Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Librarians on Facebook

I've been avoiding Facebook and all "social networking" websites. If there were an antisocial networking site, I might join, but what would be the point. I have that already right here on the AL.

Still, many academic librarians want to get on Facebook as a way to expose themselves to students. Here's one inspiring story for the Frustys, about a librarian who had an entire Facebook group dedicated just to him, with about 350 members! Now that's the sort of popularity most librarians can only dream of!

20 comments:

Library Playground said...

"Here's one inspiring story for the Frustys, about a librarian who had an entire Facebook group dedicated just to him"

He is a student who worked as a library assistant.

Anonymous said...

"Still, many academic librarians want to get on Facebook as a way to expose themselves to students."

Sounds nasty, and like another SRRT plot.

Anonymous said...

Interesting. Kind of follows along with this study (http://www.danah.org/papers/essays/ClassDivisions.html) that shows the Facebook crowd as strong kin to the "Late Night Shots" group while the Myspacers tend to be those abused by the Facebookies.

AL said...

Myspacers abused by the Facebookers. This is just sad. Pretty soon the Secondlifers will gang up on them all.

Anonymous said...

If I had a list of people that didn't like me Facebook would have to get more disk space. It would start with the Unionator, include a Marxist and go downhill from there.

This guy seems a bit thin skinned, so people don't like you get over it.

the library girl said...

Most recent comment about Facebook overheaded by a librarian co-worker:

I only joined Facebook to stay in touch with my fellow colleagues."

There's gotta be a better way!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, it's called email.

Brent said...

"...many academic librarians want to get on Facebook as a way to expose themselves to students."

"Expose" is the wrong term to use in this day and age.

Anonymous said...

That was my thought exactly Brent: "exposed" is definitely not the term given this day and age. As for Second Lifers beating others up, remember, they have that SL Liberation Army going. I am just waiting for the reports of bombers acting in SL. Anyhow, just another day in cyberspace it seems.

Anonymous said...

I almost forgot, there is an antisocial site. It's snubster. It's kind of a way to put people "on notice." After all, you don't need to have any more "friends." What we need is a list of those who "are dead to us."

AL said...

But the Second Life terrorists have already struck! See this article from the L.A. Times. "Angry avatars have taken virtual action. Reebok weathered a nuclear bomb attack and customers were shot outside the American Apparel store."

Robert M. Lindsey said...

AL said... "Myspacers abused by the Facebookers. This is just sad. Pretty soon the Secondlifers will gang up on them all."

I thought SL was for the losers.

Anonymous said...

DWB: thanks for the tip about snubster!
That's what I'll do - add you ALL to my Snubster list! Dead To Me! That'll show you... oh wait...

Anonymous said...

I feel sorry for the guy, and on a related note all this gung-ho to get on Facebook sounds like the real world equivalent of the librarian heading down to the campus bar and setting up a table to offer bibliographic instruction.

I mean, why go into the virtual world as a librarian---you know your charisma is low and your dexterity isn't so hot? It'd be much better to go as my favorite avatar, a chaotic neutral Kung-Fu monk.

Anonymous said...

Facebook and myspace jumped the shark as soon as parents, teachers and librarians got in on the act.

Tom said...

You do use Del.icio.us, however, and you even share your bookmarks!

Kevin Musgrove said...

As far as social networking's concerned I'd settle just for some of our librarians to answer their sodding telephones or talk to their staff occasionally.

AL said...

I do use del.icio.us, even in real life. In fact, I'm less diligent about its AL use than in my normal use, which reminds me I should spend a few minutes updating.

As for answering the telephone or talking to staff, I avoid that whenever possible. That's why I like asynchronous communication like email, so I don't have to talk to anyone or be anyplace. My ideal job would be telecommuting to my current job, ideally for a little more money.

Anonymous said...

There's always the Isolatr:

http://isolatr.com/

Anti-social networking! Read the FAQ -it's hilarious

Anonymous said...

Facebook was so 2005!
Mike Murphy is pretty awesome though.