• How can social networking be used by MLA to connect members?
• I have been a member of Facebook since May 2004. I find it a great way to stay in contact with people that I do not come face-to-face with on a regular basis. I use it mainly to stay in touch with people that I first meet face-to-face, then continue the relationship online. I am very hesitant to make new friendships online. With that in mind, I feel like social networks would be best for people to remain connected after meeting face-to-face (say at the MLA convention). That being said, it would be a useful way for people who cannot attend the convention to connect with people of similar interests. Groups could be created for particular groups/chapters within MLA and then individuals would join those groups and make "friends" and "discuss" within the platform.
  
• Should your library have a Facebook or MySpace page?
• Since the NLM is kind of like the mother ship of all medical libraries, I'm not sure how much sense it makes. I do feel like the average academic library should have a Facebook page. That's where the students do so much of their networking and libraries should definitely be there to stay current and up-to-date. NLM might be the kind of place that could have its own social network for medical librarians, or simply have some kind of presence in some of the more professional networks like LinkedIn or Library Ning 2.0.
  
• Are there privacy concerns for individuals when using social networking sites.
• Perhaps as a member of the Facebook generation, I am more open to the idea of social networking sites. Since you're in control of the information that is out there, I do not think the privacy concerns are out of your grasp. If you don't want it out there, don't put it out there!
  
• What did you like or not like about your experience with Facebook or MySpace.
• I'm a big fan of Facebook (less so of MySpace). I feel like Facebook has a more user-friendly interface and is more pleasing to the eye. I hope that this exercise encourages many librarians to become immersed in the social networking world!
  

What is the difference between a blog and a wiki?

A blog is more like a journal or diary. A single author or small group of authors post small news items. Viewers are often welcome to comment on the various posts, but cannot edit the content. A wiki is more of a communal experience. Anyone who is a member of a wiki is allowed to edit the content found within - both in the actual pages and in the comments/discussion field.

What sort of things might be better suited for a blog and better suited for a wiki?
A blog could be used to keep people updated about what is new in the library.
A wiki could be used to facilitate communication with a staff or for inviting patron participation in the creation of a resource.

I'm enrolled in a continuing education course offered by the Medical Library Association on Web 2.0 tools. I will be answering assigned questions weekly.

Week One:
How do you think you could use RSS feeds at your library? How do you think patrons could use RSS feeds?

I am an Associate at the National Library of Medicine, so we are in a special situation. I am pleased to see that NLM is offering PubMed results by RSS Feed. It was definitely helpful to be assigned that as I can now show that as an option for patrons in the Reading Room. I think RSS Feeds are mainly useful at NLM as a tool to suggest to very savvy patrons. NLM has a very limited number of patrons, so it may not be that heavily a used tool. I will, however, keep it in mind when I work at a different library next year.