Facebook Update

I read this article yesterday in the American Libraries Association's online newsletter. The author talks about privacy and tricks and tips to protect yourself, your photographs, and your posts from being viewed by those you wish wouldn't. There were a lot of options that I didn't even know existed and if I had, I could have prevented the whole "high school debacle!!" Anyway, I thought those of you who use facebook could benefit from reading the article. So here it is:

http://www.allfacebook.com/2009/02/facebook-privacy/

After reading it, I went into my account and changed almost everything!

Blog #3 - Back to the Future

This week I have a personal vendetta against technology. You see, I have a facebook account. Now I have been avoiding the whole thing for years now. But a few months ago I broke down and joined because a lot of co-workers were on there and other library-related groups. I thought, "Hey what a great way to keep in contact with my colleagues!" For the most part, it is. I am also in constant contact with a lot of friends who live out of state and even out of country, which is an amazing ability. For all of that, facebook rocks.

I have read several articles over the past few months of people (tweens and teenagers) posting either photographs or blogs that were inappropriate. The whole notion of "privacy" came back to the surface. What is private? Do young adults and tweens understand the implications of putting out on the Internet a racy photograph of themselves at 16? Do they understand that the photograph will remain out there in cyberspace forever? To haunt them? Then there are the other folks who post blogs about partying, stealing, stalking..whatever and then a school official, police officer, or potential employer reads it and the blogger's chances for a job, a scholarship, or a promotion is over. Sometimes we just don't realize WHO might be following us on the Internet. With all the benefits that technology can bring us, it can also strip us of our privacy if we let it. I never thought I would be one of those people to post something that obviously irritated others.

Back to facebook. There was a survey going around about your time in high school. The purpose was to fill out what you experienced, felt, or remembered about those "good old days." Well, mine were not so good. Anyone who knows me knows that I hated high school. I went because I basically had to. I had a few friends, stayed out of people's way, and did what I needed to do to graduate. That's it. The end. I was not a joiner of clubs, partying-goer, or dater of "Popular Pete". I was just there and I hated it. I would never go to a class reunion because I simply don't care enough. My life went on after high school. I am not the same person I was back then...at all. So why bother trying to reconnect with the past?

Ok, so I fill out the survey. No big deal, or so I thought. Within ONE hour I had people from my high school commenting on my rantings. Things like, "You were always so nice to me in high school." or "If I ever did anything to you to make your time in high school awful.." or "You had more friends in high school then you knew." Holy crap! First off, what the hell? And secondly, why? It appears that my fellow classmates do not appreciate our high school being slammed. They also would like to repaint the past, MY past so that it is a different color. Um, no thanks. Needless to say, I was pissed. I felt like I had to justify why I said what I did. Not only that, I felt like I couldn't be honest anymore on facebook because obviously people are reading and paying attention to what I say. Furthermore, these same people are not afraid to voice their thoughts about my postings.

It is kinda creepy. Also a little self-centered of my classmates to think that my post had anything to do with them whatsoever. I am entitled to my own opinion and thoughts about my time in high school. Even if that opinion is flawed simply because it is based on memory. My memory.

I learned a lesson here. I learned that it isn't just teenagers who are putting things out on the Internet that come back to haunt them. Grown adults are doing it too even if it is innocently. Even if it isn't a really big deal. It's just that notion of being watched that bothers me. I suppose I will need to be more careful the next time I even think about touching on the subject of high school. That my friend, is a loaded gun.

What's Your Stereotype?

As technology advances, so do the job responsibilities of librarians actively working in the field. With wikis, blogs, Second Life, and IM/Chat, librarians are expected to not only embrace new technology but learn to manipulate it and incorporate it into their work day. Libraries must bring the resources that the patrons want and need. Be it a fast Internet connection, Wii competitions, or the ability to post reviews to books that have been read, libraries have to move forward with the times if they want to stay relevant. Even if it means a bit of feet dragging, crying, and complaining!

I find it fascinating that despite all the technological advances that can be found within the library, that the librarian stereotype still lingers on. Even now in 2009, when I tell people that I am aiming to become a librarian, I get the raised eyebrows. After this the statement of "But you seem so alternative to be a librarian!" get heard. It's irritating, sure, but it does give me the opportunity to put in a good word about the direction library sciences and librarians are going. I get to tell people that the days of bun wearing and polyester suits are over (for the majority of us anyway).I also get to enlighten them on the truth that we are not a bunch of shushers who would rather you NOT touch the books or move things around. Today's librarians have a myriad of backgrounds, talents, interests, and skills that make us not only eclectic but knowledgeable. Librarians today know more than where to locate a book within the stacks. Think databases and electronic resources for starters.

So come on, ask us something...I bet we can come up with a pretty good answer!

And while your at it, think of us as "Librarians 2.0's!!" Most of us will come unto the job market with not only theoretical knowledge but some actual hands-on experience with all kinds of products and software. We will be ready to test out that new technology and determine how it can best work for us and our library. As the world of technology changes so must we. I mean, librarians want to stay just as relevant as the places they work!

We must learn to live in an ever changing and evolving world. We must be willing to not only take on the new technological challenges but learn to incorporate them into the library world.

Now if we could just work on that stereotype...

(Tattoo by Matt Stahura)