What I Did on My Winter Blogcation or All I Needed to Know About Libraries I Learned from Social Media Part Two

P.S. Here’s some of what I’ve learned about social media:  it’s free, but nothing is really free. Free brings its own baggage.  It’s easy but lots of things that are easy (gaining weight, accumulating debt) are not necessarily advisable. It can provide its own rewards. Like watching a film or listening to music, it can be seen as wasting time or as valuable, meaningful engagement. It provides opportunities to “meet” and connect with people one would not otherwise be able to  engage with due to time restrictions or physical/geographical limitations.. This can be tremendously positive but also has the potential to provide more than our share of unwanted opportunities.

Social media is a lot more complex than I had imagined. By its very nature, it seems to imply that it is simple and straightforward.  It is, but deceptively so. Just because something is easy does not mean that it should be done at all and/or done by everyone. Thought should be involved.

Social capital is very real, potentially powerful and likely not utilized or acknowledged in the library world.

Social media is truly democratic, it gives almost anyone a voice, a chance to participate in the conversation. However, this means more care should be taken. The responsibilities are greater.

The democratic nature of social media also means that there is not a universally accepted standard of quality. Thus there is a lot of potential for content that is inflammatory, inferior, misleading or downright correct.

Social media is FUN.

However, it requires time management skills. Even if the homework is enjoyable, the temptation to spend LOTs of time on it is hard to resist. Discipline and focus are required. Goals are needed. This applies to professional use in the context of library work. No other way to learn that lesson than by actually diving in.  Just need to learn to swim and not drown.

Twitter can teach us how to focus, to bring our thoughts to a direct point.

Twitter is a great way to learn about happenings in the library world. By following a variety of librarians, I feel connected in a complex way that is difficult to explain. A great mixture of experience, wisdom and insight, gossip, opinion, jokes, personal asides and overall, a very real and encouraging enthusiasm about their jobs/careers.

Pinterest is addictive.

I have a love/hate relationship with Facebook. I think the tension between the potential and the actual is very much like television – the potential is vast but ultimately commercial/entertainment values overpower educational purposes. I am reminded of the Simpsons episode where  Springfield experience Prohibition. It is eventually repealed. Homer raises a glass with the triumphant toast, “Here’s to alcohol – the cause and solution to all our problems!” Social media is a little bit like the alcohol.

I have learned a lot not only from my professor and the guest author/speaker, but from my classmate as well. Social media as a subject lends itself to sharing, to collaboration and cooperation. Also, to conversation. One of the biggest benefits of social media is its flexibility. Individuals and institutions personalize the manner in which they utilize social media. I am impressed by the variety and creativity of my fellow classmates. So many ideas!

I am grateful for the opportunity to explore social media for libraries in the context of this course. I would recommend this for all students in the online program.

The future of social media? I don’t know. But I do believe it definitely has a future.