an article around I feel duty bound to include the citation and instructions on how the user can access the article themselves. I also like to make sure the user has access rights the article to begin with. This slows everything down.

Multi-tasking vs. critical thinking: Being a graduate student for the past three and half years I have only benefited from using a laptop to take an exam using word or excel. I often find I wish I had my laptop because I didn’t fully prepare for class; I want to look something up that I didn’t think of before, or look for the definition of a word, check a company website. Other times I just want to check my e-mail and find out what is going on outside the classroom. I see students shopping for cars, checking the score of the game and texting in every class I attend. If the teacher cuts the network connection in the classroom, students go to their handheld devices. I will admit there is a difference between a 2 hour class and an 8 hour class. My experience tells me the multi-tasking usually takes away from the class discussion. There have been times when a student would come up with something from the web that supports what is happening in the classroom.

I 100% agree with Meredith! I am a strong proponent of being where the patrons are, however Meredith drives the point home by saying that we also need to be USEFUL. We do not have a Library Facebook policy but several of the librarians and staff have individual Facebook profiles. We also have a Facebook catalog search applet with a link to ask a reference question. I think that the next step is to set up a Library Facebook Group but as Bart mentions, the ‘useful’ app is elusive.

RE: hospital libraries?
I do think that hospitals accessing these applications will be an ongoing issue. As Bart mentions, we can create our own construct to allow interactivity for the hospital librarians but in a way it defeats the purpose of those hospital librarians using/learning social networking services to meet patrons where they are. I am not sure that we are going to have an easy solution for this issue.

RE: time in the day…
Tell me about it! There really are not enough hours in the day for ‘playing’ with a purpose. I would stick with Molly’s advice and pick out a couple of sites that you find interesting. I have a several passwords for services that I rarely use. However, I will point out that by setting up these accounts, I was able to find services I really like to use. So… with that said, I would encourage you to find some services that are ‘fun’ for you even if you do not see an immediate work application. It will give you some familiarity with how social networking works.

RE: technology disconnect
In addition to the privacy and policy issues, I think the most libraries are having trouble with the “seamless integration of web-based services.” How many times have you gone to a library blog only to find that the interface/navigation is vastly different from the library’s main site?

RE: multi-tasking vs. critical thinking
I might be little more opened minded with this issue. You can find research that supports and opposes the statement that millennials multitask better than those of us with more years of life experience. I would just rather not impose my own limitations on others.

I think we are only at the beginning of the realizing the potential of what social networking services can do to CONNECT us with our users.

Point 1: It’s where the patrons are, right?

In my library we have chosen not to have a Facebook presence. Consider that the students may actually resent us invading their space. The USEFUL point above is a good one. I spend a lot of time in Facebook because I see its potential, however so far I haven’t chosen to deliver any services in FB because I’m still looking for that ‘useful’ app.

Point 2: Where do hospital libraries fit in?
I can’t speak for the hospital libraries, but I would like to look out for the hospital librarians. It’s a secret goal of mine to build a social network like Facebook for MLA. However, this can’t be in Facebook or MySpace. It would need to be build under the MLA domain to give all members a justification for participating and the reduce the likelihood of being blocked by restrictive hospital networks.

Point 3: There’s simply not enough time in the day
Great point! I feel intimidated everyday by emerging technology. Luckily we have bloggers like Michelle Kraft, David Rothman, and countless others to help us stay up-to-date. I enjoy lurking and scanning blogs while on the desk.

Point 4: The technology disconnect
I look at librarians as the voice of reason here. We are the enablers and the protectors of information.

Point 5: Multi-tasking vs. critical thinking
Funny point here. I was at the Harvard Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians in August and they prohibited laptops and other technologies so that we could concentrate on learning. The problem is my laptop is integral to my learning process at this point. So is the Internet for that matter. I enjoyed the course very much, but believe that the lack of technology worked against my learning process.