School Libraries and Social Networks

Abstract

After a brief introduction to social networks, considered as one of the key tools of web 2.0, the paper deals with the possible uses of social networks and social network applications by school libraries. Social networks are widely used by students, and the range of tools available (or to be implemented) within social‐networks is steadily growing. Among them, of special interest for school libraries are 'social reading' and content sharing applications. The paper advocates an active use of social network tools and applications by school libraries, and contrasts such an active use with the simple ‘placeholder’ pages usually implemented both by school and by university libraries.