Library applications of the social networking feature

[Marylin J. Raisch]

To my mind, there are three aspects to social networking: 1) enjoying a different and more content-rich venue for chatting or conversing, 2) promotion of professional image via a personal profile, and 3) in some sites, storing and tagging information of use to oneself or others on a continuing basis or to store for later use. My perhaps generational take on this is that the library and professional applications are mainly the latter two. This is not to be anti-social, but the water-cooler effect may have a more limited lifespan. I would be eager to hear what others think.

[Scott Frey]

I feel that I should say that (3) is the most useful aspect of social networking. But for some reason, I've never gotten into tagging and storing information on Web 2.0 sites. Perhaps it's because I don't know which sites to devote my attention to.

For me, (1) is the most important part of social networking -- especially the part about "content-rich." (To the extent that (3) relates to putting materials from various sites in one place, I'd also find that significant.) Blame it on Facebook. I want "one site to rule them all" -- whether it's Facebook, iGoogle, whatever -- so that I don't have to look in a bunch of places for the content I've collected.

When it comes to a legal research project, I'm happy to go from database to database, site to site, online to print, in order to find something useful. But when I want to organize my life and connections to friends, information, etc., I want just one site, two or three at most. Social networking promises that convenience.

I'm interested whether social networking becomes more useful for legal research, aside from the collection of resources in one place. But for my personal life, collection of resources is what makes social networking most beneficial.

I've said "I" far too much in this post. Is my experience similar to others'? Also, how much does personal social networking relate to professional social networking?

[Kathie Sullivan]

Marylin, this discussion may dovetail with something I was thinking about at 3:00 a.m. !
And if this is more appropriate for just the Consultants group, that's fine.
In addition to the content-rich aspects of social networking, for consultants it may well be a way to broaden exposure and hopefully develop business contacts and clients. What are the acceptable standards for using Linked-In and other networks for marketing? How have others used social networking with success to develop business?
Kathie

[Marylin J. Raisch]

I've heard some interesting reflections, and here is another take on social networking where one application derives potential value from another, more pervasive application; Facebook and Blackboard present together. Hat tip to my colleague Kumar Jayasuriya who found this piece at DownloadSquad, http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/05/14/students-take-heed-blackboa...

[Wendy Reynolds]

Has anyone tried/know of social networking tools used for training young lawyers? I wonder if chat or wikis (or any similar technologies) have been sucessfully used as a forum to allow students and new associates to exchange insight, ask "stupid" questions and generally get their feet wet in a "safer" environment.

[Sara Burriesci]

How are law librarians using social networking in their formal legal research teaching? In a survey I recently posted on SurveyMonkey several people said they are using them. I'd be very interested in hearing how . . .

[Scott Frey]

I'm co-teaching an online legal research course now. I think we'll mention social networking briefly, as part of the discussions of newer legal research tools (some of which include social features) and legal research on general websites (e.g., legal research is possible on Facebook).