Libraries as social networks

1. Libraries as social networks Lee Rainie, Director, Pew Internet Project 5.6.11 San Francisco library system Email: Lrainie@pewinternet.org Twitter: @Lrainie

2. The rise of networked individualsBarry Wellman – University of Toronto (my co-author)

3. New social operating system (1):Networked Individualism • Groups and bureaucracies give way to networks • Social networks are more influential • Social networks are differently composed • Social networks are more vivid and tied to creation of information/media

4. New social operating system (2):New kinds of communities • Explosion of group activity and group niches • Rise of social posses • Advent of just-in-time, just-like-me peer-to-peer (support) groups • Fifth Estate of content contributors

5. Revolution #1 Internet and Broadband

7. 70% 66%

8. Demographic factors correlated w/ broadband adoption Trends in Home Broadband Adoption 10/5/2010 8

9. Consequences for info ecosystem Volume Velocity Valence / Relevance Vibrance

10. Consequences for info ecosystem Explosion of creators and niches

11. Networked creators among internet users • 62% are social networking site users • 55% share photos • 33% create content tags • 32% contribute rankings and ratings • 30% share personal creations • 26% post comments on sites and blogs • 15% have personal website • 15% are content remixers • 14% are bloggers • 12% use Twitter • 4%-17%??? use location-sharing services

12. Big challenge for librariesAtoms bits Collections are disrupted

13. Big social networking add by libraries1 – Cover access divides • 44% of those living below the poverty line used library connections • 61% of those ages 14-24 used them for school • 54% of poor senior citizens used library connections for health/wellness needs • 63% used library connections to help others Source: Opportunity for All, Univ. of Washingon, Gates Foundation, IMLS http://cis.washington.edu/usimpact/documents/OPP4ALL_FinalReport.pdf

14. Big social networking add by libraries2 – Cover participatory divides • 2/3 of library connection users sought assistance from library staff • 60% of library connectors use them for social purposes • 42% for education purposes • 40% for jobs/career purposes • 37% health and wellness purposes • 33% for community engagement Source: Opportunity for All, Univ. of Washingon, Gates Foundation, IMLS http://cis.washington.edu/usimpact/documents/OPP4ALL_FinalReport.pdf

15. But there is more libraries can do: Relevance & digital literacy are primary factors for not going online Source: Pew Internet Project, May 2010 tracking survey Trends in Home Broadband Adoption 10/5/2010 15

16. Revolution #2 Wireless Connectivity

17. Cell phone owners – 85% adults 96% 90% 85% 58% Urban-84% Suburban-86% Rural-77%

18. 2/22/2011 18

19. Mobile internet connectors – 57% adults 62% 59% 55% Urban-60% Suburban-60% Rural-43%

20. Demographic factors related to mobile connectivity Trends in Home Broadband Adoption 10/5/2010 20

21. Cell phones as social tools % of cell owners • 54% send photo or video • 23% access a social networking site • 20% watch a video • 15% post a photo/video online • 11% have purchased a product • 11% charitable donation by text • 10% status update service such as Twitter 2/22/2011 22

22. 1 in 4 adults use apps All adults 85% use cell phones 35% have apps 24% use apps May 2010 and Nov 2010 surveys

23. 55% of adults own laptops – up from 30% in 2006 50% of adults own DVRs – up from 3% in 2002 45% of adults own MP3 players – up from 11% in 2005 42% of adults own game consoles 7% of adults own e-book readers - Kindle 7% of adults own tablet computer – iPad doubled in 6 months

24. Consequences for info ecosystem Any device Anywhere Place Alone together Presence Any time

25. Big challenge for librariesPeople came to us We go to people The library as place becomes the library as placeless resource

26. Big social networking add by librariesHelp navigate and “make peace” with info • Apps vs. web vs. traditional resource locators • Access to real-time information • Context of information – augmented reality • Sanctuary – quiet space

27. Revolution #3 Social Networking

28. The social networking population is more diverse than you might think 5x 5x 7x 5x 2/22/2011 29

29. Demographic factors correlated w/ SNS use Trends in Home Broadband Adoption 10/5/2010 30

30. Online video • What You Need to Know: • 69% of internet users (half of all US adults) watch videos online – and not just funny cat videos • 14% of internet users have uploaded their own video content (up from 8% in 2007); sharing as likely to occur on social networking sites as specialized video sites 2/22/2011 31

31. Video creation • What You Need to Know: • 14% of adult internet users have posted video online • Up from 8% in 2007 • Biggest growth among older adults, women 2/22/2011 32

32. Online social networks + ubiquitous mobility • Allows for immediate, spontaneous creation of networks • Gives people a sense that there are more “friends” in their networks that they can access when they have needs Social Dashboard Pervasive Awareness 2/22/2011 33

33. Big shift for librariesExpertise and influence shifts to networks Share the stage with amateur experts

34. Big social networking add by libraries1 - Can be embedded in … Media zones • Social streams Immersive Creative / participatory Study / work Attention zones Continuous partial attention Deep dives Info-snacking Day dreaming???

35. Big social networking by libraries2 – Can be nodes in social networks • As sentries – word of mouth matters more • As information evaluators – they vouch for/discredit a business’s credibility and authenticity • As forums for action – everybody’s a broadcaster/publisher

37. Cosmic social networking add by libraries1 – Can be teachers of new literacies - screen literacy - graphics and symbols - navigation literacy - connections and context literacy - skepticism - value of contemplative time - how to create content - ethical behavior in new world

38. Cosmic social networking add by libraries2 – Can help fill in civic gaps - the big sort among institutions: public, private, non-profit reimagining roles - the big sort on news and information landscape - the big empowerment and move to networked individuals

39. Meta issue 1: The future of knowledge • How is it created? • How is it disseminated?

40. Meta issue 2: The future of reference expertise • How to you search for info? • How to you assess it and aggregate it?

41. Meta issue 3: The future of publictechnology • What is the future of knowledge “containers” and access points? • What divides does that create? • What “lending” and “access” models are possible?

42. Meta issue 4: The future of learning spaces • What fosters collaboration? • What is the role of solitary focus? (and quiet space?)

43. Meta issue 5: The future of community anchor institutions • Does local matter? • What does our community need?

44. Practical question - 1 • What’s the franchise vs. commodity? • What’s the aggregation play? Do what you do best and link to the rest

45. Practical question – 2 • What’s the social networking play? What alliances can we strike to do distributed versions of our mission? What’s the word-of-mouth, viral play?

46. Practical question - 3 • What’s the mobile play? How do we understand and exploit real-time information with our patrons?

47. Practical question - 4 • What’s the gift economy play? • Another way to say it: What’s the API play? What can we pry loose that OTHERS can exploit? • What feedback do we want from our stakeholders?

48. Practical question - 5 • What’s the definition of success that is based on outcomes NOT outputs? • How do we measure it?

49. Key questions for any organization - 6 • What’s the gamer play – immersive, compelling, skills building

50. Be not afraid