Davey Beauchamp
Valerie Reed
LIS-600
Social Networking Sites and the Public Library System
Introduction
Online Social Networking Websites, such as MySpace and Facebook, have been the topic
of a large debate within Public Library circles. Some public libraries choose not to allow the
public to access such sites on their public access computers while others do. And there are even
groups of public libraries whom have embraced the Social Networking sites to interact with
their patrons.
There are roughly 258,000,0001 users on MySpace alone, while there are 175 million2
users on Facebook. Using and allowing patrons to use these social networking websites public
libraries can help meet patron needs and grow patron numbers in new and innovative ways
both in house and via the internet.
The Social Network Revolution
Online Social Networking Websites are a new way for libraries to communicate with
their patrons. Many libraries focus on their teen and tweenies with MySpace, while others use
such sites as Facebook to communicate to their Adult counterparts, with there being crossover
due to the patrons’ preference in site.
MySpace and Facebook are two of the largest and most used social networking websites
on the internet; with new sites social networking site popping up on a daily basis. As mentioned
above roughly 433,000,000 people use these sites. The world has become much more
globalized and some public libraries have taken up the cause to meet these new potential
patrons through the online social network sites. Our communities have grown past the lines
drawn on maps.
1
2
257,775,520 was the exact number users or accounts on MySpace on Feb. 16 th, 2009 at 1:16PM EST
Data gotten from the Facebook Press Room www.facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics
One such system is the Davidson County Public Library. Currently three of their
branches3 are trying to use the social networking sites to interact with their patrons; most the
teens and tweenies, but their parents as well.
The Davidson County Public Library Main Branch located in Lexington, NC uses MySpace
as a way to connect to the teens and tweenies in the community. Through just the blog feature
(figure 1) on the site they are able to remind the teens, and parents, of upcoming events the
library has planned for them, inform them of new books ordered for the YA collection, share
photos of events, and for the parents they post the Lexington Library Open Book (the Lexington
Library’s newsletter). The parents of the community have thanked the Lexington Library for the
MySpace page.
Figure 1
With the messaging system in MySpace (e-mail) this allows teens and parents to ask
questions directly to those in charge of the teen programs, ask for books to be order for the YA
collection, or to even ask for help with their homework.
On a monthly basis they have about 222 views to their blog; 4 with a total of 6493 views
to the blog since they began using MySpace. 5
Some other notable users of MySpace are the Loft at the Imagin On
(myspace.com/libraryloft) and the American Library Association (myspace.com/atyourlibrary).
There are roughly 500 libraries currently using MySpace as a way to communicate with their
patrons.6
3
Lexington Public Library myspace.com/Lexington_library, Thomasville Public Library
myspace.com/thomasvilleteens, West Davidson Public Library myspace.com/wdpl
4
This was based on the number of views in a one year period of 2008.
5
10/21/2006 was the start date for the Lexington Library Blog through MySpace.
6
http://searchservice.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=sitesearch.results&qry=Library&type=People figure
comes from searching out the word library in user name. 2/19/09
One social networking website that doesn’t look like your tradition social networking
website is Library Thing (librarything.com). There are many libraries who have embraced this
social networking site as their own library online catalogue, especially libraries with smaller
special collections. But there are some libraries that are using an intergraded version of Library
Thing to enhance existing card catalogue systems. Figure 2 shows how Library Thing and the
tagging is being used by the Davidson County Public Library system. Currently there are 113
library system use Library Thing in some capacity to help meet the need of their patrons. 7
Figure 2
Why They Have an Open Mind
It is easy to say no, but saying yes isn’t always that easy and can take many obstacles to
overcome. And there is more than one Director, Librarian, or associate willing to go to bat to
have these social networking sites available to the public to use on their public access
computers.
Meredith Farkas suggests on her blog8 those students or teens who might have a hard
time finding a libraries website, for any numerous of reasons, might find it easier and in their
scope of knowledge on finding that same library through one of the online social networking
websites if they have a presence there.
“We aren’t blocking it. It is vital to teen outreach here that it would not be in our
interest to block it though we have faced criticism.” 9
Many libraries tend to forget that teenagers and tweenies are patrons as well and their
needs must also be met.
7
http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/LTFL:Libraries_using_LibraryThing_for_Libraries
http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2006/05/10/libraries-in-social-networking-software/
Information to this blog was provided by Library D
9
Quote from Library E
8
One library equated the MySpace and other social networking websites to what
occurred when the discussion came around to allow paperback books into the library or not.
“I am so old, I can remember librarians arguing against including paperback books in the
collection because of the negative impact they would have! Formats and services are
constantly changing, and libraries must adapt if we’re to remain relevant. Sure, we may
have to set some priorities when problems arise due to bandwidth or other issues, but
we are already making choices in the delivery of other services.”10
Library C said that they faced the decision to block or not to block the social networking
sites and two articles really helped to the justification to allowing them was the ALA resolution
located at:
www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/ifissues/onlinesocialnetworks.pdf
And the YALSA Social Networking A Guide for Teens located at:
www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/profdev/teen_sn_brochure.pdf
YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) has also created a document called Teens and
Social Networking in Schools and Public Libraries: A Toolkit for Librarians and Library Workers
found here:
www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/profdev/SocialNetworkingToolkit_Jan08.pdf
Library B said it best “Computer users, especially younger ones, expect to have access to
MySpace, YouTube, and similar sites. This is how people, especially younger people,
communicate and exchange information today.”
Elizabeth Skinner of the Forsyth County Public library was kind enough to talk about
Social Networking Websites and the library. The Forsyth County Public Library allows "Social
Networking Websites" for their patrons over the age of 18; however some sites such as
MySpace have been blocked because of "objectionable content." They also have a basic
filtration system in place. Parents can opt for differing levels of permission regarding their
children's computer use in the library. The Forsyth County library system does use social
networking websites on a limited basis for contact with their patrons. Elizabeth herself
indicated that she believes that such websites "have a lot of merit" in our public libraries.
In Library L they do allow MySpace, but do so only for periods of 15 minutes for their
patrons and only those 17 years age and older. And in coming up with this policy they did have
an answer given to their patrons if asked about this change this change.
10
Quote from Library D
In the Davidson County Public Library System the only Social Networking Websites that
are blocked are those that allow adult images on their sites. And currently they are dealing with
one social networking site to determine what exactly their adult material policy is since it is not
implicitly stated in their TOS. And if it is determined that they don’t have one or allow adult
materials we will have to ban their site.
An e-mail from Tagged.com:
We are aware of the problem with pornographic content on our site and have a full time
team reviewing profiles that are in violation of our Terms of Service. Once these
accounts are discovered we immediately remove them.
It is this willingness to keep their site free of adult materials, is the reason why the
Davidson County Library is willing continue to allow their site even though from time to time
adults images might fall through the cracks. We know that if we do catch such images all we
have to do is report this to their Costumer Support Manager to allow them to take care of the
problem from their end.
They also have a very strong working relationship with MySpace as well. There have
been a number of times in which we have caught accounts with adult images on them and we
quickly report the profiles and within 3 business days the profiles with the images have been
removed.
MySpace has also been very diligent with keeping its site safe from Sexual Predators. In
February of 2009 MySpace removed over 90,000 sexual predators and offenders from their
site.11 Now that number might seem large but if you look at the number of users it is quite small
if you look at the bigger picture.
One of the more humors of policies about MySpace and its use came from Library A “I
just have to keep repeating this mantra to my staff and self: “”We bring people and ideas
together. We bring people and ideas together. We bring people and ideas together. We bring
people and ideas together.”” I also reserve the right to send them out the door when I see bare
asses.”
Social networking websites more than just places for teens to hang out but a place for
adults to help find jobs, new friends, partners, a place to live and more. One of the best
illustrations of this would be Social Networking in Plain English an online video created by the
Common Craft Show.
www.commoncraft.com/video-social-networking
11
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SEX_OFFENDERS_MYSPACE?SITE=WABEL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=
DEFAULT (The Bellingham Herald online Feb 3rd 9:19 PM EST Raleigh AP Marlon A. Walker)
The Excuses
With all the reasons for public libraries to allow access to social networking websites like
MySpace and Facebook, why would anyone fight to deny this access? Right or wrong the
answer to this question can be answered in one word: protection. Several bills have been
introduced on both the federal and state levels that would ban or strongly restrict the use of
such websites by minors in government funded schools and libraries.
Representative Michael Fitzpatrick, a republican from Pennsylvania introduced a bill
which he called “The Deleting Online Predators Act” or DOPA. According to Fitzpatrick, “When
children leave home and go to school or the public library and have access to social networking
sites, we have reason to be concerned.” His legislation would restrict access in public libraries
for minors to any web sites that would allow users to create public web pages or profiles or to
any public discussion boards, chat rooms or e-mail service. This bill was approved in the House
of Representatives in the summer of 2006 by a 410 – 15 vote, but died in the Senate before
being voted on.
Two similar bills, the “Social Networking Website Prohibition Act” introduced by Illinois
state senator Matt Murphy in early 2007 and Senate Bill 49 (Entitled Protecting Children in the
21st Century Act) introduced in January of 2007 by US Senator Ted Stevens (R, Alaska) are also
creating quite a stir among advocates and opponents alike. Although the intentions of such
bills are considered to be noble even by those who strongly oppose them, the fear that such
legislation may be an overstatement of governmental power is at the center of their concerns.
Also, vague language in both bills has caused concerns that the misinterpretation of intents
may restrict information that was never intended to be restricted. For example, Senator
Steven’s bill defines “social networking websites” in such a broad way that many believe it
could be used to include all blog sites and even stretched so far as to include Wikipedia as well.
So, is there a right was to protect our children from the potential dangers associated
with such websites as MySpace and Facebook? According to an interview on
www.switched.com “Library officials agree with the goal of the bill, but say that educating kids
and parents about the dangers of such sites is the only comprehensive solution to the problem,
which is a more fair point. Kids are crafty and aren’t only signing on to MySpace at the library.
Heck, any kid with a Sidekick could spend all day talking to predators and there would be no
way to know. We think a strong education program and some decent parenting can keep kids
safe online, regardless of where they sign on from and what sites they use.” (Source for last
quote: USA Today)
This goes in line with why Library H was forced to block MySpace and other such sites do
to the countless number of articles published out there about how children were being stalked
online. And the other mitigating factor was bandwidth issues as well. For them it was a double
whammy.
Library J was fearful for the juveniles whom could accidentally or purposefully disclose
person information to person(s) they did not know. And currently their teen librarian wants this
policy revisited, but Library J is not comfortable with this idea.
Library G chose to block MySpace and other online social networking sites do to the
bandwidth issues they were having with “these hoggish sites.” Bandwidth does cost money and
very few patrons are aware of this fact. And with the economic situation the country now faces
this can be seen as a legitimate reason for this.
The other issue is the problem of just the physical space and the number of public
access computers that can be made available to the public, which is another legitimate issue
libraries face. There is only so much room for books and public access computers and you can
only give so much to the computers, since libraries are homes for books first and foremost;
otherwise libraries would only be glorified internet cafés. Library I stated that they, “Were
faced with the problem of the MySpace crowd taking over the computers. Our regular patrons
could never find one available.”
In the End
In the end, Social Networking Sites aren’t going anywhere. They are here to stay or until
the internet is closed down for good, which is not going to happen. Public Libraries can allow
their patrons to access the sites or not. They can use the sites as another tool to interact and
help meet patron needs if they so choose and embrace the Library 2.0 mentality. And using and
allowing our patrons to use Social Networking Sites at either the library or at home allows us to
expand usage of the library and in the end the more we can show patron usage of our facilities
via the numbers game, the better we can justify our existence and continue to the serve the
patrons of our ever growing community. Many libraries tend to forget that teenagers and
tweenies are patrons as well and their needs must also be met.
It also appears that many of the libraries who don’t allow MySpace have not read the
TOS (terms of service) about what is allowed or not allowed on the site. Nor it appears they
have dealt with MySpace on the personal level dealing with such issues. For many of the
libraries who have a working relationship with MySpace, they have found it quite beneficial
when dealing with adult materials and sex offenders with getting them off the social
networking site permanently.
References/Works Cited
Library A, E-mail, January 09, 2007
Library B, E-mail, January 05, 2007
Library C, E-mail, October 22, 2007
Library D, E-mail, June 9, 2006
Library D, E-mail, October 23, 2007
Library E, E-mail, October 23, 2007
Library F, E-mail, April 03, 2007
Library G, E-mail, October22, 2007
Library H, E-mail, October 22, 2007
Library I, E-mail, October 22, 2007
Library J, E-mail, October 22, 2007
Library K, E-mail, October 23, 2007
Library L, E-mail, February 27, 2007
Elizabeth Skinner, phone interview February 9, 2009