Social Networking in the Media Center

What is social networking?  Social networking is usually web-based and usually consists of groups of people sharing a common interest. “Social networking sites allow users to share ideas, activities, events, and interests within their individual networks” (wikkipedia, 2012) Social networking has gotten extremely popular in the last ten years with sites like My Space, Facebook, and Twitter. In the past, access to social networking sites has been prohibited by schools. In my school system, viewing social networking sites is prohibited. Most schools even have an acceptable usage policy that students have to sign before they are able to use the internet at school. Guess what one of the stipulations is? Students must agree not to access social networking sites!! Recently, some schools are realizing the value in utilizing these tools that students already love. I think as time goes on more schools will re-evaluate their policies on social networking. There are some amazing things being done by students using social networking sites at school. 

 Here are some cool social networking sites that you could use in the media center:

Flickr is a photo sharing social networking site where users can upload, organize, and share photos. Is your district cutting field trips due to lack of funds? You can use flickr to take your class on a virtual field trip to Washington, D.C. and view real photos of the various attractions in the city.

Library Thing is an online site where you can catalog your own books, add tags, view other’s collections, make recommendations, and meet people with similar reading interests. I heard it described  as “the facebook for people who like books”.

A social bookmarking service, Delicious, allows you to create bookmarks that you can access from any computer. You can also categorize websites into stacks (themes), share them, and view other people’s stacks as well.

School library media specialists report they are using social networking to:

• set up a site on Facebook for their school library media center for students and parents to access library media center resources and information
• see what topics students are discussing
• share information about school library media services
• share information and ideas with other professionals
• request help and learn from professional colleagues
• share what they are reading with colleagues, parents and students
• host videos, photos and discussions with colleagues, teachers, and/or students
• work on professional association committees
• teach students and parents about social networks
• teach students and parents about Internet safety
• teach teachers about social networking and how they can use them
• provide a collaborative workspace for students' multimedia projects
• provide a collaborative workspace for teacher/lms work
• provide a virtual meeting and sharing place for book clubs
• catalog books
• find new things for students to read based on what they like to read
• collaborate with colleagues who have similar interests worldwide
• store related things together: videos, photos, articles, RSS feeds, etc. by curriculum area, teacher, or research topic

Let’s look at some of the verbs used above. Social networking allows media specialists to share, learn, work, teach, communicate, and collaborate. It sounds to me like this media specialist is doing everything in their power to reach students, parents, and teachers using a multitude of methods.

There is a negative side to social networking. Our Library 2.0 and Beyond textbook lists several negative aspects of social networking. They are online predators, exposure to spyware and viruses, cyber-bullying, invasion of privacy, and addiction. Students must be taught how to use social networking sites responsibly like they would any other site on the internet.

Media specialists must go where their students go. Students today frequent social media sites in almost unbelievable numbers. Media specialists have the opportunity to connect with students on their own turf. Our students today are digital natives who are at home with technology and expect others to be as well. If we don’t try to utilize social networking, we will be at a serious disadvantage.