Academic Libraries and Embracing the Power of Social Networking

In today's fast-paced, technology driven society, social networking is a way to keep in touch with friends and family at lightening speed. Especially when such networks are attached to one's cell phone, it allows communication at a moment's notice. Furthermore, and more importantly, it allows one to communicate with a mass number of people at one time. But when one considers these tools of communication one does not normally connect them with academic libraries, or libraries in general. However, this past Thursday at my internship with Rare Books and Special Collections at Thomas Cooper Library I was asked to help create a Twitter account for the department. I was surprised to learn that they already had a FaceBook page as well. This got me to thinking more about the power of social networking and how it might prove to be an asset for academic libraries. Although it may seem a bit strange to find out that a library is using these programs, the more I thought about it the more it began to make sense. Afterall, this is how most college aged people communicate these days. This generation wants to be in-the-know at all times and communicate with the blink of an eye. By embracing this method of communication they are communicating in the way that their users prefer to communciate and gather information. I furthermore believe that by communicating through social networking sites will let potential users know that the libraries are listening to them and want to communciate with them in the way that they chose. In addition, it allows libraries to keep in touch more easily with their users and inform them about different services or events that may be going on. This advertising may entice more people to come to the library to gather their needed information and may also help users to feel more at ease asking a librarian for help. It doesn't take that long to set up a few social networking accounts and in all honesty it poses no real risk. The only thing really inolved is making sure that they are checked daily for any posts, promptly answering any posed questions, and general up keep of information. This is almost no different than the daily up keep of the websites.
I believe that academic libraries should begin to embrace social networking, instead of ignorning it. We must listen to our users and allow them to communicate with us in a way that feel comfortable if we want them to continue to use (or even know) about our services. I believe that once libraries try it and potential users become aware of its existence that they will use those portals of communication to stay in touch with the library and take advantage of the services that the library offers.