About the Book

Social Software in Libraries: Building Collaboration, Communication, and Community Online

By Meredith Farkas

Foreword by Roy Tennant

Here is the first book to explore the growing phenomenon of social software and how these technologies can be applied in libraries. Social software lets libraries show a human face online, helping them communicate, educate, and interact with their communities. This nuts-and-bolts guide provides librarians with the information and skills necessary to implement the most popular and effective social software technologies: blogs, RSS, wikis, social networking software, screencasting, photo-sharing, podcasting, instant messaging, gaming, and more. Success stories and interviews highlight these tools’ ease-of-use—and tremendous impact. Novice readers will find ample descriptions and advice on using each technology, while veteran users of social software will discover new applications and approaches.

2007/336 pp/softbound/ISBN 978-1-57387-275-1

About the Author

Meredith G. Farkas is the Head of Instructional Initiatives at Norwich University in Northfield, VT. She is also an adjunct faculty member at San Jose State University’s School of Library and Information Science, teaching courses on social software and Web 2.0 technologies. Meredith is the author of the monthly column “Technology in Practice” for American Libraries. She also is the author of the popular blog Information Wants to Be Free. She is the creator of Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki as well as a number of national conference wikis. In March 2006, Meredith was named a Mover and Shaker by Library Journal for her innovative use of technology to benefit the profession. Prior to entering the library field, Meredith worked as a child and family therapist in Florida. She holds a BA from Wesleyan University in Connecticut and an MSW and MLIS from Florida State University. She lives in Central Vermont with her husband, Adam.