The Social Networking for Information Professionals unit has broadened my perspective as a future library professional in understanding the positive uses and harms that technology can serve in the society. For me, the most meaningful aspect of this unit is that it identifies the importance of online and offline etiquette for what it takes to be a social networking information professional in the 21st century, through an array of multilayered learning.
In module one, I reviewed Han and Yang’s (2023) article, concurring with their survey on relational closeness for social media use and self-esteem on individuals. Individuals will have high self-esteem if they have a supportive friends’ network and adverse effect if not. Equally, several other students agreed with the concluded findings. Later, I noticed the article did not deduce a protective measure for this issue. Having completed the module, I learned the way to conquer this issue is to educate students on how to navigate social media, equip them with the necessary tools to manage their personal data and know where to seek assistance when encountering attacks either in the form of cyberbullying or cybersecurity threats (Etuh & Bakpo, 2022). Additionally, I concurred with Brenna Guiney’s (Guiney, 2023, November 25) evaluation on Mulvey and Keller’s (2023) article on social media platforms governed by algorithms and restricting what content can be shown on platforms. I realised since representation of the information could be biased opinion, it is difficult for viewers to notice from selected information, unless posts are very one-sided opinions. This understanding of how algorithms alter information showed me that it can be harmful to students and how crucial it is to promote information literacy in education for learning in the 21st century.
Further into module 2, the influence of social networking and technology on society were explored. I have learned that technology evolved from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 and will continue to transform. Now I know that Web 2.0 allows users to contribute to web content and social media which facilitates collaboration and makes it possible for networking through mobile technologies, to interact with each other seamlessly. Nevertheless, the information environment that we are now living in is inevitably changing, upgrading, and it is a challenging task for information organisations to keep up with the fast-paced, ever-changing digital online platforms. This means that information organisations need to update their policies and guidelines regularly, and documents need to be fluid. Hence, I found that this method will allow accessing and conducting everyday business in internal and external websites to be kept secure. I have realised from this unit that the amount of data that travels and is stored in the cloud poses privacy and security issues. I have come to understand that to keep data safe and secure for patrons has become an expectation and is a strenuous task (Martínez-Caro et al., 2020). Keeping the infrastructure and online resources current is an enormous cost for information organisations. In the near future, information organisation might need to join ventures and pull their funds together to reach a common goal.
After watching Laura Cole’s TED Talk video (2016) in module 3, I discovered the history of the changing role of library professionals from preserver to cultivator, and from a custodian of books to having the active role of a navigator. Cole (2016) discussed the library 2.0 ethos in relational to information organisations and explored how there are a vast majority of roles that library professionals are required to perform. I agreed there are different expectations, and new roles and responsibilities seem to be emerging in an upward trend. According to Margaret K. Merga (2022), there are more than thirty-six aspects of role requirements and characteristics of the Australian teacher librarian. Margaret’s research (Merga, 2022) indicated that in South Australia schools have 94% of unqualified staff managing the library, due to cheaper remuneration packages. This demonstrated to me that the perception of library professionals remains static and is still considered a ‘breezy’ career, with a traditional lady sitting behind the front desk serving patrons (Rubin & Rubin, 2020). Hence, I think the need to promote the important role of librarians is immediate. I believe librarians act as a bridge between patrons and online platforms. I feel that constant training and upgrading library professionals’ knowledge and skills to support the community is vital to ensure a safe and protected environment for users.
I have explored various social networking websites in this unit for assessments and successfully learnt to create an artificial library website using Instagram. It was a great experience to learn a new application, where I can transfer the knowledge to my students in future to support them to navigate or create their own webpages using Instagram. I used the trial-and-error method for this assessment task, and reading and commenting on other students’ blogs inspired my learning for this unit. When I compared two twitter feeds (X), Digital Education Research Network (Australia) (DERN) (DERN [@derntwits], n.d.) and the American Library Association (ALA) (ALA [@ALALibrary], n.d.), I learnt that content appearance, type and the variety of posts do matter for attracting an audience. If posting is infrequent, that will create less market exposure, and mainly text content will drive users away. In addition, this unit taught me that algorithms are a useful tool to sort out the most relevant information and acknowledge images by reference to the code of Creative Commons to abide by the law, before downloading and sharing with others (Maurer et al., 2016).
Social networking is the norm, no matter what application you use, it is a part of our everyday life. I am a qualified teacher and have curriculum knowledge and a pedagogy. However, I found teacher librarians are uniquely qualified information professionals and require a different skillset, and it would be valuable for me to improve my information management knowledge and skills to support and implement programs that will benefit the school community. This unit revealed to me that libraries are increasing toward online resources and security protection, requiring multi-dimensional approaches with management and technical solutions. This unit supported me to advance my technological and management skills. I have no regrets in choosing “Social Networking for Information Professionals” and will utilise all the skills that I have learnt in my future career.
References:
American Library Association [@ALALibrary]. (n.d.). Tweets [Twitter profile]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/ALALibrary
Cole, L. (2016). BiblioTech as the re-imagined public library: Where will it find you? [Video file]. YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnYDl66YfQ0
Coolarts223. (2023). Shiny sphere floating on water. With reflection [Art work]. Devianart. https://www.deviantart.com/coolarts223/art/Shiny-sphere-floating-on-water-With-reflection-985754054
Digital Education Research Network [@derntwits]. (n.d.). Tweets [Twitter profile]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/derntwits
Etuh, E., & Bakpo, F. S. (2022). Social Media Networks Attacks and their Preventive Mechanisms: A Review. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2201.03330
Han, Y., & Yang, F. (2023). Will Using Social Media Benefit or Harm Users’ Self-Esteem? It Depends on Perceived Relational-Closeness. Social Media + Society, 9(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051231203680
Martínez-Caro, E., Cegarra-Navarro, J. G., & Alfonso-Ruiz, F. J. (2020). Digital technologies and firm performance: The role of digital organisational culture. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 154, 119962. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.119962
Maurer, M., Gerdes, J. C., Lenz, B., & Winner, H. (2016). Autonomous driving: technical, legal and social aspects. Springer Nature.
Merga, M. K. (2022). School libraries supporting literacy and wellbeing. Facet Publishing.
Mulvey, A. P., & Keller, J. M. (2023). Brooms and ballots: #WitchTheVote, the nostalgic internet, and intersectional feminist politics on Instagram. Social Media + Society, 9(4), 1-13, https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051231205
Rubin, R., & Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (Fifth edition.). American Library Association. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/CSUAU/detail.action?docID=6386141.
There are two main challenges surrounding social media and privacy use in information organisations. These concerns are, firstly, that the protection of information and the flow of data within social media leaves individuals and companies vulnerable, and secondly, the ethical issues around enforcing such protections.