Taking the Library to Users: Experimenting with Facebook as an Outreach Tool

Dawn Lawson Bobst Library 70 Washington Square South New York, NY 10012 Tel !212" ##$%2&'7 (a) !212" ##*%&'++ ,l$0-nyu e,u

Abstract

The author, .ast /sian stu,ies librarian at New York 0ni1ersity !NY0", ,es2ribes a su22ess3ul outrea2h e33ort using (a2ebook, a so2ial networking Web site 4o4ular a5ong un,ergra,uates /3ter sear2hing the site 3or NY0 stu,ents who ha, liste, .ast /sian stu,ies as one o3 their 2on2entrations, the librarian sent 5essages to the5 within (a2ebook, intro,u2ing hersel3 an, in1iting the5 to 5ake use o3 library resour2es 6lose to 20 4er2ent o3 the stu,ents re4lie, i55e,iately, se1eral with s4e2i3i2 re3eren2e questions 7n a,,ition to ,is2ussing the 5oti1ation, 5etho,ology, an, results o3 the outrea2h 4ro8e2t, the 2ha4ter suggests 1arious 4ossibilities 3or 3uture e)4ansion o3 this ty4e o3 a2ti1ity

Introduction

6ollege stu,ents in nee, o3 library assistan2e to,ay ha1e 5any o4tions beyon, the tra,itional one o3 walking into a 4hysi2al buil,ing in sear2h o3 a sta33e, re3eren2e ,esk /t 5ost institutions, they 2an also sear2h 3or in3or5ation the5sel1es on their library9s Web site or use links 4ro1i,e, there to 2onta2t a librarian 1ia e%5ail, 2hat, or instant 5essage :owe1er, these latter o4tions assu5e that the stu,ents 1isit the library Web site, when in 3a2t stu,ies show that a 2o55er2ial sear2h engine is their 3irst 2hoi2e when starting an in3or5ation sear2h !;6L6 200*"

:ow 2an we rea2h stu,ents i3 they ,on9t 2o5e into our 4hysi2al or e1en our 2yber s4a2es< ;ne ob1ious answer is to go into theirs We know that, in a,,ition to 2o55er2ial sear2h engines, stu,ents are also 5aking substantial use o3 so2ial networking sites su2h as (a2ebook an, =yS4a2e !New =e,ia 6onsortiu5 2007" 7n res4onse to these ,e1elo45ents, whi2h see5 to ha1e ha44ene, al5ost o1ernight, librarians nee, to re% i5agine their roles an, the ways in whi2h they 4ro1i,e ser1i2es Des4ite assertions by so5e that they woul, not be wel2o5e in what the stu,ents 2onsi,er to be >their? s4a2e !see, 3or e)a54le, >/re We Wel2o5e at the @arty,? 4oste, on /6ALog by Ste1enB, (ebruary 7, 200+", a nu5ber o3 librarians ha1e establishe, their libraries as Bgrou4sB on (a2ebook This is a ste4 in the right ,ire2tion, but it still requires the stu,ents to learn o3 a 4arti2ular grou49s e)isten2e an, 8oin it be3ore they 2an rea4 any bene3its What i3 the librarian were to take a 4roa2ti1e a44roa2h, seeking out the stu,ents one by one in their own s4a2e, so that they nee, only 2li2k Ae4ly to a1ail the5sel1es o3 their sub8e2t s4e2ialist< This 2ha4ter ,es2ribes a su22ess3ul e)4eri5ent in ,oing e)a2tly that

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The 3irst se2tion o3 this 2ha4ter ,is2usses so5e o3 the e)isting literature on the sub8e2t o3 a2a,e5i2 libraries an, (a2ebook, as well as (a2ebook outrea2h 4ro8e2ts by other librarians Ne)t, 7 gi1e a brie3 intro,u2tion to (a2ebook, 3o2using on the 3eatures that 4laye, a role in 5y work 7 then ,es2ribe the 5oti1ation behin, 5y 4ro8e2t, the 5etho,ology use, to i54le5ent it, an, the res4onses 7 re2ei1e, 3ro5 the stu,ents 2onta2te, The 2on2lusion outlines 5y 4lans to re4eat an, e)ten, this e33ort, the results o3 whi2h 7 will ,o2u5ent on the wiki that su44le5ents this book

Facebook and Academic Libraries: A rie! "e#iew o! the Literature

/s o3 Cune 2007, the 5ost 2o54rehensi1e arti2le ,is2ussing (a2ebook in the 5ainstrea5 library an, in3or5ation s2ien2e literature was B6he2king ;ut (a2ebook 2o5D The 754a2t o3 a Digital Tren, on /2a,e5i2 Libraries,B by Laurie 6harnigo an, @aula Barnett%.llis, whi2h a44eare, in the =ar2h 2007 issue o3 Information Technology and Libraries The broa, literature re1iew in2lu,e, in the 4ie2e en2o54asse, 4ubli2ations on a 1ariety o3 as4e2ts o3 online so2ial networks, in2lu,ing 4ri1a2y issues an, usage statisti2s The authors re4orte, that, ,es4ite the e1i,ent interest o3 librarians in online so2ial networks, >a2tual literature in the 3iel, o3 library an, in3or5ation s2ien2e is s2ar2e ? They 2orre2tly attribute, this to the newness o3 the 4heno5enon !6harnigo an, Barnett%.llis 2007, 2+" The arti2le analyEes the results o3 their (ebruary 200+ sur1ey o3 12+ a2a,e5i2 librarians about their attitu,es towar, (a2ebook The authors 3oun, that only >a s5all grou4 o3 the

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res4on,ents

were e)tre5ely 4ositi1e an, e)2ite, about the 4ossibilities o3 online so2ial

networking? !2#"

The situation has 2hange, ,ra5ati2ally in little 5ore than a year >Librarians an, (a2ebook,? a ,is2ussion grou4 that 6harnigo an, Barnett%.llis 3oun,e, within (a2ebook itsel3, ha, 1,'#1 5e5bers as o3 Cune 2007 This is strong e1i,en2e that librarians are e5bra2ing this new te2hnologyFan, qui2kly =oreo1er, >Librarians an, (a2ebook? is not the only su2h grou4 on the site ;thers in2lu,e >Digital Ae3eren2e in (a2ebook,? with 2+0 5e5bersG >(a2ebook/44s(orLibraries,? with 1'' 5e5bersG an, >Learning 6o55unities in (a2ebook,? with *& 5e5bers These 5e5bershi4 totals are all as o3 Cune +, 2007G grou4 5e5bershi4 nu5bers in (a2ebook ten, to in2rease ,aily, o3ten ,ra5ati2ally, es4e2ially in the 3irst ,ays a3ter a grou4 is 3or5e, While this 2ha4ter was being resear2he, an, written, a grou4 was starte, on (a2ebook to 3a2ilitate an in%4erson gathering o3 librarians intereste, in the to4i2 at the 2007 /5eri2an Library /sso2iation /nnual 6on3eren2e in Washington, D 6

The 3irst librarians to ,e1elo4 a 4resen2e 3or their libraries on (a2ebook ,i, so by using the siteHs 4ro3ile 3eature, ,is2usse, in ,etail below :owe1er, (a2ebook e1entually 4rohibite, this use o3 the 4ro3ile on the groun,s that it is inten,e, 3or use by in,i1i,uals, not organiEations This 5o1e 3or2e, these librarians to reinstate their 4ro3iles un,er their own na5es or establish their libraries as grou4s 7n a,,ition to the ,isa,1antage o3 requiring users to 3in, it 4roa2ti1ely an, 8oin, a (a2ebook grou4 la2ks a nu5ber o3 other 3un2tionalities that 2an be use3ul in library outrea2h !e g , 3rien,ing, the status 3iel,, the

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wallG see the se2tion Beyon, =essaging, below" The grou4 4resen2e ,oes ha1e one signi3i2ant 4ra2ti2al a,1antage, howe1erD on2e a grou4 is establishe, an, has 5e5bers, any 5e5ber 2an sen, a 5essage to all o3 the5 at on2e 7n 2ontrast, an in,i1i,ual 2an only sen, 5essages to other in,i1i,uals one at a ti5e /s ,es2ribe, below, this restri2tion 2an 5ake sen,ing 5essages to large nu5bers o3 4eo4le in (a2ebook onerous (or ongoing library outrea2h 2o55uni2ations, it is best to 2o5bine the two a44roa2hes, that is, to in1ite the stu,ents to 8oin a library grou4 a3ter they ha1e res4on,e, 4ositi1ely to being 2onta2te, by a librarian with an in,i1i,ual 4ro3ile in (a2ebook This a44roa2h 5akes it 4ossible to sen, grou4 5essages on2e the stu,ents who are o4en to being 2onta2te, ha1e been i,enti3ie, through in,i1i,ual 5essages an, agree, to 8oin a grou4

;ther than establishing this ty4e o3 4resen2e on (a2ebook, to ,ate there a44ear to ha1e been 1ery 3ew atte54ts to use the site to rea2h out to stu,ents one by one as 4otential library users /n early e)a54le o3 su2h a 4ro8e2t, also 2ite, by 6harnigo an, Barnett% .llis, was initiate, in 3all 200* by Brian =athews o3 Ieorgia 7nstitute o3 Te2hnology Shannon Jealey o3 New York 0ni1ersity ,o2u5ente, her outrea2h to s2ien2e 5a8ors in a 4oster session, >(ishing in a BarrelD (a2ebook as an ;utrea2h an, =arketing Tool,? 4resente, at the 2007 /6AL National 6on3eren2e ;n /4ril 2#, 2007, Ierry =2Jiernan, S2ien2e an, Te2hnology Librarian at 7owa State 0ni1ersity, announ2e, on his blog, (rien,sD So2ial Networking Sites 3or .ngage, Library Ser1i2es, !htt4DKKonlineso2ialnetworks blogs4ot 2o5K" that he woul, be 4resenting the results o3 his su55er (a2ebook outrea2h initiati1e at the L7T/ National (oru5 2007

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/ re2ent book, Social Software in Libraries: Building Collaboration, Communication, and Community Online, by =ere,ith (arkas, brie3ly ,is2usses a2a,e5i2 libraries an, (a2ebook in its 2ha4ter on so2ial networking, but not sur4risingly, 5ost o3 the >literature? on this to4i2 has a44eare, on the 7nternet itsel3, 5u2h o3 it within grou4s on the (a2ebook site Ierry =2JiernanHs abo1e%5entione, blog is another 1enue 3or ,is2ussions o3 this to4i2, an, the 2o54anion Web site to (arkasHs book !htt4DKKwww so2iallibraries 2o5K" 2ontains a ra4i,ly growing list o3 links to online resour2es relate, to so2ial networking, a nu5ber o3 whi2h 2on2ern (a2ebook

$ow to Use Facebook

/s with other so2ial networking sites, you 5ust register be3ore starting to use (a2ebook (a2ebook originally require, a 1ali, e,u e%5ail a,,ress 3or registration While this is no longer the 2ase, the na5e o3 the institution in the e%5ail a,,ress you 4ro1i,e at registration !e g , the >nyu? in ))))-nyu e,u" still 4lays a signi3i2ant role in your (a2ebook a2ti1ities To ,o library outrea2h to stu,ents, you 5ust belong to the sa5e >network? that they ,o Your network is ,eter5ine, by the institutional na5e in your registere, e%5ail a,,ressG there3ore, the e%5ail a,,ress you use to register 5ust 2ontain the sa5e institution na5e as those o3 the stu,ents you will be 2onta2ting Network 5e5bers 2an 1iew the 4ro3iles o3 other 5e5bers an, sen, 5essages to the5 i3 their 4ri1a2y 4re3eren2es allow it

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/3ter registering, you 2reate a 4ro3ile This is a 4age o3 in3or5ation about yoursel3 You 2an only ha1e one 4ro3ile in (a2ebook an,, as 5entione, abo1e, 4ro3iles 5ust be asso2iate, with a 4erson, not an institution

6reating a 4ro3ile is a straight3orwar, 4ro2ess that 2onsists o3 3illing out a series o3 3or5s These 3or5s are 2ategoriEe, un,er tabs labele, Basi2, 6onta2t, @ersonal, Work, .,u2ation, an, 6ourses The Work tab has a 3ree%te)t Des2ri4tion 3iel,, use3ul 3or entering a state5ent about your role in your library There is also a tab 3or a,,ing a 4hoto an, one that e)4lains how to ,rag an, ,ro4 ite5s in your 4ro3ile to 2hange the ,e3ault layout The a5ount o3 in3or5ation you 2an 4ro1i,e in the 4ro3ile, 4arti2ularly o3 a 4ersonal nature, is 2onsi,erable When the 4ro3ile 4age is ,is4laye,, it ,oes not show the 3iel,s you le3t blank

Be2ause you will be ,is4laying in3or5ation about yoursel3 an, seeking in3or5ation about others, it is i54ortant to ha1e a basi2 un,erstan,ing o3 (a2ebookHs intri2ate syste5 o3 4ri1a2y o4tions The site allows its users a great ,eal o3 2ontrol o1er who 2an see their in3or5ation This 2ontrol is base, on two o3 (a2ebookHs key 2on2e4tsD networks an, 3rien,s

/s 5entione, earlier, your network is ,eter5ine, by the institution na5e, in your registere, e%5ail a,,ress (or e)a54le, 5y e%5ail a,,ress en,s in -nyu e,u, so 7 a5 4art o3 the NY0 network !You 2an belong to 5ore than one network, in whi2h 2ase you

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,esignate one as >4ri5ary ? (or the 4ur4ose o3 library outrea2h, this ,is2ussion assu5es that you belong to one network, that o3 the a2a,e5i2 institution with whi2h you an, your library are a33iliate, " 7n (a2ebook, >3rien,s? are 4eo4le, both insi,e an, outsi,e your network, who ha1e a22e4te, the in1itation you issue, asking the5 to be your 3rien, or 1i2e 1ersa When you atte54t to >3rien,? so5eone, (a2ebook sen,s a 5essage to her or his registere, e%5ail a,,ress, 2on1eying your request an, 4ro1i,ing a hy4erlink to a (a2ebook 4age on whi2h the re2i4ient 2an 2on3ir5 or re8e2t the request 7t is also 4ossible 3or either 4arty to 4ro1i,e in3or5ation about how they know the other !3ro5 s2hool, work, et2 " an, to request 2on3ir5ation o3 that in3or5ation

The 2ontrol you ha1e o1er your in3or5ation in (a2ebook begins with who 2an see your 4ro3ile There are three 2hoi2esD you 2an 5ake your 4ro3ile 1isible to all o3 your networks an, all o3 your 3rien,s, to so5e o3 your networks, or to your 3rien,s only Beyon, that, you 2an 2ontrol who 2an see 2ertain 3eatures o3 your 4ro3ile (or e)a54le, you 2an restri2t your 2onta2t in3or5ation to one o3 the three grou4s 8ust 5entione, So5e other 4arts o3 your 4ro3ile 2an be restri2te, e1en 5ore, so that they 2an be seen by only you or e1en by no one You 2an also 5ark one or 5ore 2he2kbo)es to in,i2ate what ty4es o3 4eo4le in your network 2an see your 4ro3ile 7n a e,u network, the ty4es o3 4eo4le are liste, as >un,ergra,s,? >gra,s,? >alu5ni,? >3a2ulty,? an, >sta33 ? The 5any other 4ri1a2y o4tions in (a2ebook in2lu,e those relate, to sear2hingD who 2an 3in, you an, what a2tions they 2an take within (a2ebook when they ,o (or e)a54le, by ,e3ault anyone in (a2ebook 2an sen, a 5essage to anyone else on the site, but by un2he2king a bo) it is 4ossible to restri2t the 4eo4le who 2an sen, 5essages to you to only those you ha1e

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allowe, to see your 4ro3ile (a2ebookHs 4ri1a2y o4tions are 2learly an, thoroughly ,o2u5ente,, both un,er the @ri1a2y link at the to4 o3 the userHs (a2ebook ho5e 4age an, un,er s4e2i3i2 to4i2s in the :el4 in,e)

The Initiati#e

7n (ebruary 2007, 7 use, (a2ebook to lo2ate .ast /sian stu,ies 5a8ors at NY0 an, sen, the5 5essages intro,u2ing 5ysel3, their sub8e2t s4e2ialist, an, en2ouraging the5 to 5ake use o3 library resour2es Se1eral 2onsi,erations brought about this 4ro8e2t (irst, it was ins4ire, by the 4erennial librarianHs ,esire to let as 5any stu,ents as 4ossible know that s4e2ial e)4ertise an, a uni1erse o3 hel43ul, o3ten unta44e,, resour2es is a1ailable to the5 /2a,e5i2 librarians ha1e always sought inno1ati1e ways to rea2h out to stu,ents, but the nee, to ,o this is 5ore 4ressing to,ay than e1er Not only ,o stu,ents ha1e an un4re2e,ente, a5ount o3 in3or5ation a1ailable to the5Fun5e,iate,F1ia the 7nternet, but the e)isten2e o3 this 4er2ei1e, wealth o3 resour2es has 2ause, signi3i2ant ,e2reases in in%4erson 1isits to the library an, the re3eren2e ,esk This is a22o54anie, by a 4arallel ten,en2y by stu,ents to o1erlook the o3ten%5ore%reliable ele2troni2 2ontent li2ense, by their libraries in 3a1or o3 the 3ree in3or5ation they 3in, using 2o55er2ial sear2h engines

/nother 5oti1ation 3or the 4ro8e2t was one o3 the 4rin2i4les o3 Library 2 0D Taking the Library to 0sers (a2ebook is where 2ollege stu,ents to,ay are ,oing 5u2h o3 their 2o55uni2ation with one another This 5akes it a natural 2hoi2e as a 5e,iu5 3or use by others wanting to rea2h the5 Lawson (a2ebook ;utrea2h #

/ 4ra2ti2al ,i33i2ulty also 4laye, a role in ins4iring this e33ort, that o3 lo2ating un,ergra,uates who 5ay nee, library assistan2e in 5y sub8e2t s4e2ialty .stablishe, 8ust three years ago, the gra,uate 4rogra5 in NY0Hs .ast /sian stu,ies ,e4art5ent is still s5all, an, it has been easy 3or 5e to get a2quainte, with its 3ew stu,ents an, be2o5e aware o3 their library nee,s 7n 3a2t, the a2a,e5i2 ,e4art5ent 5aintains an e%5ail ,istribution list o3 those gra,uate stu,ents, to whi2h it will 3orwar, 5essages 3ro5 5e about the library on request Ira,uate stu,ents in other ,e4art5ents whose resear2h to4i2s in1ol1e .ast /sia in so5e way, su2h as those in history, e,u2ation, an, 2ine5a stu,ies, ha1e 5anage, to 3in, 5e, or 7 the5 0n,ergra,uates, howe1er, are another 5atter entirely The ,e4art5ent ,oes not 5aintain an e%5ail list o3 this 5ore 3lui, 4o4ulation .1en i3 one were a1ailable, it woul, in2lu,e neither 5inors in the ,is2i4line nor those who ha, not yet ,e2lare, a 5a8or, two grou4s who 5ight arguably be 5ore in nee, o3 resear2h assistan2e than the 5a8ors be2ause o3 their lesser knowle,ge o3 the to4i2 7n a,,ition, the wi,ely note, tren, towar, inter,is2i4linarity in all areas o3 stu,y has re,u2e, the signi3i2an2e o3 a stu,entHs ,e2lare, 5a8or Be2ause (a2ebook allows users to list 5ulti4le a2a,e5i2 2on2entrations, an, be2ause it ,is4lays in3or5ation about the stu,ents that they ha1e 2hosen to ,is2lose, it is an i,eal 1ehi2le 3or seeking out stu,ents who 5ight nee, library assistan2e in the 3iel,

%ethodology

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7 began by registering 5y NY0 e%5ail a,,ress with (a2ebook 7 then 2reate, 5y 4ro3ile, whi2h 7 3ille, in with 5ostly 4ro3essional in3or5ation, although 7 ,i, in2lu,e so5e in3or5ation in the @ersonal 2ategory on 3a1orite books, 5o1ies, an, so on (or 5y 4ro3ile 4hoto, 7 2hose to 4ost a so5ewhat 2asual 4i2ture o3 5ysel3 rather than one taken in a library setting

=y ne)t ste4 was to use the /,1an2e, Sear2h 3un2tion to lo2ate .ast /sian stu,ies 5a8ors at NY0 /,1an2e, Sear2h in (a2ebook is li5ite, to sear2hing one o3 two real5s o3 4eo4le By ,e3ault, an /,1an2e, Sear2h en2o54asses all o3 oneHs networks an, all o3 oneHs 3rien,s !as 5entione, abo1e, 3rien,s 2an be insi,e or outsi,e your networks" The other /,1an2e, Sear2h o4tion sear2hes only within your 4ri5ary network 7 sear2he, within the NY0 network 3or users with the 2on2entration .ast /sian stu,ies !sele2te, 3ro5 a ,ro4%,own list" an, with the 2lass years o3 2007, 200$, 200#, an, 2010 This 4ro2e,ure require, 3our se4arate sear2hes, one 3or ea2h year

Be2ause 7 began 5y outrea2h in (ebruary 2007, 7 ,e2i,e, to sen, 5essages to that yearHs 2lass 3irst (a2ebook 3oun, 5ore than *0 .ast /sian stu,ies 5a8ors in this 2ategory (or ea2h result on the list, the in,i1i,ualHs na5e an, 4hoto were ,is4laye, Below ea2h na5e was a list with ite5s labele, >Networks,? !3or e)a54le, >NY0 H07?"G >(iel,s? !3or e)a54le, .ast /sian Stu,ies, .2ono5i2s, et2 " 2orres4on,ing to the 2on2entration 4ara5eter o3 the sear2hG an, >=at2hes,? in,i2ating whi2h sear2h 4ara5eters the results 5at2he, .a2h o3 5y sear2h results liste, 6lass Year an, 6on2entration as >=at2hes ? 7n 5ost 2ases, the (iel,s 4ortion o3 the results liste, .ast /sian stu,ies a5ong the areas o3

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2on2entration This assure, 5e that 7 woul, not be sen,ing so5eone an irrele1ant 5essage

7n a nu5ber o3 2ases, howe1er, (iel,s was not in2lu,e, in a result, 4erha4s be2ause o3 4ri1a2y 2on3igurations To as2ertain that these stu,ents were .ast /sian stu,ies 5a8ors, 7 2li2ke, on the na5es o3 ea2h in,i1i,ual to 1iew their 4ro3iles Whene1er 7 was unable to 2on3ir5 the 5a8or be2ause the 4ro3ile was not linke, to the na5e !another 4ri1a2y o4tion", 7 ,e2i,e, not to in2lu,e that 4erson in 5y outrea2h The sa5e was true o3 a stu,entHs 2lass year 73 the year ,i, not a44ear on the results list, an, i3 7 2oul, not 1iew the 4ro3ile, 7 e)2lu,e, that 4erson 3ro5 the 4ro8e2t

So5eti5es a 4ro3ile re1eale, that the in,i1i,ual ha, alrea,y gra,uate, in Canuary 2007 7n a,,ition, 7 ,is2o1ere, that the /,1an2e, Sear2h o4tion ,oes not 4ro1i,e 3or 2orrelating 2lass year with institution Be2ause o3 this li5itation, 7 also ha, to e)2lu,e those who ha, gra,uate, 3ro5 another institution in 2007, 4erha4s a gra,uate s2hool, but 3ro5 NY0 3our or 5ore years ago 7 later realiEe, that 7 2oul, ha1e a22o55o,ate, 3or this sear2h 3un2tion li5itation by setting the /,1an2e, Sear2h o4tion S2hool Status to 0n,ergra,uate 7 2on,u2te, these 2are3ul 2he2ks in or,er to a1oi, sen,ing an unsoli2ite, 5essage to so5eone to who5 it woul, ha1e no 1alue 7 re2o55en, this 4ro2e,ure to librarians ,oing outrea2h o3 this kin,

/3ter e)e2uting 5y 3our sear2hes an, a44lying the abo1e e)2lusions, 7 en,e, u4 with 1&0 stu,ents to 2onta2t The break,own by 2lass year was as 3ollowsD &+ in 2007, && in 200$,

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'& in 200#, an, 1+ in 2010 / (a2ebook user is not 4er5itte, to ,o 5ass 5essaging e)2e4t to 3rien,s or to all 5e5bers o3 a grou4 o3 1,000 4eo4le or 3ewer to whi2h the user belongs There3ore, 7 sent ea2h stu,ent an in,i1i,ual 5essage 7 a22o54lishe, this 3ro5 the Aesults list o3 5y sear2h 3or .ast /sian Stu,ies 2on2entrators in ea2h 2lass year This was easy to ,o be2ause there is a =essage button by ea2h na5e 7 2o54ose, 5y initial outrea2h 5essage in =i2roso3t Wor, so that 7 2oul, 2o4y an, 4aste it ea2h ti5e The 5essage was as 3ollowsD

:i L(irst Na5e o3 Stu,entM, 7H5 the .ast /sian Stu,ies Librarian at NY0 7 see that you are stu,ying ./S, so 7 wante, to intro,u2e 5ysel3 an, let you know that 7H5 eager to hel4 you take a,1antage o3 all the resour2es an, ser1i2es we o33er at Bobst 73 you ha1e any questions about your resear2h or about using the library, or i3 you want to 5ake suggestions about our 2olle2tion o3 books an, ele2troni2 resour2es, 4lease 3eel 3ree to 2onta2t 5e here on (a2ebook or at ,awn lawson-nyu e,u Sin2erely, L5y na5e, title, e%5ail a,,ress, library a,,ress, tele4hone nu5berM

(a2ebookHs so4histi2ate, s4a5 ,ete2tion syste5 4ose, a signi3i2ant hur,le to 5y e33ort 7 was aware that there was a li5it to the nu5ber o3 5essagesFe1en in,i1i,ual onesFthat 2oul, be sent within a short 4erio, o3 ti5e, but the e)a2t nu5ber is not ,is2lose, on the (a2ebook site When Brian =athews 2on,u2te, his outrea2h 4ro8e2t in the 3all o3 200*, he was able to sen, eighty 5essages in less than twenty 5inutes /t that ti5e, (a2ebookHs 4oli2y was a44arently to allow the sen,ing o3 eighty 5essages e1ery si) hours !=athews 200+, '0+" 7 sent twel1e 5essages in 5y 3irst eight 5inutes o3 work

Lawson (a2ebook ;utrea2h

/3ter the 3irst 3ew, 7 re2ei1e, an on%s2reen warning in3or5ing 5e that what 7 was ,oing 2oul, be 2onstrue, as 1iolating the (a2ebook ter5s 7 4ause,, but ,i, not sto4 sen,ing 5essages be2ause 7 belie1e, 7 was o4erating within the rules :owe1er, when 7 sent three 5essages o1er a 4erio, o3 three 5inutes one hour later, a 5essage ,is4laye, on 5y (a2ebook session s2reen in3or5ing 5e that 5y a22ount ha, been ,isable, 7 i55e,iately sent (a2ebook 6usto5er Su44ort a 4olite e%5ail 5essage, e)4laining the nature o3 5y 4ro8e2t an, asking the5 to 2onsi,er not blo2king 5e while 7 2arrie, it out 73 that was not 4ossible, 7 requeste, that the (a2ebook re4resentati1e tell 5e how 5any 5essages one was 4er5itte, to sen, o1er what 4erio, o3 ti5e 7 also 4ointe, out that (a2ebook users woul, not be har5e, by this use o3 the syste5 3or e,u2ational 4ur4oses /s a,,itional 4roo3 o3 the legiti5a2y an, sa3ety o3 5y 5essaging a2ti1ities, 7 atta2he, the e)e54tion ,o2u5ent 7 ha, re2ei1e, 3ro5 5y uni1ersityHs 6o55ittee on /2ti1ities 7n1ol1ing :u5an Sub8e2ts

/ re4resentati1e 3ro5 (a2ebook 6usto5er Su44ort re4lie, 4ro54tly, in3or5ing 5e that 5y a44eal was un,er re1iew, but the 5essage ,i, not answer 5y questions about 4er5issible le1els o3 e%5ail a2ti1ity or re3er to the in3or5ation 7 ha, 4ro1i,e, about the nature o3 5y 4ro8e2t =y a22ount was reinstate, in less than 3orty%eight hours The 5essage in3or5ing 5e o3 5y reinstate5ent in2lu,e, a stern warning that any 3uture in2i,ent 2oul, result in ter5ination 7t e)4laine, that it was a 1iolation o3 the (a2ebook ter5s to >re4eate,ly sen, the sa5e 5essage or sen, the sa5e 4ost ? S2ouring the (a2ebook Ter5s o3 0se, 7 was unable to 3in, a re3eren2e to this 4oli2y !htt4DKKwww 3a2ebook 2o5Kter5s 4h4"

Lawson (a2ebook ;utrea2h

/s a ne)t ste4, 7 took 5easures that 7 ho4e, woul, 4re1ent 5e 3ro5 ha1ing 5y a22ount ,isable, again 7 2reate, two a,,itional 1ersions o3 the outrea2h 5essage by 1arying the wor,ing, the 4aragra4h 3or5atting, an, the o4ening an, 2losing salutations 7n a,,ition, 7 began allowing inter1als o3 one 5inute between 5essages, an, 7 alternate, a5ong the three te)ts .1en with these 4re2autions in 4la2e, 7 re2ei1e, an on%s2reen warning soon a3ter 7 began 5y 5essaging a2ti1ity again This ti5e 7 sto44e, i55e,iately When 7 resu5e,, 7 allowe, 3i3teen 5inutes between the 5essages, still alternating the te)ts This a44roa2h was su22ess3ul

"esults

Wat2hing the 2lo2k between ea2h 2o4ying, 4asting, an, sen,ing o3 a 5essage was te,ious at best But on2e 7 re2ei1e, 5y 3irst 4ositi1e res4onse 3ro5 a stu,entFon 5y se2on, ,ay o3 a2ti1ity, when 7 ha, sent 8ust 1+ 5essagesFthe ,ru,gery was no longer an issue 7n res4onse to 5y 1&0 5essages, 7 re2ei1e, a2knowle,g5ents 3ro5 twenty%3our stu,ents, or 17 1& 4er2ent !so5e stu,ents a2knowle,ge, the 5essage in 5ulti4le ways, but 7 a5 2ounting the5 only on2e" (igure ' shows the nu5ber o3 a2knowle,g5ents re2ei1e, by 2lass year ;3 the twenty%3our res4onses, 3i3teen were 5essages to 5e in (a2ebook 3ro5 stu,ents who thanke, 5e 3or 2onta2ting the5 about the library an, in,i2ating that they woul, be in tou2h when the nee, arose (our stu,ents sent a 3rien,ing request rather than a 5essage Three o3 the stu,ents who sent thank%you 5essages also sent 3rien,ing

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requests, an, one wrote on 5y >wall? !see below" in a,,ition to sen,ing a 3rien,ing request East Asian Majors Who Responded By Class Year
50 40 30 20 10 0 Majors Contacted Majors Who Responded 2007 46 11 200 44 6 200! 34 6 2010 16 1

Beyon, these, an, o3 greatest interest to 5e, were the 3i1e stu,ents who res4on,e, i55e,iately with re3eren2e questions, one o3 who5 sent an a,,itional question so5e si) weeks later This illustrates that stu,ents ha1e library%relate, questions in 5in, that they 5ay not 5ake the e33ort to 4ose to a librarian by initiating 2onta2t either in 4erson or online, but that they will ask i55e,iately u4on being 2onta2te, ,ire2tly Two o3 the questions were general ones about the libraryHs 2olle2tion o3 .ast /sian 5aterials, while the other three were about resour2es the stu,ents were seeking 3or 4a4ers they were resear2hing an, writing

A &issenting 'iew

Lawson (a2ebook ;utrea2h

7n his blog, The 0biquitous Librarian !htt4DKKtheubiquitouslibrarian ty4e4a, 2o5K", Brian =athews re3le2ts on the use o3 (a2ebook by librarians an, on his own outrea2h 4ro8e2t, in whi2h he sent in,i1i,ual e%5ail 5essages in (a2ebook to 5ore than 1,*00 gra,uate an, un,ergra,uate 5e2hani2al engineering stu,ents ;n De2e5ber +, 200+, he wroteD S2rat2h e1erything 7 sai, in the CRL News arti2le .ssentially, it is a ,ire2t 1iolation to e5ail a stu,ent an, a,1ertise a ser1i2e or e1entN L:Mas 5y e33ort 4ai, o33< Sure se1eral stu,ents >3rien,e,? 5e an, 5any res4on,e, to 5y 5essagesFbut none o3 the5 ha1e use, (a2ebook to 2onta2t 5e sin2e then about the library or assign5ents =y ob8e2ti1e o3 a earing in their s4a2e has ulti5ately 3aile, While they ,onHt 5in, 5e there, they ,onHt re2ogniEe 5e as librarian 73 7 o33er hel4 theyHll take it, but they wonHt ask 3or it /s ,is2usse, abo1e, 7 was te54orarily banne, 3ro5 (a2ebook while atte54ting to 2arry out 5y 4ro8e2t 7 ,i33er with =athewsH 1iew that this kin, o3 a2ti1ity is a 1iolation o3 the (a2ebook ter5s 3or two reasons (irst, although 5aking 4atrons aware o3 library ser1i2es is now 2o55only re3erre, to as 5arketing, it is better ,es2ribe, as an e)tension o3 our e,u2ational 5ission We are not selling anything 3or 4ro3it 7n 3a2t, we are urging stu,ents to 5ake use o3 so5ething 3or whi2h they ha1e alrea,y 4ai, in the 3or5 o3 tuition Se2on,, 7 ,es2ribe, what 7 was ,oing to (a2ebook re4resentati1es, an, no one e1er suggeste, that 5y a2ti1ities 2onstitute, a 1iolation o3 the ter5s o3 ser1i2e be2ause 7 was a2tually 5arketing or selling so5ething

7n a,,ition, 7 think that =athewsH ,is5issi1e 1iew o3 his e)4erien2e is o1erly 4essi5isti2 The ,isa44oint5ent he e)4resses 2an be a,,resse, by engaging in 4ersistent use o3 this new 2hannel an, by i5aginati1e e)tension o3 a2ti1ities in (a2ebook su2h as 7 ,es2ribe below Des4ite the tone o3 his 4ost, =athews is not aban,oning the use o3 (a2ebook to

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rea2h stu,ents ;n Culy 2, 2007, he 4oste, a blog entry ,es2ribing his 4arti2i4ation in the grou4 >Ieorgia Te2h 6lass o3 2011 ?

7 2onsi,er the 3a2t that 7 re2ei1e, a nearly 20 4er2ent 4ositi1e res4onse rate an, no negati1e 3ee,ba2k to be a strong a33ir5ation o3 the e33e2ti1eness o3 this ty4e o3 sear2h% an,%2onta2t e33ort Librarians 2onte54lating ,oing this, howe1er, shoul, bear in 5in, that 2arrying out an outrea2h 4ro8e2t on a signi3i2antly larger s2ale than 5ine un,er the ter5s that a44lie, in (ebruary 2007 woul, require weeks or 5onths 7t is a,1isable to 5aintain a s4rea,sheet or other ty4e o3 re2or, listing the na5es o3 those stu,ents alrea,y 2onta2te, @arti2ularly when there is a ti5e ,elay between sen,ing 5essages, it is easy to 3orget the i,entity o3 the last a,,ressee While it is 4ossible to re3er to Sent =essages 3or this in3or5ation, ,oing so takes you away 3ro5 the Sear2h Aesults s2reen an, requires that the sear2h 3or 4otential re2i4ients be re%e)e2ute,

eyond %essaging

There are 5any a,,itional 3un2tionalities within (a2ebook that also 2an be use, to enhan2e a librarianHs 1isibility on the site ;ne o4tion is use o3 the status 3iel, an, the >wall? to note when you are working at the re3eren2e ,esk or engage, in another library% relate, a2ti1ity The status 3iel, allows you to 4ost what you are 2urrently ,oing, either in the 3or5 o3 2anne, !is >at ho5e,? >in the library,? >at work,? >out at a 4arty,? or >slee4ing?" or 3ree te)t You 2an also 2he2k your 3rien,sH 2urrent statuses 3ro5 your

Lawson (a2ebook ;utrea2h

4ro3ile 4age The wall is an area on your 4ro3ile 4age on whi2h you an, your 3rien,s 2an write 4ubli2ly 1iewable 5essages

/s 5entione, abo1e, Shannon Jealey in1ite, the NY0 s2ien2e stu,ents who res4on,e, to her 5essage to 8oin a grou4 na5e, a3ter her library She also 2reate, an .1ents 4age 3or the grou4 that lists library ha44enings She a,1ertises these e1ents with a (a2ebook 3lyer, whi2h is an online a,1ertise5ent that ,is4lays only to users in a s4e2i3i2 network (a2ebook also allows you to i54ort blog entries to your (a2ebook 4ro3ile 4age or Irou4 4age 73 you 5aintain a library%relate, blog, this o4tion 4ro1i,es another a1enue 3or enhan2ing your libraryHs 4resen2e on (a2ebook Note, howe1er, that when you 4ost 2ontent on (a2ebook you auto5ati2ally grant the 2o54any

an irre1o2able, 4er4etual, non%e)2lusi1e, trans3erable, 3ully 4ai,, worl,wi,e li2ense !with the right to subli2ense" to use, 2o4y, 4ubli2ly 4er3or5, 4ubli2ly ,is4lay, re3or5at, translate, e)2er4t !in whole or in 4art" an, ,istribute su2h 0ser 6ontent 3or any 4ur4ose on or in 2onne2tion with the Site or the 4ro5otion thereo3, to 4re4are ,eri1ati1e works o3, or in2or4orate into other works, su2h 0ser 6ontent, an, to grant an, authoriEe subli2enses o3 the 3oregoing !htt4DKKwww 3a2ebook 2o5Kter5s 4h4" 7n late =ay 2007, (a2ebook intro,u2e, (a2ebook @lat3or5 !htt4DKK,e1elo4ers 3a2ebook 2o5K", an /44li2ation @rogra55ing 7nter3a2e !/@7" 3or buil,ing a44li2ations that 2an be integrate, into (a2ebook This greatly e)4an,s the 4ossibilities 3or use o3 the site by libraries Da1i, War, o3 the 0ni1ersity o3 7llinois, 0rbana%6ha54aign, ,e1elo4e, a wi,get 3or sear2hing his institutionHs library 2atalog an, se1eral o3 its 8ournal ,atabases, 3or whi2h he 4oste, the 2o,e

Lawson (a2ebook ;utrea2h

!htt4DKKuillinois 3a2ebook 2o5Ka44sKa44li2ation 4h4<i,O2&1&27+217K" Se1eral other libraries i55e,iately a,a4te, it 3or their use /s this 2ha4ter went to 4ress, War, an, the other librarians were e)4erien2ing ,i33i2ulties re2ei1ing (a2ebookHs a44ro1al o3 their a44li2ations The reason isnHt entirely 2lear be2ause, a22or,ing to a22ounts on the ,is2ussion boar, o3 the (a2ebook/44s3orLibraries grou4 !htt4DKKnyu 3a2ebook 2o5Kto4i2 4h4<ui,O2&+#7771'1Pto4i2O2*7#K", (a2ebook re4resentati1es ha1e 4ro1i,e, ,i33ering rationales to se1eral o3 the librarians

/ nu5ber o3 2o55er2ial a44li2ations are also beginning to a44ear LibIui,es, 2reate, by S4ringShare, 7n2 , is one o3 the 3irst a44li2ations ,e1elo4e, 3or library use in (a2ebook /22or,ing to the S4ringShare Web site !htt4DKKwww s4ringshare 2o5K", LibIui,es will re2ogniEe (a2ebook usersH s2hool a33iliations an, gi1e these users sea5less a22ess to library resour2es an, ser1i2es 3ro5 their (a2ebook ho5e 4age

Future (lans

=y 3uture a2ti1ities in (a2ebook, whi2h 7 will re4ort on the wiki that su44le5ents this book, will in2lu,e both 2ontinuing the outrea2h 4ro8e2t 7 ha1e ,es2ribe, here an, e)4an,ing on it .a2h se5ester 7 will sear2h (a2ebook 3or new .ast /sian stu,ies 5a8ors an, sen, the5 an intro,u2tory 5essage, kee4ing tra2k o3 the nu5ber an, nature o3 the res4onses 7 re2ei1e 7 will also wat2h the ,e1elo45ent o3 library%relate, grou4s on (a2ebook, 2o54ile in3or5ation on their 5e5bershi4 nu5bers, an, su55ariEe any

Lawson (a2ebook ;utrea2h

signi3i2ant new ,is2ussion to4i2s This in2lu,es 3ollowing the ,is4ute between ,e1elo4ers o3 library sear2h a44li2ations an, (a2ebook, 7n2

So5e o3 the stu,ents 1olunteere, in3or5ation about the5sel1es that will hel4 5e target library ser1i2es 3or the5 in the 3uture (or e)a54le, se1eral note, that they were 2urrently stu,ying abroa, an, that they woul, 2he2k out the library on their return / stu,ent who has s4ent a year in an /sian 2ountry will return with a greatly i54ro1e, ability to rea, an, s4eak the language 7 inten, to sen, a 5essage to these stu,ents when they return, in3or5ing the5 o3 the libraryHs books in 6hinese, Ca4anese, an, Jorean These are resour2es they 5ay not ha1e known about when they were in the 3irst two years o3 language stu,y, using an intro,u2tory%le1el te)tbook /s 5entione, abo1e, so5e o3 the stu,ents to who5 7 sent 5essages sent 5e 3rien, requests, whi2h 7 a22e4te, Be2ause (a2ebookHs News (ee, 3un2tion ,is4lays in3or5ation about the (a2ebook a2ti1ities o3 your 3rien,s to your (a2ebook ho5e 4age, 7 see news o3 these stu,ents whene1er 7 log in to the site This allows 5e to kee4 an eye out 3or a2ti1ities that 5ight be relate, to library ser1i2es 7 will also seek a,,itional o44ortunities to 4ro1i,e 4ersonaliEe, library assistan2e by re,oing the sear2h 3or 5a8ors, re1iewing their 4ro3iles 3or rele1ant 2hanges, an, looking at the 2ourses they ha1e liste, in the .,u2ation se2tion to ,eter5ine whether a targete, instru2tion session 3or that 2ourse 5ight be in or,er The NY0 network on (a2ebook has 5ore than *00 grou4s asso2iate, with it 7 inten, to sear2h these 4erio,i2ally to see i3 any relate to .ast /sian stu,ies an, whether 7 5ight 2ontribute to the5 in a way that 2oul, bene3it library users The siteHs 3requent a,,itions o3 new a44li2ations an, e)4ansions o3 e)isting 3un2tionalities are ,es2ribe, in its blog

Lawson (a2ebook ;utrea2h

!htt4DKKblog 3a2ebook 2o5K"G 7 will 2onsi,er the 4otential o3 new ,e1elo45ents re4orte, there 3or 4ossible 2onne2tions to library ser1i2es These 4lans all assu5e that (a2ebook will re5ain the ,o5inant 3or2e a5ong un,ergra,uates that it is to,ay, in 5i,%2007 (uture a2ti1ities 5ust also in2lu,e kee4ing a 2lose eye on online tren,s an, stan,ing rea,y to swit2h tools whene1er 2ir2u5stan2es ,i2tate

)onclusion

This 4ro8e2t e5bo,ies the Library 2 0 @rin2i4le o3 Taking the Library to 0sers 7t is ho4e, that this 2ase stu,y will be use3ul to a2a,e5i2 librarians who wish to i54le5ent their own (a2ebook outrea2h a2ti1ities

Ii1en the blin,ingly 3ast 4a2e o3 2hange in the online worl,, the 3a2t that our users are on (a2ebook to,ay is 3ar 3ro5 a guarantee that they will be there to5orrow /s we are all aware, a 5eteori2 rise in 4o4ularity on the 7nternet is not a guarantee o3 longe1ity (a2ebook itsel3 ,i, not e)ist 8ust three years ago Like all wil,ly su22ess3ul online 1entures, it is 2onstantly rein1enting itsel3 to a22o55o,ate other 7nternet%wi,e ,e1elo45ents an, is 3requently the ob8e2t o3 a2quisition o33ers that 2oul, result in signi3i2ant 2hanges (ar 5ore i54ortant, there3ore, than the 5etho,ology an, results o3 any 4arti2ular stu,y is the 5essage that librarians 5ust be2o5e ni5ble res4on,ers to the 2hanging en1iron5ents o3 their users, 4re4are, to go to 4la2es unanti2i4ate, an, un3oreseeable :owe1er, as =ere,ith (arkas has writtenD >/ big ,i33eren2e e)ists between being where our 4atrons are an, being use3ul to our 4atrons where they are?

Lawson (a2ebook ;utrea2h

!2007, 122" Cust as a 4hysi2al library is 5ore than a buil,ing 3ull o3 books, Library 2 0 5eans 5ore than 5erely showing u4 in the usersH s4a2e ;n2e there, librarians nee, to anti2i4ate, un,erstan,, an, 3ul3ill these users9 nee,s e33e2ti1ely

Lawson (a2ebook ;utrea2h

The author woul, like to e)4ress her gratitu,e to Shannon Jealey, 6oles S2ien2e 6enter, New York 0ni1ersity, 3or 4ro1i,ing the initial ins4iration 3or this 4ro8e2t Thanks are also ,ue to @aula Barnett%.llis, :ouston 6ole Library, Ca2kson1ille State 0ni1ersityG /lan 6a54bellG Laurie 6harnigo, :ouston 6ole Library, Ca2kson1ille State 0ni1ersityG .1elyn .hrli2h, New York 0ni1ersity LibrariesG Diana Ireene, New York 0ni1ersity LibrariesG Ierry =2Jiernan, 7owa State 0ni1ersity LibraryG an, Brian =athews, Ieorgia 7nstitute o3 Te2hnology, 3or 2o55enting on ,ra3ts o3 this 2ha4ter

"e!erences
6harnigo, Laurie an, @aula Barnett%.llis 2007 6he2king out (a2ebook 2o5D The i54a2t o3 a ,igital tren, on a2a,e5i2 libraries Information Technology and Libraries, 2+ !=ar2h"D 2'%'&

(arkas, =ere,ith 2007 Social Software in Libraries: Building Collaboration, Communication, and Community Online! =e,3or,, NCD 7n3or5ation To,ay

Jealey, Shannon 2007 (ishing in a barrelD (a2ebook as an outrea2h an, 5arketing tool @oster 4resente, at the 1'th /6AL National 6on3eren2e, Balti5ore

=athews, Brian S 200+ Do you (a2ebook< Networking with stu,ents online College and Research Libraries News +7 !=ay"D '0+%'07

New =e,ia 6onsortiu5 an, .,u6ause Learning 7nitiati1e 2007 The "ori#on Re ort $%%& 'dition htt4DKKwww n52 orgK4,3K2007Q:oriEonQAe4ort 4,3

Lawson (a2ebook ;utrea2h

;6L6 ;nline 6o54uter Library 6enter 200* 6ollege Stu,entsH @er2e4tions o3 Libraries an, 7n3or5ation Aesour2esD / Ae4ort to the ;6L6 =e5bershi4 htt4DKKwww o2l2 orgKre4ortsK4,3sKstu,ent4er2e4tions 4,3

Lawson (a2ebook ;utrea2h