Fraulein Sara's Teachings on SOCIAL MEDIA!

What is this thing called social media? Why it's a web based site that relies on user participation. It usually consists of tools that allow users to share all sorts of business, academic, personal or any other form of information.

''Hmm..." you say, "This all sounds so familiar". My dear sir, or madame, that is because you use social media! You're already a cog in the system. I'm sure all of my lovely followers take part in the social media clock, and why do I know this? That's because I've already 'friend-ed' most of you on facebook- I am also in the process of 'following' you on twitter.

Nearly everyone I know uses some form of social media...everyone except for my grandparents, seeing as how they refuse to get a computer, according to them the computer is the new version of the 'idiot box', however considering that you learn so much on the internet compared to television, I say they'd be wrong-however, that is a discussion for another day! Stay tuned for 'Idiot Box: Television or Computer! You be the Judge!'

Do I like social media? I spend at least an hour every two days on twitter or facebook. I'm constantly updating my tumblr and I frequent myspace to check on on some of my favourite bands. Doing all four of those things takes up about ten minutes of that half hour computer time, so I would say, 'YES!' I do like social media because I think that a fraction of my life is devoted to it.

'My name is Sara, and I have a problem. I am a social media addict.' I find it's a new way to organize school projects and stay informed to waht's going on with the world. I mean, how did I find out about Steve Jobs recent passing? I saw a status update about it on facebook, and then I took to twitter, which confirmed his death by having a '#RIPSTEVEJOBS' as a top 10 trend.

Is social media used in libraries? Should it be? Should I start one for the library- well, if I was asked to I would, because I find myself quirky and hilarious and I think everyone would enjoy a little slice of Sara in their lives on a virtual and daily basis. As for libraries in general, I think social media is very important to keep on top of. Yes, some libraries do use them, but I don't think enough, and I don't think they keep up with the ever changing web 2.0 evolution as they perhaps should. Like I've said before, keeping up with web 2.0 and all it has to offer is a wonderful way of keeping patrons in touch with what's going on, seeing as with social media a question regarding the library or books is but a click away. However, if a library is going to branch out into social media they should do it proporly by making sure they keep updaing whichever form of social media they choose to use. If you have a facebook I don't want to see that your status hasn't been updated in over two weeks. I don't want to forget I'm following you on twitter because you never post, and I really don't want to see any sort of blog that hasn't been updated in well over two months. That's not going to help you any.

HOWEVER! I think if a library could get organized and be taught the fine workings of social media they could be BRILLIANT! Have you, dear readers, heard of social cataloguing? NO!? It's an amazing thing where you can catalogue your books, CD's, movies...tapes, if you still have those, online! You can rate them and see recommendations for other items that you might enjoy and write reviews- it's a plethora of nerdy cataloging! It's wonderful and libraries would become so much more efficient with aiding patrons with questions about which books to get.

Not only that, but now for a low cost of nothing, the library could also branch out and connect with the WORLD through social networking...yes, that makes me think of the facebook movie too. If the library gets out there more people will be brought together and be made aware of how wonderful and FREE the library is. So many of my friends are unaware that you can return your library books to any library, or that you can order a book from anywhere in the city directly the to closetst library to your house. With social media, it's like word of mouth- only faster and more electronic...like a very talkative/connective version of Tron.

So there is MUCH room for improvement on the library-front of social media, but I feel confident that in the next few years, with the right library workers that we can get a grasp on social media of all sorts, making the library more technologically inclined, and by that I mean more attainable to the rest of the public. I plan on helping the library get to that point, the point of pure geekiness! It's truly my life goal.

....also, that photo at the top may or may not be a photo of my head poorly pasted onto the body of Justin Timberlake, from The Social Network.