OLJ Task #3 A-Z of Social Networking

OLJ Task #3 - How Five of the A-Z of Social Networking for Librarians can be applied to my school library to help it embrace a Library 2.0 ethos.

As a teacher librarian at an all-boys Years 4-12 school it is disappointing to work in a school library that is out of date. Unfortunately, the library's operation is determined by school administration and not the library staff. Despite this impediment at my current school, this post will reflect on what I believe is important for that school libraries operate and provide services for students in the 21st Century by embracing a Library 2.0 ethos.

A - Active

School libraries need to be active in its endeavours to search and use of relevant Web 2.0 technologies that not only assists teachers in their teaching but importantly engages students in their learning. By facilitating the use of Web 2.0 tools, such as Delicious and wikis, teacher librarians may encourage teachers to work collaboratively in order to use the above mentioned tools so as to better pool knowledge and resources that will ultimately benefit the curriculum. Research studies (Lance, Rodney & Hamilton-Pennell, 2005; Hay, 2005a and Hay 2005b demonstrate that active school libraries (with trained teacher librarians) make a difference to student learning outcomes. Therefore I believe that an active school library that embraces the Library 2.0 ethos by implementing a range of relevant tools and technologies is on its way to improving student learning and teaching.

B - Blog

Regular blog posts (hosted on the library or school's website or Intranet) are excellent ways for the school library staff to communicate and share information with their users. The blog could be used to inform students and staff of the library's services, including new book and DVD arrivals, searching tips, database information, library news and events, highlight how the teacher librarians can assist teachers to resource the curriculum and how students can receive research assistance. The blog provides information that encourages conversation and sharing information among students, teachers and teacher librarians (Anderson, 2009) and thereby positioning and emphasising the library's relevance to the school community and engaging with the millennials.

D - Direction

A school library wishing to adopt Web 2.0 must have a clear direction. Thorough planning in determining the user's needs (students and teachers) and library's goals regarding how the tools and technologies will be used are important considerations. This direction must also incorporate how it plans to tackle issues of privacy - the disclosure of personal information - and online safety with current and yet-to-emerge online social networking technologies. These directions need to be defined within acceptable use and privacy policies as many students I have witnessed at my school are unaware that they are actually disclosing personal information about themselves to the world. I believe it is essential that as teacher librarians we have the responsibility to ensure our students are educated in online safety and privacy.

G - Good Reads

For school libraries buying popular and current good reads is a must to assist students to engage in wider reading and to enjoy reading for pleasure so the students can develop this essential life skill. Harris (2006) emphasises that school librarians must promote the library's literature collection [I interpret this to include fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, magazines] to students in a means that may engage them. The library blog is a great way to enable students to be aware of the new book arrivals and to promote student and teacher reviews of 'good reads'.

Y - Youth

In order for school libraries to remain relevant and foster life-long learning it is essential that they appeal to today's youth (Harris, 2006) by employing social networking to keep in touch with the information and reading needs of students. The millennials are big social networkers with a Pew Internet project survey (2010) revealing that 73% of online teenagers use social networking sites - an increase from 65% in February 2008 and 55% in November 2006. Consequently school libraries should adapt and use social networking sites to connect and interact with their students by employing the tools and sites they use. By using social media the library potentially could become more visible to students and communicate with them via means that students are familiar and comfortable.




Anderson, K. E. (2009). YouTube and YouTube-iness: Educating gen M through the use of online video. In Teaching generation M. A handbook for librarians and educators. Cvetkovic, V. B. & Lackie, R.J. (Eds). New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers.


Brown, L. (2010). A-Z of social networking for libraries. Retrieved April 23, 2010, from http://socialnetworkinglibrarian.com/index.php/archive/a-to-z-of-social-networking-for-libraries


Bryson, J. (2006). Managing information services: A transformational approach (2nd ed). England: Ashgate Publishing Limited.


Harris, C. (2006). School library 2.0. Say goodbye to your mother's school library. School library journal. Retrieved April 23, 2010, from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6330755.html


Hay, L. (2005a). Student Learning through Australian School Libraries. Part 1: A Statistical Analysis of Student Perceptions. In Synergy 3(2), 17-30. Retrieved April 23, 2010, from
http://www.slav.schools.net.au/synergy/vol3num2/hay.pdf


Hay, L. (2005b). Student learning through Australian school libraries Part 2: What students define and value as school library support. In Synergy 4(2), 27-28. Retrieved April 23, 2010, from
http://www.slav.schools.net.au/synergy/vol4num2/hay_pt2.pdf


Lance, K.C., Rodney, M.J., & Hamilton-Pennell, C. (2005). Powerful libraries make powerful learners:
The Illinois study. Retrieved April 23, 2010, from http://alliancelibrarysystem.com/illinoisstudy/TheStudy.pdf


Lenhart, A., Purcell, K., Smith, A. & Zickuhrpewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Social-Media-and-Young-Adults.aspx?r=1