Social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter can provide another opportunity for users to remotely access library resources. The creation of a library Facebook page provides the library with the ability to promote licensed databases and the information users need to remotely accesses those resources and course or electronic reserve materials. Twitter accounts provide libraries with the opportunity to keep users informed about changes to licensed databases, in other words, anytime they add or discontinue resources or there is a problem accessing them remotely. Another option is foursquare. Foursquare allows you to find your friends and discover your city or library. Libraries can use foursquare to introduce students to it resources and services. The library could develop a contest for users to earn points and badges by discovering information about the library such as, new books, databases or services. Social networks provide libraries and users with new ways to promote and provide remote access to licensed databases.
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Danah Boyd and Nicole Ellison in their 2007 article about social network sites provide an in-depth definition of social network sites. According to Boyd and Ellison social network sites; “construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection and view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system.” (Boyd & Ellison, 2007, p.1). Boyd and Ellison clearly and concisely convey the primary reason people join a social network. The connection they make with friends and colleagues who share similar likes and interests, or belong to or work for the same organization. It creates a common bond and can lead to collaboration and sharing of information.
Social networks connect people through common interests and through the social network develop relationships that can help them solve problems or achieve a common goal. Social network services like Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, Delicious, LinkedIn and foursquare help bring people together into a social network. Through a social network, people can find old friends, family members former co-workers or current business associates. They can also tag information found on the web. Through the social network, people can develop connections and form relationships allowing them to share information or work together on a group project. While libraries may not post links to licensed resources through a social network service they can provide information about accessing the licensed resources or new resources available to library users. What is the purpose of social network sites?
Facebook and Myspace are social network sites that allow users to create a profile page. Once the person creates a profile page, they can post photos, links to web sites, videos, information about what they are thinking or doing at a given moment. At one time, Myspace was the leader in social networking sites but Facebook quickly overtook them and as result Myspace lost half of their traffic to Facebook. In November of 2010, MySpace announced their users could connect their Facebook profile to Myspace. Myspace once dominated the online social networking sites they now revamped themselves as an entertainment site and can use pull their likes and interests from Facebook into Myspace (Raphael, 2010).