Social Networking

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Social Networking sites offer one of the most popular activities on the Internet. They are online communities and meeting places to interact with friends, relatives and other contacts with common interests. Once you have created a customized page or profile that expresses your interests and personality, you can link your profile to other users by adding friends or buddies to your account. This series of links makes up your network, and allows you to trace who you are connected to, and who your friends are connected to, etc., similar to the “Six Degrees of Separation” concept. Social Networking sites can also be used as promotional tools for bands, authors, and even libraries.

Here's a great overview of Social Networking.  Take a few minutes to watch it.

The following are some of the most prominent social networking websites.

• MySpace: One of the most familiar and popular of these sites. Millions of teens and twentysomethings start out here, and users can customize the look and content of their own page. Bands, authors and libraries use it as a marketing tool as well.
• Facebook: Originally designed for college students, it has a slightly older audience, and features a cleaner look. You cannot see any profiles on Facebook unless you have an account.
• LinkedIn: This is geared toward the work environment for posting resumes, building career contacts, or getting professional advice.  You can also connect with college alums here.
• Eons: Social networking and activity sharing geared toward ages 50+.

Also see this extensive list of social networking sites, which including sites based on interests such as music, movies, sports, and gaming.

1. Choose one of the social networking sites listed above. If you already belong to a social networking site, try a new one.
2. Visit the site and create a new profile. You can use fictional information if you're worried about privacy.
3. Upload a photo to your profile (it doesn't have to be your picture, it could be an animal, a design or a logo) and fill in some of the "about me" features. Give your profile a little personality and be as creative as you’d like.
4. Now go explore a little more. Search for someone you know:  a friend, a co-worker, a former classmate, a famous author, or even one of the current presidential candidates. Add them to your friends list.
5. Create a blog post about your experience. What features do you like or dislike about the site(s) you visited? What do you think makes them so popular?
    

Want to try even more? (optional)

There are several social networking sites designed for book lovers. These sites include LibraryThing , Shelfari, Anobii and GoodReads. Members can create online "bookshelves" where they can rate or review the titles they've read and share recommendations with their friends. Several libraries have even begun to integrate LibraryThing features into their online catalogs.

Take a look around one of these sites. (You don't have to create an account to browse them, but feel free to register if you'd like.) Search for one or two of your favorite books and see how other readers have rated, reviewed, or tagged the item. You can take a look at the Children's Department's LibraryThing account as well as the Young Adult LibraryThing Account to see how they are using it.  Do you think our Library could benefit by offering some of these features? Add your thoughts to your blog.

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