What's on the Library's Mind?

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• Arts

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• Publié par: alurenum
• Nombre de lectures: 63
• Langue: English

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What’s on the Library’s Mind? Facebook’s place in the law library By Jaye A. H. Lapachet and Andrea Rubin n the recent past, library literature  Itprovides a way to keep in touch users. In addition, the relatively public encouraged librarians to stop hiding with alumni or former employees, details that attorneys and staff choose m I ove out into the stacks where the travel interests, and reading habits) help library has developed a good especially those with whom the to share on Facebook (e.g., hobbies, behind the reference desk and to relationship. librariansto connect with users. Face library patrons are. As noted in “Getting time, while important, is scarce— Personal,” an article in the February partners never have enough for associates 2009 issue ofSpectrum,most librarians and even less for librarians. By are introverts, so perhaps this is why they commenting on photos or contributing sometimes need prodding to enter the useful content, librarians are able to hubbub of the library stacks. supplement face time by being present Despite the constant with staff, attorneys, and discussion and conflicting management in a different opinions about online social way. Like an office party networking, it’s clear that the or social outing, Web—and Web 2.0 in Facebook provides a particular—enables neutral territory for librarians to roam the coworkers to express stacks virtually, reaching themselves in a out to library users more relaxed while simultaneously manner, allowing sitting in the comfort coworkers to interact zone of the reference desk. on a more personal In other words, now that level than is possible at email and other electronic work, where they must means of communicating with focus on deadlines and patrons have become as familiar details. as the reference desk, social In a profession that networking represents a new way requires proficiency in to “get out from behind the the latest technologies, reference desk.” In this sense, librarians benefit from Web 2.0 is one of the best knowing how to use opportunities that has come to Facebook and other online librarians in years. social networking sites just Though the focus of this article as much as they do from is Facebook, other social networking maintaining relationships with sites and their potential to improve coworkers on the sites. Knowing how your visibility and the library overall to use Facebook and other social should not be ignored. They include networking sites also combats the still Flickr, Goodreads, Twitter, FriendFeed,  Itfacilitates telecommuting. prevalent stereotypes that frame Squidoo, Delicious, Stumbleupon, and Just as Facebook’s potential to bring librarians as stern old ladies with buns many others. Even Amazon.com can be together the private, the public, the and glasses. By developing expertise in considered a social networking site because personal, and the professional is still the latest Web 2.0 technology, librarians it has a review function. Facebook is emerging, so is the law library’s place on can also assist management in an simply an easy and accessible place to start. Facebook. As library use of the social advisory capacity. The CPDB law library media platform increases, questions staff has been able to play a crucial role The Magic of Web 2.0 in training their coworkers to interact and dilemmas arise as well. Web 2.0 offers the following benefits: The authors of this article saw successfully in this space.  Itpermits librarians to have that these questions were becoming Because the online environment is contact with users in a public important for staff and attorneys at so visually oriented, Facebook is a good space without always having to Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass LLP place to promote any branding images leave the reference desk. (CPDB) and decided it was time to join associated with the library simply by  Itprovides an opportunity for their users in the social networking uploading them in the place where librarians to help users improve world. Many of the observations in this Facebook requests a picture of a person. their technical proficiency in an article are gleaned from this experience. The CPDB staff has been branding emerging technology. library workproduct, notepads, and A Versatile Tool other items with the same simple logo  Itallows librarians to learn more about library users and to find The benefits of Facebook are easy for seven years. The logo won’t win any points of contact for starting to see. For example, the library staff now graphic design awards, but when people conversations. has an additional point of contact with see it, they know the information came 20 AALL SpectrumJuly 2009 © 2009 Jaye A. H. Lapachet and Andrea Rubin  image © iStockphoto.com/Russell Tate