Tuesday, March 31, 2009

CIL2009: Social Networking Profile Management

Five minute presentations then Q&A

Greg Schwartz -- Who are you online?
  • Identity -What I say about me and what others say abiut me
  • Digital identify mapping - expression, reputation, and other crumbs we leave behind
  • Your identity winds up in Google in a series of search results.
  • You do not own your online identity
  • You can inflluence your identity
Tips:
  1. Own your username - have a username and stick with it. Recommends http://www.CheckUserNames.com
  2. Join the conversation - if identity is in part what you say, then say somethiong
  3. Follow what others are saying about you
  4. Be authentic - be real
Amanda Clay Powers -- What are we doing here anyway?

Michael Stephens came to Mississippi State years ago to "spread his seed". (Much laughter, but she was trying to compare him with Johnny Appleseed.)

People have been trying to tell their story since the beginning of time, so this is just a new way of doing that. Where do librarians enter into this?

Developmental Cycles
  • Creating Identities --> Growth --> Managing Information --> Growth (a circle)
We need to help people manage their own metadata, their own information.

Users may not turn to us for help because they don't believe that we can help them.

People are using social tools and learning, like wearing blue eyeshadow as a teenager.

In Facebook, manage your social metadata by managing your friends list.
Manage your privacy settings.

Sarah Houghton-Jan -- Library Social Network Profiles: The Good, the bad, and the Ugly

Managing the library's profile

The Good --

Identity
  • Register for uniform usernames
  • Register with a uniform generic email
  • Profile information on site is current
Communication
  • Quick replies to users' manges/comments
  • Personal in torn
  • Keep it open to all (minus ads/spam)
The ugly --

Identity
  • Register with random strange usernames
  • Register with individual emails
  • Profile information on site is outdated
Communication
  • Slow or no replies to users
  • Institutional in tone
  • Selectively friend people
Resources
  • CheckUsernames.com
  • Open ID and Claim ID
  • Ping.fm or hellotext.com
  • AtomKeep
Michael Porter --

Making sure that WebJunction's online presence is appropriate.
His online identity is LibraryMan. Many people know his truly as that and not as Michael Porter.

WebJunction has a site that we can participate in and that is a place to talk about who we are. You can control who can see what - micro-control. That is something you can do in Facebook.

Do
  • Have swag that shows who you are
  • Talk about what you are doing
  • Show your personality
  • Have fun with the tools
  • Share your success stories
Don't
  • Have materials online that will embarrass you. Remember that you are representing your organization.
  • Take your creativity too far.
Do? Don't?
  • Consider the impact.
Question -- Some people want to have a separate professional and personal identity.
Greg -- Those identities over time will blend and merge. Easier and more authentic to have just one identity.
Sarah -- Doesn't think it is possible to keep those identities separate. You don't have control on how people access and blend information in their minds.
Michael -- You can keep somethings private, but you may not be able to have two identities.
Amanda -- Digital natives are only creating one identity.

Michael -- We care about functionality, not brands. They had mentioned specific brands, but it is the functionality that matters.

BTW a tweet from another session notes that David Lee King had to be take on the identity of David "Lee" King online because DavidKing.com already existed.

Question: Aggregating our social presence. If they find us in one spot can they find us elsewhere.
Greg -- He is an advocate for aggregating your lifestream. It can be very practical. But people aren't familiar with the lifestreaming tools (e.g., FriendFeed).
Sarah -- Put links in your profiles to your other profiles. And put links on your contact page.
Michael -- Do we keep piling on new tools? We need to research the best way of approaching this problem.
Amanda -- People are overwhelmed by information.

Question: Do you really want everyone to have access to everything you have done?


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