Myspace and social networking

Your patrons are using Myspace. They are using it in your computer labs. This shouldn't come as any surprise to you. According to Alexa Online, a company that provides statistics on web traffic, Myspace is the 3rd most popular website in the United States and the 6th most popular website worldwide. Despite this, you may not be completely sure what exactly Myspace is or what it has to do with your library.

Myspace is a free interactive social networking site that connects people, ideas, videos and music via user submitted information. The importance of social networking is discussed in the research of Robert Putnam, specifically his book Bowling Alone. Information about Dr Putnam's theory of social capital can be found here

One of the most underrepresented populations in libraries is young adults. Conveniently enough, the overwhelming majority of young adults in this country are members of Myspace. Many libraries across the country have established a presence on Myspace to take advantage of this fact. We would encourage you to think very hard about using this resource as a means to reach patrons you may not be reaching otherwise.

Here are a couple links to other blogs talking about Myspace and libraries:

Is Myspace scary?

Myspace

Please tell me...

And for those curious as to how our colleagues out in LibraryLand are using social networking to connect to their patrons, here are a few links to public libraries on Myspace:

River Rouge Public Library in River Rouge, Michigan

Rapid City Public Library in Rapid City, South Dakota

Austin Public Library in Austin, Texas


Brainstorm a little about how your library could use Myspace to reach your community and blog about it.

To Myspace or not to Myspace, that is the question.Share your thoughts and results from Week 5 by clicking here!