Week 12 Social Networking

So the end is here, after 12 weeks (has it really been that long?) we have finally reached the end of the road....and what a road it has been!

Social networking? We do it all the time and probably don't even realise that we are doing it. I will admit that I hadn't gone as far as thinking about something like that specifically for our library, but it has so much potential! However you come up against the "you can't do that" or "you can't have access to that" problems.

But social networking goes even further than Blogs (I've found Live Journal is a really great way to netword, adding friends is so easy) and messaging. A lot of online games also have a social networking aspect to them as well. Free games like Runescape (you create a character and fight monsters, other players and complete quests, lots of fun!) to sites like Pogo (has things from card games to casino, but it is a pay site) and even WoW (World of Warcraft) all have and rely on a social aspect where people meet, greet and interact.

As for social networking in the Library, it has so much potential. You could get groups of people together who are interested in similar things, eg family history, kids clubs, mystery readers.

Broken Hill City Library has it's own website, which I try to keep up to date, but as with every website it has it's limits. You can't talk to like minded people, it's kind of isolating but it does have most of the information that you need, including what's happening.

So where does this leave libraries? I have always thought that the internet is a great resource for those who know how to use it, and for those who are willing to learn. I do believe it is under used in some situations and abused in others. But it is the way that the world is going. People like the speed with witch it works (most of the time) and with the way things are developing the internet has a great future and is going to be a great way to bring people together. I know using the internet and social networking has broadened my own horizons and circle of friends and allowed me to do things that just wouldn't have been possible in the past. We just have to be able to keep up, or at least not to far behind, and see where the ride will take us!

So here's to all who have completed the Learning 2.0 program, and I hope that everyone got as much out of it as I did. I know I've already employed some of the things that I've learned about in my daily work at our library and I intend to continue to share this knowledge.

Have fun and keep surfing people!