Aug 20th, 2007
Facebook for Library Professionals: Question and Friends
A few weeks back I asked a question on my facebook profile page just to see what would happen. Would people answer? Would they think about their answers, be funny, rude, or ??? Here’s what popped up. All in all a lovely snapshot, from a (mostly) fine bunch of thinkers. Thanks for sharing your answers. New questions will pop up soon. Having said that, you know, I didn’t ask any of these folks if they would mind if I posted their answer on this blog. Is that an issue? Hmmmm…… If it bugs anybody who posted an answer lmk, but since the profile page is public there didn’t seem to be any violation of privacy. Yes?
Also, here’s a picture of my facebook friends, in handy wheel form, revealing connections between folks mapped on the wheel. It’s a handy, interesting and revealing device. Ahhh, sweet data visualization. You will see below that, well, I hardly have any friends on facebook that aren’t library staffers (or at least connected to at least one other Libraryland person on facebook). Try making your own friend wheel on facebook to see what it reveals about you! Hmmmm, think of the possible ramifications! 
(click to find path to larger, readable version):
Great minds think alike, but small ones rarely differ
Have a look at my blog post for today … http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2007/08/20/leisure-reading-collections-in-academic-libraries/
About the permission - interesting question. I did ask and used the answers anonymously. But I am just fine - even flattered - that you used my photo and answer here.
Typical YMMV situation I think. Bit like asking for permission before we use a photo on Flickr - in Australia there is no law that you must do this, but our library does it anyhow - mainly to cover ourselves in case people object.
I think my main reason for asking was the closed nature of facebook - that profile pages aren’t public unless the viewer has some kind of link to the person. Try logging out of FB and looking at my profile. Not saying I’m right - but different approaches are interesting.
Ahh, very good question. Since my profile is public I was assuming that folks could see all the answers. However, now I too wonder if the responses from folks with more private profiles are invisible to the general public. I was wondering (hoping a bit perhaps, who knows) that the privacy issue would come up again here. Facebook isn’t the library when it comes to protecting individuals, that’s for sure.
[…] resultados se encuentran en la entrada de su blog: Facebook for Library Professionals: Question and Friends. De las respuestas que me llamaron la atención se encuentra la de Cindi Trainor: La […]
[…] but inquisitive — chatty even. Banter is what Facebook is all about. You need to ask people questions and understand what it is they like. You also need to ask yourself, “how is a library […]