Using Online Social Networks, Podcasting, and a Blog to Enhance Access to Stony Brook University Health Sciences Library Resources and Services

ABSTRACT

Recent studies show that few online users begin their information searching on library Web sites and that an overwhelming percentage of users access social networks such as Facebook and MySpace. This article describes methods used by Stony Brook University Health Sciences Library (SBUHSL) staff to build user communities and share library resources in online destinations widely visited by college students. Approaches include tagging and sharing selected links on del.icio.us, developing a WordPress blog to share online tutorials and podcasts, and establishing a Facebook presence.

KEYWORDS:

• Blogs
• bookmarking
• del.icio.us
• Facebook
• health sciences librarianship
• online tutorials
• podcasts
• PodPress
• screencasts
• social networking
• Web 2.0
• WordPress

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Darren Chase

Darren Chase, MLIS ([email protected], AIM: secretlibrary) is Informatics Librarian at Health Sciences Library, Stony Brook University, HSC Level 3, Room 136, Stony Brook, NY 11794–8034.