“ok, this is just too weird.” identifying outreach opportunities in facebook elizabeth edwards...
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“OK, THIS IS JUST TOO WEIRD.”IDENTIFYING OUTREACH
OPPORTUNITIES IN FACEBOOKElizabeth Edwards
The George Washington University
FACEBOOK: WHAT IS IT? A social networking site A community of more than 90 million active
users A development platform “A social utility that connects you with the
people around you.”
FACEBOOK: WHO USES IT?
As of 2006, 55% of all teens who use social networking sites have used Facebook or Myspace, and 48% visit daily or more often.
“The fastest growing demographic is those 25 years and older.”
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
What role does technology play in our students' study habits?
What role does Facebook play in the lives of GW students?
How can the library use Facebook to connect with GW students?
METHODOLOGY
Three phases: Review of profiles and observation of student
activity on Facebook Survey of GW students Semi-structured interviews with Facebook users
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
How does Facebook as a recreational practice impact your study habits and academic life?
How would you feel if a librarian “friended” you? Under what circumstances would you feel comfortable “friending” a librarian or accepting a librarian’s friend request?
What sort of information would you expect/want to find on a librarian’s profile page (social or practical)?
RECOMMENDATIONS
When developing a virtual presence, consider students’ actual perceptions of the library.