Thing #20 - Libraries and Social Networks

I spent some time on MySpace because I didn't want to set up a profile on Facebook in order to simply look at it. After checking it out, I'm not sure about a library page on a social networking site. I know I'm going to sound extremely old fashioned and prudish, but so manyof the pages I saw were crude and full of profanity. However, I did look at Hennepin County's page and it looks like it offers a lot of reading lists, new book suggestions, programs of interest to teens, photos, etc. It looks good, but all the comments that I saw on the page were from authors pushing their books. Most of the "friends" on the Dakota County Library page also seemed to be authors. Are we really reaching the group the page is directed at? Lots of libraries around the US have pages. Is there a way of tracking who is accessing them?

Is this more appealing than a web page? Is it just because it's on MySpace that makes it more appealing to teens? I suppose they might be more likely to access the library from that point than from any other entry point, so if that's the case it does make sense to have a presence in MySpace or Facebook. (However, after looking at a few library pages, I can see room for improvement on many of them...misspellings, lack of ability to connect to the library catalog, etc. My own library system is at fault here, too. I don;'t know who is responsible for it, but I suppose after learning all about Library 2.0 we should be able to make improvements...)
)

Thing #15 Libraries and Games

This is soooo not me... I have no interest in sitting in front of a computer pretending to be someone I'm not in some virtual world, interacting with someone who exists somewhere else . If I'm playing games I want to have people around me I can laugh and talk with and interact with directly. I do enjoy playing games, though, although they are the old fashioned board type games. Also, I've somewhat managed to figure out the Wii and play with my grandchildren.

Online gaming is a whole different story. I can see that there is a demographic that this does appeal to, and probably there is a place for the library in appealing to this group. Our manager is a gamer, and he has held some relatively successful dungeons and dragons programs as well as Guitar Hero and DDR. although these are not online, who knows, perhaps we will be moving in that direction at some point. (just so I don't have to have anything to do with it....) I watched the video tour on Info Island, and frankly, it made no sense to me at all. I'm really missing something.

Thing#4 - Flickr

Hastings, Minnesota
Originally uploaded by Punchup

I've spent the last couple of days exploring Flickr. I can't believe the number of photos that have been posted there. At first I wasn't sure of the reasons people would post their pictures on the internet, but after watching the video, I realize that it could be a safe storage thing. I also wonder if people are looking for compliments on their photography or if professionals are marketing themselves. Anyway, it sure gives us lots of good pictures to look at.
I think I've followed the directions for uploading a picture from Flickr to my blog. (I've personally never seen a sunset that looks this good, but I think perhaps this guy is a professional photographer. Thanks to Punchup for the use of his (or her) photo.

After looking at the pictures of the St. Ben's/Alcuin library I am quite impressed with the creativity. It's a great idea for marketing books, but I think it would be even better if there was a summary of the book rather that just a link to Amazon. Who has time to figure out these things?