Social Software in Libraries: Building Collaboration, Communication, and Community Online

by Meredith G. Farkas

Here is the first book to explore the growing phenomenon of social software and how these technologies can be applied in libraries. Social software lets libraries show a human face online, helping them communicate, educate, and interact with their communities. This nuts-and-bolts guide provides librarians with the information and skills necessary to implement the most popular and effective social software blogs, RSS, wikis, social networking software, screencasting, photo-sharing, podcasting, instant messaging, gaming, and more. Success stories and interviews highlight these tools ease-of-use and tremendous impact. Novice readers will find ample descriptions and advice on using each technology, while veteran users of social software will discover new applications and approaches. Supported by the author s Web page.

Genres: Nonfiction, Technology, Library Science, Librarianship, Social Media, Social

320 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 2007

Reviews

[Tamara]

Same old, same old. What's a wiki? What's a blog? Blah, blah, blah.

[Forrest]

Damned good book. Either very well written or very well edited, it is extremely direct in describing what's goind on in the social software world, using libraries as an example.

Clears up a lot of mysteries about applications of social software in more settings than just libraries, though. The library examples are an excellent means of stimulating thoughts about how some of the new technologies can transform various activities, and I recommend the book to anyone who is puzzled about why Second Life, Facebook, Twitter, etc. might be useful to their enterprise.

Only possible criticism is that it is a book, and the web is evolving faster than any printed medium could possibly hope to match. For now, however, it is current and very useful.

[Alison]

Farkas does an excellent job of explaining what social software is, and then walking through all of the main types of social software. Each type (social networks, podcasting, etc) gets a chapter, in which she explains the history/development, how people are using it, and how libraries can use and are using it. In this way, it's a handy reference to pick up and just read the chapters on software you need or want to learn about. She takes a very practical approach, and emphasizes that not every technology is right for every library. Great to read in tandem with "Library 2.0."

[Elaine]

I waited FOREVER for this book, and for the most part it was worth the wait. A lot of the things I already knew about, but Farkas describes things in a way that I hadn't considered before. I ordered this book because I enjoy Information Wants to Be Free, and I'm glad I finally got to read it. Highly recommended for anyone who is just starting with social software and library applications. Comprehensive enough to be a text book, but also highly readable.

[Carleen Huxley]

This was a great beginner's introduction to social software use in libraries. I read Farkas' blog regularly and really enjoy her writing. However, I think I was expecting more of a "how to" guide, as in, more instruction in how to create a wiki, etc. But, I'm not entirely sure that was her intention when she wrote the book.

[Rebekah]

Good overview of some of the newer technologies in libraries. worth a look if you want to know more about anything in particular -- she covers them each in their own chapter, making it easy to read the parts that are relevant to you.

[Sarah]

excellent overview of the use of some of the fundamental social networking and other types of social software. libraries and educational institutions of other sorts will all benefit. meredith is a natural writer, and the flow and pacing of the book reflect her talent.

[Christy]

Tons of technology information presented in this book, but in a format that is easy to read and understand. Great helpful websites to point you in the right direction and try out some of the technology.

[Amy]

Perhaps biased as she was my instructor for LIBR 246 @ SJSU. Of course, a book like this can easily become outdated as new technologies evolve. However, for anyone needing a crash course in how to integrate Web 2.0 into the library setting, this is a great place to start.

[Margaret Schoen]

(I'm really tempted to click the "this review contains spoilers" link here)

[Jenn]

An excellent, thorough book. I'm loving it. Does that make me a serious dork? I like Social Software, okay? I think it says a lot that I can just sit down and read this like a novel.

[Amy]

For Library 2.0 paper.

Wonderful overview of current technologies and applications.