Do you Facebook?: Networking with students online

Abstract

Describes how Georgia Institute of Technology library sent e-mails via the popular social network for students, Facebook, in order to promote library use by mechanical engineering students. The information services librarian used the network to introduce himself personally and emphasized the non-traditional aspects of the library. A large proportion of the messages received back concerned software. Although the response rate seemed low, the use of Facebook was also successful in terms of making the librarian recognized as a friendly acquaintance by the students. He will continue to promote the library via the network and encourage colleagues to do so as well.