Abstract
Social Network sites are one of the innovative technologies contributing libraries the opportunity to reach out to its patrons. Keeping library users up to date is the primary aim of every library, online library services taken the role successfully, and among them Social Network Sites plays the unique role to keep the patrons informative. In this chapter, we provide a study of an attempt to use social media to engage with public libraries. Also this chapter has come out with a testimony on library services and the challenges through FaceBook, Twitter and Weblogs.
Top2. Objectives Of The Study
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To study the importance of Social Network sites to reach the library patrons.
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To identify the possibilities to use Social Network sites for library services.
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To analyse the challenges and barriers to use Social Networks.
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To discuss the way of library services through Facebook, Twitter and Weblogs.
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To analyse the implementation of social network library services in Indian scenario.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Online Services: Information services over the internet.
Social Network Sites: Dedicated websites which enables their users to communicate among them by posting status information, comments, sharing images etc. It allows users to do two way interactions.
Facebook: A famous social network that allows sharing our own thoughts as texts, videos through YouTube links, images in albums, invitations to an event etc.
Weblogs: Regularly updated websites, run by an individual or an organization, that is usually written in an informal or conversational way.
Library Services: Direct and indirect services provided by libraries and information centers to their users and clients in person and through communication technologies.
Public Libraries: Libraries, except academic and special libraries which are for the use of common people run by government and private organization are called public libraries.
Reference Services: It’s a kind of library service to assist the users to find the information they need.
Twitter: A social network for micro blogging, it allows users to text up to 140 characters.