In this session, we will create a Facebook account and explore some of its feature as a way to find out why social networking tools are so popular among our users, particularly among our younger patrons and students. We will also explore social networking sites that focus on reading.
EXERCISE by Tuesday, February 26 - Create a Facebook account, add Learning 2.0 participants as friends to your account, add at least five applications, and become a Fan of the SEMLS Learning 2.0 page.
READING by Thursday, February 28 - Read the following blog posting. "Libraries in Social Networking Software," Meredith Farkas I have also bookmarked several resources on social networking on del.icio.us.
DISCUSSION by Thursday, February 28 - We're going to do something a little different for this week's discussion. Please post your discussion to the SEMLS Learning 2.0 Page in Facebook. Consider the following questions as you post.
Should public libraries use social networking sites, like Facebook and MySpace, to reach out to users? What about school libraries?
Do you think your library will consider participating in a social networking site in the near future?
There have been a lot of safety concerns related to teens using social networking sites. Recently, Congress considered passage of the Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA), which would require any school or library accepting e-rate money to ban any commercial social networking Web sites. Should libraries and schools avoid the use of these sites in light of these safety concerns? Or are there ways libraries and schools can encourage safe use of these sites?
DISCUSSION by Friday, February 29 - Post a comment to the SEMLS Learning 2.0 Page in Facebook responding to at least one other comment.
