ASU

The 4 Cs of social networking consist of collaboration, conversation, community and context creation (co-creation).  Within the ANU many of the Web 2.0 social networking themes have been embraced.  The library minute videos cover many of the 4 Cs particularly conversation where the client is encouraged to contact the library to inform them of their needs.  The minute videos cover many aspects of utilizing the libraries resources but two items outside ‘normal’ library items use Web 2.0 technologies.

The first of these is the musical databases that stream music to the clients desktop while studying (http://lib.asu.edu/librarychannel/).  This music can be selected from the music clip guide and there is a link to a free download to iTunes10 arranged for Arizona State University to manage the music stream.

The second is the Twitter (http://twitter.com/LibraryChannel) account which gives news of current occurrences within the ASU Library such as unexpected closures and has a RSS feed to allow updates to be sent automatically to clients.

Miller (2005) discusses working for the user and Casey and Savastinuk (2006) discuss the long tail and these items follow their precepts.  The music stream during studying is a conversation of care for the clients and enhances the feeling of a community.  Having an account on Twitter where a tweet on an unexpected library closure will certainly be re-tweeted to many others who may not have direct access enforces all aspects of accessing the long tail. 

This library is using the 4 Cs of social networking in a very skilled manner.  It is contacting a wide audience and creating a strong community.

Reference

Miller, P. (2005). Web 2.0: Building the new library, Ariadne, 45, 30 October. Retrieved from http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue45/miller

Casey, M. & Savastinuk, L. (2006). Library 2.0: Service for the next-generation library, Library Journal, 1 September. Retrieved from http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6365200.html