social software, teens, and libraries
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Social Software, Teens, and Libraries. Cheryl Becker & Shawn Brommer South Central Library System. NEWIL, April 2007. Today’s Agenda. Definitions and examples Statistics/Millennials Benefits Safety Discussion and Demos (somewhere—a break). What is social software?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Social Software, Teens, and Libraries
Cheryl Becker & Shawn Brommer
South Central Library System
NEWIL, April 2007
Today’s Agenda
Definitions and examplesStatistics/MillennialsBenefitsSafetyDiscussion and Demos
(somewhere—a break)
What is social software?
Social software enables people to rendezvous, connect or collaborate through computer-mediated communication and to form online communities. (from Wikipedia)
“Web 2.0”
Some Examples of Social Software:
Blogs / RSS Wikis Instant Messaging (IM) Media sharing Social Networking Services Social Bookmarking Social Cataloging Virtual worlds and multiplayer online games
Blog
Short for “web log.” User-generated website with entries in
journal format. Owner posts commentary, allowing others to
comment. Creates online discussion forum. RSS (Really Simple Syndication)
Allows users to subscribe to blogs.
A Sampling of Blogs
Walking Paper The Shifted Librarian Tinfoil + Raccoon librarian.net TeenRead 07
Wiki
Collaborative resource creationAllows users to add, edit, remove
contentExamples
Wikipedia Library Success Citizendium
Instant Messaging
“IM” Immediate, real-time chat (text) InstantaneousPoint of needAOL, MSN, Yahoo
Media Sharing
Organize, store, tag, shareGroups Examples:
Flickr (photos) SmugMug (photos) YouTube (videos)
Social Networking Services
Places to meet and communicateShared interests or causes Combines IM, blog, photo sharing,
“Friending”Examples:
MySpace Facebook Friendster
Example of a MySpace Account
Social Bookmarking
Putting bookmarks of your favorite websites in a web directory to share with others. Or yourself!
Examples: del.icio.us Furl Blue Dot
Social Cataloging
Allow users to tag items Share catalogs with others Interact with others based upon shared
items(How very “library like”!)“MySpace for books”Example: LibraryThing
“Virtual Worlds” Massively-Multiplayer Online Games
(MMOGs) Online places to meet and interact with
other people/avatars in a virtual world (which looks somewhat like reality).
Examples: Second Life Runescape Club Penguin
Teens, Internet Use & Social Networking
Teen brain development Millennials Information seeking habits of teens Some statistics Benefits What does this mean for libraries?
Teen Brain Development
Hormones vs. Brains!
Social development
Risk taking
Emotional response
Information seeking habits of teens
Successful methods to address: Cognitive approaches Affective approaches Socio-cultural
approaches Physical approaches
Valenza, Joyce Kasman, “They Might Be Gurus.” VOYA, April 2006.
Millennials (1982 – 2000)
Larger than the Baby Boom generation
36% of the U.S. population.
31% of this population are from diverse cultures
—Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation, Neil Howe & Bill Strauss
Distinct qualities of Millennials
They are special They are sheltered They are confident They are team-oriented They are achieving They are pressured They are conventional
Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation, Neil Howe & Bill Strauss
Millennials: Deal With Them!
Digital Natives Multi-taskers Delay choices = Need info now Social = Large network of friends Games Reading doesn’t necessarily mean books Diverse learning styles
—Stephen Abram
Teens & Technology 87% of American teens use the
Internet on a regular basis. 1 out of 2 teens lives in a home with
a broadband connection. Their world is wired: 83% say most
of the people they know use the internet
—Teens & Technology, PEW Internet & Life Project
How are they using the Internet?
81% are playing games (over 17 million)76% are getting news (over 16 million)43% are making purchases (9 million)31% are seeking health information (6
million)Use email, but prefer IM (75% of teens
use IM)—Teens & Technology (PEW Internet & Life Project)
Where are they when they go online?
89% - home 75% - school 70% - a friend or relative’s house 50% - the library50% - the library 9% - a community center or house of
worship
—Web 2.0 and What it Means to Libraries (PEW Internet & Life Project)
Source: Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources, OCLC, 2005, question 1207.
Social software for kids in libraries because. . .
They live their lives onlineThey get their information from the
InternetThey socialize onlineThey expect it
Additionally. . .
They are future tax-payers and future library supporters.
This is the way teens seek, share and recommend information
We want libraries to remain relevant
. . . Not to mention, there are benefits of social software!
Benefits of social software
Critical thinking Reading and writing skills
46% of teens read blogs 39% of teens share their own creations (stories,
poetry, artwork, photos, videos) 28% of teens have created their own online
journal or blog Collaboration
33% have worked together to create web pages (for school, clubs, friends or personal use)
Benefits (2)
Boundaries and expectations
Communicating with authors, experts, etc.—Social and cultural competence
Communication between those with special interests
Benefits (3)
Equalizing Appearance, status, disabilities
Gaming: “Subversive Learning” Learn skills Form coalitions Decision making
“Virtual malt shop”
Benefits (4)
See the YALSA articles (bibliography)
Social Networking and DOPA
Teens & Social Networking in School & Public Libraries
Libraries are using social software to:
Support informational, educational, entertainment needs
Attract and serve new usersBe where our users are—onlineSatisfy user expectations for online
service
Library Examples
(“Library 2.0”)
Blogs
School: Mabryonline (Georgia) Classroom: AP Calculus (Winnipeg)
Academic: UW OshkoshPublic: Menasha Public Library Special:
St. Mary’s Health Sciences Library (Michigan)
Wikis
School: Pershing Middle (California) Classroom: AP History (Pennsylvania)
Academic: Ohio University LibrariesPublic:
Stevens County Rural Library District (Washington)
Instant Messaging
School: Fremont High School (California)Academic: UW MadisonPublic: Stoughton Public LibrarySpecial:
Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries
Media Sharing
School: SmugMug exampleAcademic: Little Priest Tribal College
(Nebraska)Public: Thomas Ford Memorial Library
(Illinois)Special: Brooklyn Museum of Art
MySpace
Public: Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County (North Carolina)
Academic: University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Special: Brooklyn Museum (New York)
Del.icio.us
Public: Lansing Public Library (Illinois)Academic:
Maui Community College Library (Hawaii) Norwich University (Vermont)
LibraryThing
Public: Franklin Township Public Library (New Jersey)
Academic: Southwestern Community College (Iowa)
Gaming
Public: Beloit Public LibraryAcademic: Mohawk College (Ontario)
Is internet safety an issue?
It can be. Not all information is accurate. People online can be rude or exploitative.
(as in person!) Anonymity can encourage bad behavior.
Potential for online scamming, identity theft, predation.
But, wait. . .
But wait. . .
Danger lurks in the “real world” tooOnline networking isn’t going awayWe don’t ban automobiles, or forbid
children from walking alone We teach them how to be safe
There are safety nets
Safety Nets
Education and InvolvementTips for youthTips for parentsLibrary internet policiesHelpful sources
Problematic Safety Nets
Filters
DOPA (Deleting Online Predators Act)
Tips for Youth
Keep personal information private. Never get together with anyone you “meet”
online. Don’t respond to inappropriate messages. Tell your parents if someone online:
Asks for your personal information Wants to meet you in person Sends inappropriate messages
Don’t share passwords. Follow rules/expectations.
Tips for Parents
Talk to kids! Learn what they’re using:
Have them show/teach you Spend time with them online Get your own account(s) and explore
Keep computer in visible area in home. Monitor computer time. Set and enforce rules for internet use.
Sample Internet Policies (Schools)
Riverdale High School (OR)Hattiesburg High School (MS)Necedah Area Schools (WI)Eau Claire Area School District (WI)
Sample Internet Policies (Public Libraries)
Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg (NC).
Hennepin County (MN). Portage Public Library (WI) Thomas Ford Memorial Library (Western
Springs, IL). (See Policy #4)
Sample Internet Policies(Academic Libraries)
Rutgers (NJ)
University of Oregon
Marquette (WI)
Other sources of help
My Space: Safety Tips, and Tips for Parents
Wisconsin Department of JusticeAmerican Library Association (ALA)See bibliography for more
DOPA
Deleting Online Predators Act Passed by House 410-15 / July 2006 Libraries that receive E-rate required to
protect minors from “Commercial Social Networking Websites" and "Chat Rooms"
Died in Senate / December 2006 Reintroduced in House / February 2007
“DOPA Jr.”
Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act
Introduced in Senate / January 4, 2007All the provisions of DOPA sandwiched
between: Restricting sale of children’s personal info Higher fines for pornography violations
IL and GA / similar state laws proposed
Shortcomings of DOPA
Overly broad definitions of social networking and chat
Filtering sites based on technology, not content
Ignores educational uses & benefits of blogs, wikis, and other social software tools.
In Conclusion
Social Software is empowering & isn’t going away
Library 2.0: Harness the benefits Stay relevant to today’s users
Help users stay safe with education and involvement