MySpace: Benefits

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MySpaceBenefits Concerns

• Ann CoulterSouthwestern Community College
• Creston, IA 50801
• coulter_at_swcciowa.edu

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How do Patrons use MySpace?

• Oneto-one communication
• Communication in groups
• Sharing photos

• Image representation (the Profile)
• Writing on walls
• Linking to other social networks and websites

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Age Demographics of Visitors
Source comScore
Significant changes in teen usage and adults over
35 usage
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Usage in SW Iowa

• Browse
• 3,000 people within 50 miles of Creston

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Concerns for Safety

• Safety Tips from MySpace
• Your profile MySpace forums are public spaces.
• Dont post phone number, address, or specific
  whereabouts
• People arent always who they say they are. Be
  careful in adding strangers to your friends
  list.
• Harrassment, hate speech inappropriate content
  should be reported.

• Dont post anything that would embarrass you
  later.
• Dont mislead people into thinking you are older
  or younger.
• Dont get hooked by a phishing scam.

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Who is using MySpace?

• Sheraton Hotels
• World Wildlife Foundation
• Museum of Contemporary Art
• Starbucks

And .
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Leonard Boswell
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Idaho Commission of Libraries
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Oskaloosa, Iowa
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Why should libraries use MySpace?

• Thats where the community members are
• Need to meet the people where they are not
  where you want them to be.

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How to use MySpace to benefit your community

• Reference questions
• Marketing
• Photos
• Flyers
• Events
• Instructional
• Links to traditional resources
• Acquisitions

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MySpace Site Elements

• Profile
• Pictures/Videos
• Contact information
• Site Address
• Interests

• Blog
• Blurbs of info
• Friends
• Friends comments

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Choose Your Identity

• How to do want to represent yourself?
• Library as a whole
• Teen site
• Librarian
• Advisory Board
• Library Board

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Libraries in MySpace
with lots of publicity in Library Journal
Chronicle of Higher Education

• Hennepin County Library
• Brooklyn College Library

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Invited authors to be friends
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West Liberty PL
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North Library PL
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Questions Comments?

• Are you going to join the MySpace network?