Pros and Cons to Facebook for Libraries

Some form of media will continue to be in our lives.  Right now Facebook seems to be in everyone’s technology.  Schools are not the exception.  When looking at the selection of school libraries using Facebook, it seems like college and/or universities use Facebook the most.  Out of the public schools, the high schools tend to use it as well.  Those public K-12 schools that use Facebook do not seem to have many posts or followers. 

There is plenty of information to be posted on these pages.  Librarians post information about newly acquired books to the circulation, book talks or blogs, Author visits and any other pertinent information about the library.  Unfortunately, I do not see many comments.  It could be that the sight answers most questions that students may ask or it could be that students do not bother to look at the page.

There are many advantages of having a Facebook account for the library.  For instance, most school students have a Facebook account.  It would be easy access to get information about the library.  People can post pictures of their favorite books with comments or quotes from selected literary works.  It is instantly accessible and has many users. 

It seems as though people feel that Facebook is more of a way to get in touch with friends, not necessarily schools or work.  People need to be 13 years old to have an account.  There is not really a way to filter the content being posted.  The librarian would have to read over every comment and post to ensure nothing inappropriate would be shared.  There are too many variables that are all the responsibility of the library.