My vision: The future of social media and the library

A recent article “scooped” from the American Library Association’s website discusses various social media currently being used by libraries. The article is based upon the results of a survey conducted by South Carolina State Library. 548 of the participants who began this survey completed it (73%). Below is a table that provides statistics on the types of activities these libraries are currently using Web 2.0 for. Interestingly, these are primarily for promotional/marketing activities.

Way that libraries use Web 2.0 tool	2010	2011
Promoting general library services	83%	88%
Marketing specific adult programs and/or services	70%	72%
Providing quick updates to users	66%	75%
Reaching a new audience of potential users	51%	54%

The survey also included an open-ended question. In spite of the positive numbers reported in the table above, there were some less than positive comments concerning the use of Web 2.0 tools in libraries:
·     “Many school libraries do not permit the use of Web 2.0 tools because of their content filters. This is the case at my school for most tools. It is unfortunate because these tools could really help promote our library and learning.”
·       “I think social networking has been way oversold. I don’t know of a single library that relies on these gimmicks to achieve their core mission. Mostly a waste of time that would be better spent providing direct service to customers.”
·      “Non-library administrators are too afraid of ‘bad press’ to even let us try to use social media of any type! It is extremely frustrating to be stuck in basically a pre-Internet age. We only have online video tutorials accessible from our webpage. <sigh>”
·      “I don’t believe the average public library patron is acutely aware of Web 2.0 technologies and what they can do for/with them.”
·      In a press release, study author Curtis R. Rogers added his own insight about the open ended comments: “It was…interesting to see that some libraries are still not employing these free tools, especially in such tough economic times.”

These open-ended responses raise concerns about the perceived safety and awareness of using Web 2.0 tools. The second response is particularly surprising in that the responder states Web 2.0 tools are “mostly a waste of time.” I feel that these attitudes present a unique opportunity for libraries in the future: educating the public about the features, benefits and risks of using Web 2.0 tools.

I presume that most people use the Web for entertainment and believe that they possess the skills to conduct research on the internet, but realistically there is a need for education and skill development. Libraries have an opportunity to play a leadership role in promoting information literacy in the digital future.

As we have seen in this course there are a multitude of Web 2.0 tools, with a wide variety of functions. In my recent conversations (since I have now gained enough knowledge to at least ask questions about social media…) those I have spoken with outside of librarians really do not think about how information is changing, the skills needed to find good information, or the concept of authority. I believe that authority plays a much more important role in the search for information than it has in the past, because of the internet. The internet has made it so much easier to publish. With that, the authority of the information being published comes into question on a global basis, more so than when only the most educated people published. Critical thinking skills play a much more important role today. Again, these are skills that need to be taught. Libraries can partner with schools and help to facilitate critical thinking and understanding authority. As we have read, Web 2.0 games help to improve strategic thinking skills. 

In summary, as the volume of information increases exponentially and the format of information evolves from print into the virtual arena, people will have to be educated on how to find information and to assess its validity. I see the library continuing to play a leadership role in information literacy, and Web 2.0 tools will play a significant role in the way information is accessed and taught.

"Social Networking", American Library Association, April 7, 2012. http://www.ala.org/news/mediapresscenter/americaslibraries/soal2012/social-networking

(Accessed April 25, 2012)  Document ID: 53c33d07-d1ad-a0d4-6d9b-b51ea3c6318f