Social networking tools for academic libraries

(Since starting the Science and Pharmacy blog, my Twitter site and Delicious, which is used for our "Selected Websites", I have become more convinced than ever that social networking is extremely important in terms of liaison and communication with our users.  It is not difficult to do, it is FUN, INTERESTING, STIMULATING & CHALLENGING, and the rewards are well worth the time spent!

 Some conclusions from this article

• benefits of using these tools are perceived to outweigh the costs, which were reported to be minimal,
• Social networking tools were perceived to be helpful in promoting library services and interacting with students.
• helpful for internal staff communication
• implementation of these tools by library staff was found to be challenged by limited time and perceived inadequacy of the staff to keep pace with the development of technology
•   Provision of training for staff users was found to be inadequate, and this indicates a component that needs to be addressed by organizations that intend to launch social networking platforms effectively. 

"......The phenomenon of social networking tools is likely to continue evolving rapidly. As this occurs, libraries make up one group that may benefit from utilizing these tools in an evolving manner as well. Findings of this study suggest that factors related to time pressure and competencies of staff need to be addressed in order to encourage libraries to take advantage of benefits offered by these web technologies." 

Using LinkedIn for Career Building

Joseph G. Gerard of Western New England University published "Linking in With LinkedIn®: Three Exercises That Enhance Professional Social Networking and Career Building" in the Journal of Management Education December 2012 Special Issue on New Technological Advances Applied to Management Education.  As Professor Gerard writes in the abstract:

Getting students to network with one another can be one of the biggest challenges in college courses, despite being a highly important function of higher education. Networking can, in fact, lead to that first job or to professional advancement, and technology can improve the success of individual and institutional efforts. This article describes how one instructor moved from a systemwide “Meet the Classmates” assignment nested within the learning management system to the use of a free social networking system, LinkedIn®, and how one icebreaker assignment evolved to three larger, more comprehensive assignments that better leveraged certain social networking system characteristics for greater career preparedness. Exploratory data from 154 respondents from undergraduate capstone strategy courses provides insights into some possible advantages and limitations of the free social networking system to offset networking challenges as well as to enhance those professional and career-based advantages associated with effective network management.