Here's her companion blog to the book."Social Software in Libraries: Building Collaboration, Communication and Community Online" by Meredith Farkas
Foreword by Roy Tennant:
Here is the first book to explore the growing phenomenon of social software and how these technologies can be applied in libraries. Social software lets libraries show a human face online, helping them communicate, educate, and interact with their communities. This nuts-and-bolts guide provides librarians with the information and skills necessary to implement the most popular and effective social software technologies: blogs, RSS, wikis, social networking software, screencasting, photo-sharing, podcasting, instant messaging, gaming, and more. Success stories and interviews highlight these tools’ ease-of-use—and tremendous impact. Novice readers will find ample descriptions and advice on using each technology, while veteran users of social software will discover new applications and approaches. Supported by the author’s Web page.
Meredith has anticipated librarians asking "Why Should Librarians Care About Social Software?", and explains it in this preview chapter. The last paragraph sums it pretty well:
Libraries need to look at social software applications as valuable tools for communicating with and serving their current patrons, as well as attracting new library patrons. Social software can provide libraries with a human face beyond their walls. It can provide them with ways to communicate, collaborate, educate, and market services to their patrons and other community members. Social software can also help libraries position themselves as the online hub of their communities. Technology can make libraries more relevant to people who think they can get all their information from the Web, while attracting a brand new population to the library.
Awesome, this will be useful for my fellow social media evangelists back in Buffalo. Will be del.icio.us-ing this blog post :)
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