Facebook

I have had a facebook page since 2005.  I was a senior in college when I joined and at the time it was only open to college students.  I remember my roommates and me anxiously waiting for our college, Anderson University, to be added to the list of schools on facebook.  I remember when it was finally added everyone's AIM profile reading "Facebook Me!".  I remember Facebook basically replacing AIM (which everyone was using at the time).  I remember frantically searching for my college friends to add to my friends list. 

That's why I was kind of excited to get to this exercise.  I did not want to use my existing profile for a work related activity.  I do like to keep some things private.  But I was excited to walk through the set up because Facebook has change so much since I joined.  I did friend Tippy Twentythree.  I think I may have requested another friend from TCPL but I can't remember who. 

One thing that I thought was kind of interesting was I searched for my personal account and could not find me at all.  I guess those private controls really do work.  I have my personal account set up that only friends can view my profile and that only friends of friends can search for me.  By the way there are a lot of people out there with my name! 

I can see the library using Facebook.  As the Young Adult Librarian I would really like to see us utilizing this tool more.  Unfortunately, I think we maybe have missed the peak of Facebook's popularity.  I can see teens getting bored with Facebook and moving on to something else.  There are many other social networking tools out there that may be drawing their attention: twitter, dailybooth, tumblr, google+, etc. 

I think the important thing for libraries to do is really pay attention to what society is talking about and be a part of it in any way possible.  If people are talking about twitter, the library needs to be a part of it.  If people are talking about Facebook, the library needs to a part of it.  This way people won't think the library is outdated and old fashioned.  If the library is current, updated, and trendsetting people will want to visit and use our resources.  Many libraries are already doing this and doing it very well.