My relationship with Facebook: “It’s complicated”

It is part of the global Internet infrastructure now. Safiya Noble, a University of Southern California professor and author of Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism I often fantasize about deleting my Facebook account.  I don’t think I’m the only one: between the “timesuck” factor and the constant security breaches, the #DeleteFacebook hashtag has risen… Continue reading My relationship with Facebook: “It’s complicated”

Forget Pokemon Go. Your library has real problems

Ok, I admit, that’s a bit of an incendiary headline, and I’m not really advocating that your library forego taking advantage of the viral new trend that is actually pretty advantageous for libraries.  But, I do worry that libraries are spending too much time on new, shiny stuff and missing some of the elephants in our room.… Continue reading Forget Pokemon Go. Your library has real problems

Is Facebook still free?

The answer to that question is, in short:  Sorta.  Kinda.  Maybe. This week, Facebook announced a new feature for Facebook Profiles (individual users–people–not Facebook Pages for brands/organizations).  Users now have the option to “promote” their posts, meaning that more people are likely to see them in their feeds.  The cost of doing so, per post,… Continue reading Is Facebook still free?

Making the most of your social media effort: Part II

(One concern I hear a lot of is “How do we find time for this social media stuff?  We don’t have a full staff anymore and we’re already going nuts trying to do the things we have to do!”  There’s not a single, good answer that fits every library.  But, for those that have prioritized… Continue reading Making the most of your social media effort: Part II

Building social capital

If your library is on Facebook, Twitter or other social media site, congratulations.  You’ve started down the road to helping your library engage in new forms of communication and public relations.  However, just being there isn’t enough, and it may not help you in the long run.  It’s time to take the next step:  building… Continue reading Building social capital

Signing in with ONE account

One of the most common complaints I’ve heard about using various web services and social networking sites is the need for multiple accounts; multiple user names, multiple passwords, multiple things to forget.  Who hasn’t used those handy “Forgot your password?” links at least once (or fifty) times? The dream of many web users is the… Continue reading Signing in with ONE account

Facebook and public libraries

“Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. People use Facebook to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.” (Official definition.) I think most people have some idea of… Continue reading Facebook and public libraries