Libraries and Social Networking - Response

In her article “The value of social software in school library instruction, communication and collaboration,” Laura L. Summers, Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado, Denver, explains how social networking tools in libraries not only enhance educational experiences for students and professional development for librarians, but they do so affordably. This is particularly good news given that school library programs are expected to generate consistent quantifiable evidence of their effectiveness despite the recent countrywide spending cuts (Summers, 2009, p. 49). Summers discusses various innovative ways librarians have put Wikis, Twitter, and Nings to work both instructionally and professionally.

Summers describes second grade teacher-librarian Tanya Jensen’s decision to use a wiki to create a collaborative research environment where students are able to edit each other’s work. Other than the obvious educational benefit of performing group research, students learn to find their “public voice” (Summers, 2009, p. 49) in a safe sandbox environment. Summers notes that the wiki was an ideal choice because it was free and allowed Ms. Jensen to easily manage and edit the website, ensuring the information posted was accurate. Ultimately, Summers believes this experiment was important because it demonstrate that “second-graders are capable of social scholarship” (2009, p. 49)

Library professionals benefit from wikis as well. To demonstrate this, Summers refers to the wiki that contains each school library conference or workshop sponsored by the Colorado Association of School Libraries. Event materials and related resources are archived and shared with librarians who could not attend the conference. This ensures that valuable information reaches as many of the intended audience as possible.

According to Summers, Twitter’s quick and succinct tweets allow Phil Goerner, a high school librarian to suggest material to the students. By tweeting new magazine headlines and book cover images, the student body is encouraged to visit the library and check out reading material. On a professional level, Summers notes that Goerner also benefits from twitter on a professional level. The network he developed puts him in contact with links, advice, and information about everything from resources and web 2.0, to books and events.

Finally, Summers explains the advantage of Nings in her rendering of Ning network the UC Denver’s online School Library & Instructional Leadership program created to bring online students together. This forum provides close mentoring to students at all times regardless of the time or their location. It also creates an arena where students can ask questions and have discussions related to the library profession. Instructors spark, participate in, and offer feed back on discussions and also use Ning as a way to disseminate information about library events, conferences, and resources.

Summers, L. L. (2009). The Value of Social Software in School Library Instruction, Communication, & Collaboration. Knowledge Quest, 37(4), 48-50. Retrieved July 1 from Library Literature and Information Science.