Here’s what people are saying about Social Software in Libraries

From Robert D. Laws, Digital Services Librarian, Georgetown University in the Journal of Academic Librarianship

Social Software in Libraries provides a wealth of valuable information about a range of different technologies as well as means to assess how social technologies will work in a particular library setting. … What distinguishes Social Software in Libraries from other similar books, however, is an engaging and highly readable tome on a broad range of technologies that will appeal to tech-savvy and non-technical librarians alike. The author also provides a wealth of resources for further reading.

From Stuart J. Fitzgerald, Kingston University, in the International Journal of Information Management.

The text is filled with plenty of practical examples to illustrate the uses of the different technologies. The style is extremely accessible, and although it is targeted at librarians, it will be of interest to anybody who wants an uncomplicated, but comprehensive, introduction to the principal technologies which comprise the grouping known as ’social software.’ The author’s experience and erudition build immediate confidence in the text’s value and its lucid style rapidly builds an understanding of the subject matter.

From Deborah Lynne Wiley in Online

If you are wondering how to connect with your users or how to best implement some new technologies, this book will give you many good ideas. Not only does the author provide plenty, but she also includes comments from other librarians describing their implementations of social software technologies.

From David Lininger in Library Media Connect

What I found most helpful was an honest discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of various technologies, and how each one is actually used by a library… Professor Farkas has done us all a great service by clearly explaining the various technologies and providing us examples of each.

From Carol Tenopir, Professor at the School of Information Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in Library Journal

Another new book offers a good introduction to social networking applications. Social Software in Libraries: Building Collaboration, Communication, and Community Online, by Meredith Farkas, distance learning librarian at Norwich University, VT, provides specific examples that should stimulate ideas for incorporating social software applications in all types of libraries. The freely available companion web site shows sample social software applications in action.

From Emma Angus, member of the Statistical Cybermetrics Research Group at the University of Wolverhampton, in Free Pint.

This book is a great introduction to the area of social software for anyone still left wondering what on earth a wiki is or what RSS feeds do. Whilst the title indicates that it is intended for librarians, the book is perfectly suited for anyone who is after an introduction to the area of social software or even seeking to build upon basic existing knowledge. … Meredith Farkas’s approach to topics and writing style is user- friendly, so her book can be easily read from cover to cover.

From Helen Fitzgerald in Information Research

Farkas provides persuasive extracts from interviews with librarians who are already using the technology.

From Jill O’Neill, Director of Planning and Communication, NFAIS, Published in Library 2.0 Ning Community

Farkas provides solid background on the various technologies currently touted under the heading of Web 2.0. Her recommendations for practical application of these technologies are grounded in reality and should be well within the capabilities of her targeted readership. She devotes an entire chapter to a primer on keeping up with the flow of information in what is now a consistently changing field.

…

This is a immediately accessible text, written without hype, suitable for anyone interested in effective use of communication and collaborative tools.

From Walt Crawford of Walt at Random

I finished reading Meredith Farkas’ new book, Social Software in Libraries, over the weekend. This isn’t really a book review but here goes:

Well done, worth reading, lots of good information in a readable form.

There’s quite a bit here–it’s 282 pages not including the (detailed, well-produced) index and other material. That’s 282 pages of relatively small although heavily-leaded type (10 on 13, as far as I can tell); I’d guess this is close to 100,000 words, maybe more.

You already know Farkas writes well and thinks well, so you shouldn’t be surprised that she does a good job here. In general, it’s also a balanced job: She’s describing a range of social software and its potential for libraries, not claiming that every possibility is worth adopting or that every library needs to be at the same level.

From Helene Blowers of LibraryBytes:

Meredith Farkas has a new book coming out on social software soon and I was among the lucky ones to get a advance copy to preview.

Anyway, I’m not sure of the publish date, but I can tell you this, the book’s excellent! And although I consider myself pretty up on the social software scene, I was surprised at how much new information I gathered from the title. Meredith’s really done her homework on this one … well done!