Topic 6: Connecting with young adults and teenagers using Library 2.0This is a featured page

Topic Name:
Connecting with young adults and teenagers using Library 2.0

Facilitator: Maureen

Participants: more than the number of chairs in the room

Discussion/Summary: Thinking about appropriate ways to meet our young clients where they are - on the internet (in the library or at home) or via mobile phone.
A mix of public library, school library and other librarians joined in discussions.
Some points:
Kids in low socio economic areas often don't have internet access, but do have mobile phones. Can libraries find ways to engage with young people using this technology? Some libraries using sms but mainly for notices (overdue or reservations). Who decides (within organisations) which technologies are taken up? Quite often out of the hands of librarians, and controlled by IT or higher authorities.
Discussed a new little device called "hiptops" that enable phone, IM, chat, internet, on a hand held device with a monthly plan. www.hiptop.com Thought to be cumbersome to carry around, but lighter than a laptop!
Using examples, the group explored the pros and cons of MySpace and Face Book as communication tools with young people. Plenty of use of plugins, search bar, and other interesting aspects for libraries. Could we use them to generate book discussions the way that flixter works for sharing discussions on movies? or the way Facebook makes links through groups of friends. (Apparently, we learned, in a later group discussion, Facebook has made a decision to remove libraries and the like, maintaining a purely individual profile).
Because kids who use the internet at the public library are often there for MySpace activity, why not use MySpace as the home page on some or all public PCs. At Noosa Library there is a generic "home page" that provides quick links to the frequently used sites, like Yahoo, Hotmail, Google, etc.
Challenges: YA audience is often quick to change to new things. What's popular now might not be so next month or next year.
Keeping up with the trends is important for librarians. However, when creating a profile for a library, who has responsibility for setting guidelines for use? Use a basic "respect" rule? Set joining levels? Appoint young people as moderators?
Debate arose around the Council (or School) identity V personal (hip librarian getting to where the kids are). Questions about whether the library's image may be damaged by unflattering public comment.
Some schools block internet sites (including access to helpful library resources from puglic libraries!!)
Engaging with young people and encouraging contributions is another challenge (and the main topic of this discussion).
Some ideas: Not necessary to get contributions online. Use competitions - hands on activities such as poetry, to submit to a blog. Use Young people's networks where they are - not essential to be always thinking "interactive online interface"! Hold a youth activity in the library centred around starting a Facebook or MySpace. Get a video camera. Create small videos to upload to You Tube.
Look back at some of the old social networking systems that were good, and why so. Live Journal - fan fictiion role play (eg Harry Potter role plays before the last title came out).



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Latest page update: made by noosalib , Oct 15 2007, 12:52 AM EDT (about this update About This Update noosalib Edited by noosalib

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