Social Networking for Information Professionals: An evaluation.

Well I started this subject in November 2012 and now it time to finish the unit and post my evaluative statement. Please read and feel free to comment on any thing I posted during the semester.

(1) an evaluative statement using three (3) experiences documented in your OLJ as evidence of meeting the learning objectives of the subject (@750 words)


a) An understanding of social networking technologies.

I developed an understanding of social networking technologies as I progressed through the learning activities in the subject. I began to see that out of the static web [Web 1.0] grew people’s desire to not just consume information but to share it as well. Innovations created Web 2.0 where people began to make content, publish, discuss, broadcast multimedia, participate in gaming and virtual worlds. This evolution is continuing as newer tools  segment  the social media landscape to service niche needs. No one tool is a be all and end all in fact audiences are fickle as they leave one tool to use  another such as in Friendster’s case with a desertion over to Facebook. [1] However, some developments point towards an immersive environments as being the future. I participated in a Second Life Training Session we my distance education class meet together and explored how to use avatars and interact in ways not normally possible off campus. It does have possibilities if you are separated by geography as it allows you to interact and co-create with one another. This is in contrast to my earlier opinion see - What are gaming and virtual worlds: http://aroundthewebin100clicks.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/web-20-
technologies-and-social-software.html

b)  An understanding of concepts, theory and practices of Library 2.0 and participatory library service.

As I progressed through the Library 2.0 unit my understanding of the concepts on which it is based and the reasons for participatory library services grew. The need for change has become apparent as social networking continues shape how customers interact with service organizations. Customers now expect to collaborate, have conversations with these organizations, feel a part of a community and create content just as they do on any social networking site. Libraries need to meet the challenges of the four “C’s” by adopting a user centered approach to providing services.[2]  Use of web 2.0 tools such as Twitter, Facebook and Spark IM make it possible for libraries to engage with customers, seek feedback, create customer driven change and innovate services.  Thus the customers identifying as owning and being in  partnership with the library service. As a result I now can appreciate why libraries must evolve and adopt Library 2.0 strategies.


c) Be able to examine the functionality and features of various social networking tools to meet the information needs of users.

There are many social media tools being used to discuss, share, publish, network, play games, provide geographic guides and information on events, critically review services and act as commerce portals. All these tools place the customer at the center of the network so that shared opinions and experiences can be used to enhance, improve and value add to services offered by commercial and non- profit organizations. Libraries are generally non- profit entities that serve different user segments. So a social networking strategy must be tailored to customer demographics, organizational goals and  the prevalent technologies available. This is demonstrated in my post  A comparison of libraries using social networking to meet their organizational goals. Differences in the use of tools chosen may be accounted for by divergence in operational goals of each organization and how social media tools support these goals (Gertz, C., personal communication, 21 January 2013). Organizations also need to be forward facing and investigate new niche tools as they available in order compare them with current tools and usefulness. For example,  Facebook is popular today but  could be replaced by another newer social media platform in the future.



d) Able to evaluate social networking tools to support information and collaborative needs of work groups, communities and organizations.

I would recommend taking into consideration these points when choosing tools for an library, work group or whole organization. The needs of customers differ according to the type of organization they receive services from. Therefore organizations require a user needs assessment be done so that the use of social media tools are aligned with organizational operations and goals.[3]  As tools used by a library will not be suitable for a bank or an arts community. Also the design of the social network is important so that users adopt the tools quickly, allowing them to personalize pages, enable easy searching for and posting of content through multiple means e.g. smart phone access or laptop etc.[4] The use of social media within an organization also requires a culture shift by senior management and staff. As their support and participation is necessary to drive the take up of social media internally and reap the benefits of sharing information and receiving feedback. Without considering these points the success of a social media project may be hindered and loose some of the benefits that social media offers to organizations.


e) Demonstrated an understanding of the social, cultural, educational, ethical and technical management issues.

Social networking has fundamentally changed how individuals and society access, share and use digital content. The rate information is shared between a person and their networks has rapidly increased since the invention of mobile telecommunications and social networking platforms. Social networking has presented governments, corporations and organizations with security, public relations, legal challenges and access issues. The individual  has to consider their right to free speech, the responsibility of it and the erosion of privacy in an online environment. [5] So it necessary for individuals and organizations to consider and implement policies to protect information and inform users of their rights.
However, social networking has tremendous value in  education, training and geographically dispersed organizations. It allows individuals and groups to work together, share ideas and build relationships when separated by large distances. Thus strengthening information sharing, corporate culture and learning throughout an organization. So when used in the right way social networking can be a valuable tool to communicate, build trust, educate and provide services to individuals.

References:

1. FredCavazza.net. 2008. Social Media Landscape. [ONLINE] Available  at:http://www.fredcavazza.net/2008/06/09/social-media-landscape/. [Accessed 18 January 2013].

2.  Library 2.0 and participatory library services. 2012. [ONLINE] Available at:  http://aroundthewebin100clicks.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/library-20-and-participatory-library.html. [Accessed 19 January, 2013].

3. Grenfell, C. 2011. Deploying microblogging in organizations. Retrieved from:
http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_microblogging/index.html  
[Accessed 19 January, 2013].

4. Doig, S. 2012. Social networking and the organization. Retrieved from:
http://www.aroundthewebin100clicks.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/social-networking-and-organization.html


5. Doig, S. [2012]. Privacy in the ON-line environment. Retrieved from: http://www.aroundthewebin100clicks.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/privacy-in-on-line-environment.html



(2) A reflective statement on your development as a social net worker as a result of studying INF206, and the implications for your development as an information professional (@750 words).

This is what I said at the beginning of studying INF206:

At the very beginning of studying INF206 my thoughts about social networking were confined to my own personal experience. So this statement from my first entry on this blog reflects this.

“In INF206 Social Networking for Information Professionals, I hope to expand my understanding of social networking technologies, to understand theory and the practice of using Library 2.0 to interact with customers in creating a collaborative library service. Be able to evaluate various social networking tools against users and community needs to recommend a social networking strategy. Then develop knowledge of how a social networking strategy impacts on individuals and organizations and the issues associated with using this technology to create and implement an information policy in an organizational context.”


At the end of this subject my knowledge about social networking has been enlarged to include issues about privacy, strategy and the wider world of government and organizational policy. Upon examining how far my understanding has progressed since starting my learning journey about social media and being an information professional. Now as I reflect at the end of this subject the following thoughts and ideas come to mind.

When this subject first commenced my understanding of social networking was limited. I had very specific ideas about what social networking was useful for on a personal level. Prior to this I had not considered the uses and implications for organizations in a social media environment. During the session various learning tasks were undertaken to build knowledge of social networking tools; to understand each tools strengths, capabilities, weaknesses in engaging with various consumer groups and the ramifications  for private citizens, government and organizations.

This course has changed how I view social media as an information professional. I understand now that as an information professional, how customers communicate, and by what means, now changes how my profession functions. This means doing more delivery of services online in virtual environments that are familiar to our customers. Social paradigms that exist in the physical world also apply to the online world. For example, people will compliment and complain, question decisions, want to request that resources are acquired, and share opinions with others. Libraries have needed to adapt to this change in client communication preferences by moving from a paper based service organization to a digitally rich and interactive online service organization. Some libraries the adoption of social media has increased the organizations ability to interact with their customers. Other libraries have gone a step further and have introduced a bibliocommons [http://www.bibliocommons.com/] catalogue interface to leverage the social interactions of customers with library resources. Working with customers this way can lead to innovation in services in partnership with a library service or information provider. Thus enhancing the client’s opinion of the organization and enabling effective community engagement for the organization. When I look at the way this model works in libraries, especially public libraries, I realize that I am participating in ‘Government 2.0’ in a smaller scale. That is the community is working with the local library service to shape collection development, customer service standards and operational policies.

However, I would like to point out that social media is just one channel of communication. Although print is declining in use, it is still a valuable medium to reach out to customers who do not want to use online sources of information. Radio and TV still hold some value in communicating messages about library policies and programs too. All of these mediums serve different audiences and so a library, museum or other organization needs to take into account their audience. Social media is just one part of an organization’s overall communication strategy and should not replace other traditional communication channels. Although I do see more communication, data applications and entertainment moving towards delivery of content through mostly online means. Due to improvements in technology and the changes it will bring on society.

So as a information professional I should be informed about social networking trends. As social networking tools that are popular today can be replaced by newer tools due to changes in public preferences. I should also be able to teach my customers how to use them so that they can engage in online advocacy. I can also act as a change driver/influencer within my organization to make them aware of issues, government policies and social media trends. On a personal level when acting for an organization online I need to follow established protocols and make sure that information posted by me is timely, accurate and reliable source of information.

My five top points for discussion when creating a social media policy.

Well here's my 5 point list to discuss with a Social Media Policy at a fictional workplace that's just considering using web 2.0 tools. This list is written from the organization's perspective to discuss employee behavior and responsibilities when using social networks. I've tried to be both practical and upbeat while introducing some accountability.

1. A social media policy is for all employees of a company not just a few that work in marketing. It spells out what is expected of an employee by an employer and what an employee can and cannot do; along with the consequences of using social media irresponsibly. [http://mashable.com/2009/04/27/social-media-policy/]

2. Published information on social networks must comply with copyright and confidentially laws. Not complying runs the risk of both company and employee being sued. All using social media need to know and understand this very significant point. [http://mashable.com/2009/06/02/social-media-policy-musts/]

3. Social media does have pitfalls but with careful consideration can be overcome and bring positive value to your business. It gives customers another channel to directly interact with you and to enable solve problems in your customer's and business's best interests. [http://mashable.com/2009/06/02/social-media-policy-musts/]

4. Employees using social media on behalf of the business must have official permission to do so; have had training; understand the issues surrounding the use of social media; communications with customers should be transperent identifying the employee's position and comments to customers are the official response and will be followed up by the relevant officer. 

5. Use of personal social media accounts should be restricted to official rest breaks only. Employees should be aware that use of social media could be monitored when using it on company IT infrastructure. Posting of defamatory remarks or offensive comments may result in disciplinary action.

Do you have any opinions about what a social media policy working group should consider when writing a SM policy? 

 

Oh say what is truth and who says it is truth?

For this journal post I read the following articles:

•  Wittenberg, K. (2007). Credibility of content and the future of research, learning, and publishing in the digital environment. The Journal of Electornic Publishing, 10(1). Available http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=jep;cc=jep;rgn=main;view=text;idno=3336451.0010.101  
•  Yardi, S., Romero, D., Schoenebeck, G. & danah boyd. (2010). Detecting spam in a Twitter network, First Monday, 15(1), 4 January. Available http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2793/2431
•  Garfinkel, S. (2008). Wikipedia and the meaning of truth. Technology Review, 111(6), 84-86.

 This articles all link to the idea that false and misleading information can infiltrate any network no matter what kind of network it is. Whether it be an academic network which publishes a peer-reviewed journal, an on-line community encyclopedia or a social network populated with trusted friends and professional colleagues.

Which brings me to think about the phrase "Oh say what is truth" and then to add who says it is truth? The problem with today's interlinked society is that the veracity of information is subjective. It depends upon the context of which the information sort for is retrieved, the experience of the retriever and that of the author of information. Depending on the experience and the reputation of the author the reader will take accuracy of the reported information for granted. However, even authors can make mistakes and these published mistakes can take on a life of their own.

That is why I say that to learn about information literacy and practice it can be one of the biggest gifts we as a society can give to our citizens. To be taught to sift information for oneself, to verify it before trusting it will hopefully make us wiser to the uninformed  and junk news grabs of the networked world. To be able to critically think and exercise one's free choice without having to follow the crowd. Is still just as important today as it was in Galileo's day.  As a famous saying goes "you can't believe everything that's in print" is still true even if it is on a computer tablet instead of in a newspaper.

Reading these articles made me aware that miss-information can leach into any network. So being taught information literacy skills and passing these skills on to my future clients; will hopefully make me a better information professional than I am now and benefit  my customers.

Privacy in the ON-line environment.

For this post I read: 

• Davis, L. (2009). 8 tools to track your footprints on the Web, February 1. Available http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/8_tools_to_track_your_footprin.php 

• Pearson, J. (2009). Life as a dog: Personal identity and the internet. Meanjin, 68(2), 67-77.  

•  Raynes-Goldie, K. (2010). Aliases, creeping, and wall cleaning: Understanding privacy in the age of Facebook, First Monday, 15(1), 4 January. Available http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2775/2432   

What is important in terms of how we present and manage those identities online?  

All of us who use the internet leave a foot print which in turn can be used by others to create a profile or an identity. Theses identities can enhance our reputations or have negative effects. It can improve our ability to get a promotion, obtain financial benefits or influence others. On an organisational front a commercial entity also requires that it's online identity creates trust and confidence to engage positively with it's customers. Without careful management both private citizens and corporations can both suffer a poor public image, lack of confidence in the ability to deliver services and finally affect monetary earning capacity. Once a piece of information  is on the internet, social site or indexed in a search engine it's there for ever. It isn't editible nor can it be removed, it can still influence opinions years after an attempt to correct the miss-information was made. That makes it even more important to think about what we are posting on line, when we are posting those updates on line. As the consequences can come back to roost years after individuals and coporations have assigned incidents to the history books. All the more reason to have a personal and/or corporate information policy, proceedures and guidelines?


 What can we share and what should we retain as private to the online world?

As a private person I am of the opinion that we should share only that we need to share. The concept of social privacy is important as I only want to share information with people I know or have some sort of relationship with. I do censor what I put up on line and it probably doesn't make very exciting reading. How ever, with this networked world you can't get a package delivered from on online shop without you sharing some personal details about yourself. Nor can you apply for a new job without putting your resume online for a potential employer to see. For me how much I share depends on the amount of control I have over the information I give. Whether the site I give the information to is a government one or a commercial one. If a commercial one is it an Australian Site that is governed by the Privacy act? Or if overseas do I have to rely on the terms of service and that the company will do the right thing with my personal details. For me I am inclined only enough information in exchange for a service that I require if I perceive I have less control over the information shared. Sorry if I sound vague that's because with each site the terms of services may view privacy over my information differently. Therefore I have to take each one on a case by case basis and is it worth it to get the services I require.

Access issues and the evolving cloud.

  == Information access for all, adequate bandwidth/wireless/mobile connectivity and the 'digital divide'.==

I read these two articles for this post:

Bertot, J. C., Jaeger, P. T., McClure, C. R., Wright, C. B., & Jensen, E. (2009). Public libraries and the Internet 2008-2009: Issues, implications, and challenges. First Monday, 14(11). Available http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/viewArticle/2700/2351

and

Nelson, M. R. (2009). Building an open cloud [Cloud computing as platform]. Science, 324(5935), 1656-1657. 

These two articles have different perspectives on accessing the internet. Bertot's exploration of the access for all debate comes from the expectation that is placed upon public libraries by customers and the government to deliver e-services. The demand for access to e-services via the internet continues to increase. 

Since the GFC some public libraries in the US have struggled to keep service standards the same. As budgets have contracted the ability to provision of contact hours, failure of infrastructure to keep up with demand and government's reliance electronic services has placed added burden on public libraries.

While this may not seem such an issue in affluent city areas. The problems with having sufficient time to look for work, maintain electronic contact with family or friends, accessing government information in poor urban or rural areas via the internet has been exacerbated.  Most libraries in this study group reported that they do not have enough computer terminals to services their needs, the connection is slow due to insufficient bandwidth and frequently the customers alloted time is inadequate for their needs.

Nelson points out that as technology evolves more computing services will migrate from our desktops to the internet's cloud.   There are three scenarios that he forsees that may happen, a) many clouds - the lack of government policy has made it possible for silos of data to exist tied to specific platforms without any interoperability; b) data has the ability to migrate from cloud to cloud but not with its software and c) both data and software are interchangable between cloud hosts.

I can see that as this technology evolves it will place even greater demand on public libraries for access to internet services. This is because we are moving from an internet of things to an internet of everything. We as public librarians have a duty to be advocates for our customers. We can lobby governments so that they are better informed about technology trends and issues. Hopefully to better resource our libraries better but also promote policies that encourage further democratisation of internet services such as cloud storage. 

Got any comments? 
 

The Digital Shift, Information Policy and Society.

Here are five trends that I identified from the video above:

1. The switch to digital media from traditional media is impacting how products are marketed to individuals.

2. People are more inclined to not pay for material downloaded off the internet than they are to legally get access. But they would rather pay for add free TV than sit through mundane advertisements.

3.  Miniaturization of technology has enabled more people to conveniently communicate  and use the internet from anywhere than possible in the past.

4. Alot of people are using social networks whether to promote causes, products or ideologies or just to comment about current issues to friends, family or anyone who'll listen.

5, Social media is now a conduit for breaking the lastest news stories due to it's crowd sourcing ability.


These 5 trends that have been identified since the transition from traditional media to digital media began. This digital shift has impacted upon how governments, corporations and individuals communicate, exchange and control information. Governments and corporations have attempted to control the flow of information with policies and laws in order to protect intellectual property and resources invested in creating content for profit. While some consumers of digital content challenge this control by pirating content avoiding paying for it through illegal networks while others would prefer to pay to view content add free. The ability to access content from multiple sources has meant that governments and media organizations had to join the digital revolution in order to reach out and communicate with digital citizens.
Citizens have also benefited from the miniaturizing of technology and the advent of mobile communications by being able to access social networking sites on the move. Giving people the ability voice opinions, influence others and access content on any topic at any time.

This has made it necessary for governments and corporations to develop information policies to address the behaviors of individuals which are contrary to the common good of nations and protect intellectual property. For example individuals can voice an opinion that  may contain factual errors which could affect reputation of another person or cause undue financial hardship to an organization or an individual. This is particularly pertinent when considering an individual   may act on behalf of a government body or being in an influential officer in a corporation. Having an information policy in place provides a means to manage social media use and regulate an individual's behavior in accordance with accepted organizational practices. The policy is also necessary to inform individuals using social media of their responsibilities when acting in behalf of an organization and any consequences of misuse.

Do you have any comments?