MySpace and Facebook

I like what Denver Public Library has done on MySpace. It is easy to see with the white background, but not boring with the sqiggly design behind the boxes of text. I think that the design would be interesting to teens. The box for reviews on music and movies (and books in last place) would be utilized by teens here on the MySpace more so than on a blog or Library website. Go where the teens go. It also has the catalog search screen right there (though I almost did not find it as it was not labeled as the library catalog... probably better that way) :-)

I like that LaCrosse has pictures of teens on their MySpace account, as they are the user group trying to be reached. It is good that they list the types of events and activities that their library hosts. The bulk of their information like Denver is to click on their blog link. Denver's is more comprehensive, and it shows in the number of comments. Though, Denver has a much larger population too.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg County Library Loft is another like Denver. I think it speaks more to teens than LaCrosse does. It may be more publicized too, who knows? They have a meebo on the page, upcoming events, a calendar, etc. It is in bright neon colors.

Two of the sites had music that could be played on the site. Teens would like that. I think that teens are the hardest group of users or non-users to reach. Okay, you create the site; how do you spread the word to the teens that the MySpace library site is out there?

I don't see a need for me to use it for personal use. For our library, I think our teen librarian would love to use it for the teens. I do like some of the options the libraries above have used the MySpace, though in the comments area I saw a lot of new books listed as a comment in some of the pages viewed. I would put books in a separate area. There did not seem to be much said in the comments area of substance. Am I way off base there?

As I do not have a Facebook account, I did not check those out except for the screen shots. The screen shots did seem to be a little easier to read, more for adults. If I were to use one over the other for personal use, I would use Facebook. If our library used either social networking tools, we would probably use Facebook for the adults and Childrens programming and MySpace for the teens.