Rule #1 of Librarianship - If you don't know... ask someone who does!

[becky_monster]

Oh great and wonderful flist...

Yes, I'm on the scrounge - does it show?

Does anyone know of/can give me a potted guide on the Whys and Wherefores of Facebook?

I asked the really dumb! question of 'Why Don't We Have A Facebook Page?' (on a tangent of getting user feedback on general and specific issues relating to our service)at Work today. I

Comments

[hearts_blood]

Facebook is fast becoming the New Scourge of the Internet--everything that used to have a webpage now has a Facebook page as well, with all the same information, the ability to communicate with patrons is built-in, and there's no need to pay for bandwidth (and no, despite a flurry of forwarded emails, Facebook does not plan to begin charging for services).

It's pretty easy to set up and navigate a personal page, and use the friending and messaging functions. There are different settings to use on your various types of personal information, so you can control who sees what (such as when your birthday is, where you work, etc). Recently, Facebook also added a feature where you can build filters to put your friends into (much like on LJ), so you can do spin-control on your status updates as well.

[becky_monster]

Thank you for all of that!

The whole 'filters' thing is one of the main reasons why I want to go for a FB page.

My sisters are on Facebook as are quite a few of my RL friends - so having one would allow me to keep in touch with them (and more importantly? Keep them away from here!). Also, if I'm supposed to be up and 'with' Web 2.0 (in a professional capcity) then it at least shows that.

That and it's a good way of getting in touch with our users - or at least it's worth a *try*!

[aurora_novarum]

I too am one of the facebook refusers, which is annoying when some companies are just using facebook for their stuff.

For professional things though, you may want to consider "LinkedIn" It's kind of the work's facebook. More professional presence, less memes and kids pottie training.

ETA: I read that as you wanting one for work, not your work wanting one, so...never mind. It is likely good for corporate identity issues.

[becky_monster]

Hold up a mo - I think wires got crossed somewhere along the line

[nialla42]

We have one for the library, but I haven't had the time to really tackle how to use it best. Right now I'm just posting links to news articles on the library's web page. It's more about making things available where they are, instead of coming to our web page. There's just so many places you can keep up with though.

The Shifted Librarian did an article on FB recently, about how to keep things private and not out for Cthulhu and everyone to see. I haven't had time to read it yet, but that and some other info on her blog might be helpful

[becky_monster]

Sees your SGA - raises you a 10 with 3d glasses;)

It's more about making things available where they are, instead of coming to our web page

THIS!

I may have to quote you on that one! My whole argument in a nutshell. It seems like everytime I walk past a bank of computers (and I walk past quite a few) it seems like about a good 10-15% of students are on Facebook. Actually, I could be wrong and the numbers are higher than that but... you get the picture!

I do not want the real life people I know (even those I haven't seen in person for over 20 years) to see my fannish life in any way.

This is why I'm considering a fb page. To put as much 'fresh air' between becky_monster and me in real life. Here I can be nerdy, geeky, weird, emo, daft, 'bend' copyright and generally be silly. This is my 'safe space

[nialla42]

That's from Traders, but it's still David Hewlett, just younger. ;)

I'm viewing FB as sort of an alternate version of an RSS feed. Yes, people can follow the library's newfeed, but how many will make the effort versus "Oooh, the library's on FB! [click

[kitzen_kat]

I have a personal fb page only. I don't want a professional one. There's stuff about me on the uni website if anyone is that desperate.

As for libraries - well, I am not sure why fb would be required if the institution had a good, solid website in the first place with FAQs, submission forms and so on. I think some who ask for it are living in the faint hope that thru teh magick of teh interwebs, mysterious messages that remind them that the library isn't open on Saturdays will turn up to jog their memories.

[becky_monster]

As for libraries - well, I am not sure why fb would be required if the institution had a good, solid website in the first place with FAQs, submission forms and so on

That's the thing. I feel we are getting there with that aspect.

But (and it's a big one!) the students do not seem to be all that interested in using it. A Facebook page would be meeting them halfway (or at least be seen to be doing so - which is almost just as good!)

Anything that gets the library noticed and gets us feedback about our services is perceived to be *good*. Something that does not cost a lot to do (in a matter of speaking - there will be staff costs, naturallment) is even better.

Also - I was thinking along the lines of using it for stuff that *isn't* on the library website - e.g. making the librarians look/seem human, hints and tricks for finding information etc.

I need to think about this further... anyway - hope all that made sense!