libraries and MySpace

I’ve been listening and taking in this week all the excitement regarding the social network software MySpace and Facebook. In her blog, Information Wants To Be Free, Meredith states, “A profile that offers nothing but a picture of the library, a blog post or two cutesy thing about how we shush you just looks cheesy. I think there is a big difference between ‘being where our patrons are’ and ‘being useful to our patrons where they are.’ I think some libraries in MySpace and Facebook have put a profile up, but they have not tried to make it useful to their patrons at all. Just putting up a profile does not make the library seem cool, nor does it make the library more visible.” (blog was posted on May 10, 2006)

I couldn’t agree more with this statement. Just because something may be cool it doesn’t mean it is appropriate for the institution you work for. I can honestly say that creating a profile for the Historical Society would not make our library any more visible to our patrons and we would be what Meredith describe—a site with no goal except for just to have a profile on MySpace.

With that said, I do believe that librarians can effectively use MySpace as a way of community creation. If your patrons are creating profiles and actively using MySpace or Facebook than yes these are wonderful outreach tools. I just don't believe they are appropriate for all institutions.