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The tremendous popularity of social networking sites like Facebook presents libraries with unique opportunities for reaching students. What many organizations fail to realize, however, is that Facebook is perceived by its users as a primarily social (would "recreational" be better here?) space, and that the presence of professors, librarians, or parents can be intrusive, unwelcome, or just plain "weird" for the very students they're trying to reach. The George Washington University's Gelman Library decided to take a step back and ask a critical question: what do our students want? That is, how do our students really use Facebook, and what part can the library play in this social environment? Gelman librarians worked with an anthropologist to conduct a mixed methods study of students' use of Facebook, focusing on the intersection of students' academic and social lives in this platform. By identifying the unspoken rules and patterns of behavior, the researchers made recommendations for Gelman's Facebook initiatives. This presentation will offer an overview of this study and its findings in light of contemporary thinking and practices among (technologically savvy?) librarians. The study's recommendations bear critically not only on existing literature about Facebook and libraries, but also on popular assumptions about online social networks. A discussion of Gelman's experiences in implementing and refining its Facebook campaign will facilitate a broader consideration of the opportunities social networking sites present for libraries, and the merits of anthropological research in evaluating these new, "social" technologies.
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Facebook & Libraries:An Ethnographic Evaluation
Elizabeth EdwardsThe George Washington University
Facebook What is it? Who uses it?
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.”
GW and Facebook
Our University
Our Library
Our Students and Facebook
The Library and Facebook
YourLibrarian
IsYour
Friend
The Library and Facebook
Creating this Study
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
Survey Questions
Survey Questions
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)?
Students and Facebook
Students and Facebook
Students and Facebook
Students and Facebook
Librarians and Facebook
Librarians and Facebook
Librarians and Facebook
“Weird.”
Librarians and Facebook
Librarians and Facebook
“Oh, well I would use that.”
Librarians and Facebook
Librarians and Facebook
“Just please don't start Poking us kids.”
Reflections
On This Study…
On Facebook…
Thank you
Elizabeth Edwardsedwards@gelman.gwu.edu
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