Use of social networking sites by library professional in the institute

Libraries: A study
Saee A. Priolkar
National Institute of Oceanography, Goa
E-mail: simranpriolkar22@gmail.com
Sagar S. Kumbhar
Indian Institute of technology, Gandhinagar
E-mail: sagark@iitgn.ac.in
Abstract:
In this scenario Social Networking sites are used as effective media of
communication. The social networking sites are a tool to connect people together for
common purpose. Now a days social networking sites helps to improve library
profession as well as library services. The SNS are totally changed the traditional library
services and information tools. Through the SNS library professionals can reach to
number of users at time and they are able to provide similar kind of information to large
community of the users. The use of social networking sites in library is increasing days
by day and it helps to library professionals to build personal interaction with their users.
This paper focused on use of SNS by library professionals, their purpose and how SNS
are useful to them for improving library services.

Keywords
Social network; Social networking sites; Patrons; Library professional

1. Introduction
The social networkings sites are the platform where we can build our networks
and relations with users. These sites are useful in keeping contact with patrons as well as
other libraries and institutions. The SNS allow library professionals to deliver desire
information to the users within a minimum time. Through SNS library patrons can get
personalize service from the library. The esteemed libraries are using SNS for sharing
similar information content to the similar category of the users. The social networking
sites are also Web 2.0 application which changed the face of library services, not only

services but it was changed media of information. There are many social networks sites
available from where the individual interact with each other. The various SNS are
Facebook, Google+, Orkut, Youtube, Twitter, Linkindin, Myspace, Fliker, Watsapp etc.

2. Social Networking Sites

Social networking sites are new developing technology in sharing and
disseminating information product with in the users. The primary role of SNSs in library
to make an interaction between library staff and users. The SNS are effective tool for
library professionals to promote their services as well as marketing of the information
products. The Usage of this technology increasing day by day and its positive effects on
library services came out. Library professionals offer any service through SNS is purely
based on web because it is a online portal. SNS playing vital role in building better
relation in library staff and users, it helps not only share information but also personal
thoughts, ideas, feelings and emotions. Through the SNS libraries can offer web based
services, such as E-mail, Instant messaging, etc.
Now a day the internet and WiFi facility are provided in each and every college,
University and research institute for study the purpose. This paper aims to explore the
major role played by social networking sites among each and every individual. And how
the library professional make use of social networking sites in their library professional
way. How they can develop the use social networking for others.

3. Definitions:
Boyd and Ellison (2007) define social networking sites as web-based services that
allow individuals to construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system,
articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, to view and navigate
their list of connections and those made by others within the system. Powell (2009)
defines social networking as a community in which individuals are somehow connected
through friendship, values, working relationships, idea and so on.

Deducing from the above definition, the term social networking can be referred to
as a web platform where people from different cultural settings can connect and interact
with each other.
4. How the SNS can be used by Library professional
The libraries can develop their own social networking sites for the users. The SNS
would be creating separate platform for library professionals to interact with their users
and build personalize connection with them. Through the SNS library professionals can
produce new type of services as well as they do marketing of their information products.
These sites are allowing library users to directly interact with library staff and get
required information with in less time. Through the SNS library and information centers
promote their information product and services because now days SNS are play a vital
role in marketing of the products and services. The key feature of SNS is, through these
tools library professionals can encourage their institutional research because SNS allow
researcher to do direct communication to library staff and to get require information
which fulfill their research need with in less time.
Library professionals can develop subject specific blogs and through this they are
able to provide scholarly information to users who are working in same subject area.
The SNS can use to provide such kind of information:
1. To provide news and announcement of events.
2. To provide links and intimate users about new research.
3. To make aware users about new books and new services.
4. To provide book reviews and article alert to researchers.
5. To give opportunity to students to ask questions pertaining to the use of the
library.
6. To send brief updates to users.

5. Objective of the study

The present study was conducted with the following important objectives.
Determine attitude of library professionals in use of Social networking sites
5.1. To evaluate the awareness of social networking site among the library professionals.
5.2. To evaluate the extent use of social networking tools by library professionals.

5.3. To know the purposes behind using SNSs use by the library professionals.
5.4. To know the role of social networking tools in disseminate information/knowledge
sharing, and enhancement of library services.
6. Methodology
The present study was done to make aware of Use of social networking sites by library
professional in the institute libraries. In this study used questionnaire as a survey
method. A well structured questionnaire distributed to 10 Government institutes in 25
library professionals. The questionnaire was sent through the online e-mail and all library
professionals were responded. The study was limited to use of social networking sites by
library professionals in their respective institute.
7. Data analysis & Interpretation
7.1 Names of the institutes and total respondents.
Institute Names
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
IIT Gandhinagar
NIO
Karnatak University, Dharwad
Shivaji University, Kolhapur
Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education,TIFR
Central Drug Research Institute
Total

No. of responded

6
5
3
2
5
1
3
25

This table shows the names of the institute and the total respond we got from the
institutes. 7 Government institutes library professionals participated in the survey the
questionnaire. Depend upon which we had done the limited data analysis of the study.

7.2. Did the library professional frequently use of SNS

72%
0%
28%
0%
100%

20
10
0

Responded

Monthly

18
0
7
0
25

Responded

Fortnig

Weekly

Responded

Daily

frequently
use SNS
Daily
Weekly
Fortnightly
Monthly
Total

The above table provides the information regarding the SNS frequently use by library
professional. The SNS is used mostly daily by the user which is (72%) and there
fortnightly i.e. (28%) out of 25 respondents.
7.3. Time spend in Access of SNS
Time spend
0-30M
30-60m
60-90m
more then
Total

%
44%
20%
16%
20%
100%

Responded
11
5
4
5
25

15

11

10
5
5
44%

5
Responded

20%

16%

20%

0
0-30 30-60 60-90 more
then

The above table shows the number of users time spend in accessing the SNS per
day. In which the 11 library professional use SNS is 0-30m (44%) as compared to other
respondent. Other 5 library professional use the SNS is (20%) i.e. 30-60mins more then.
But just 4 respondent use SNS for 60-90m (16%) per day.

7.4. Most frequently SNS used by library professional

SNS sites
Face book
Google+
Orkut
YouTube
Twitter
Linkindin
MySpace
Fliker
Watsapp

Responded
12
8
0
5
3
6
1
2
10

%
26%
17%
0%
11%
6%
13%
2%
4%
21%

Watsapp
Fliker
Myspace
Linkindin
Twitter
Youtube
Orkut
Google+
Facebook

%
Responded

10

15

This table provides the information regarding the favorite SNS use by the library
professional. It is observed that Face Book is used most often by the library professional
i.e. (12, 26%).Whats app stood second in using the SNS i.e. (10, 21%), Google+ as third
in access (8, 17%), Followed by Linkindin as (6, 13%), Youtube (5, 11%), Twitter (3,
6%), Fliker (2, 4%), Myspace (1, 2%) and Orkut nile as respectively.
7.5. How SNS is used in disseminating information
Information
Keep
interaction
professional
friends
Sharing up
to
date
information
Build
professional
network
For chatting

Responded %
15
30%

Responded
30%
42%

10

20%

8%

20%

Keep interaction with professional friends

8%

Sharing up to date information

Build professional networks
For chatting

21

42%

Most of the respondent use SNS for chatting i.e. 21 respondents (42%), other 15
respondent (30%) use SNS for keeping interaction with professional friends. Just 10
respondent (20%) use SNS for sharing up to date information and for building
professional network is 4 respondent (8%).

7.6. Type of information you get from SNS

Information
Study
related
Information
Current
News
General
Information
Video/
images

Responded
22

%
34%

20

31%

12%

15

23%

25
20
15
10
5
0

22

20

15

8
34%
31%
12%
Study related Current news General news
information

23%
Video/
images

Datenreihen1
Datenreihen2

This table provides the data regarding the type of information you can get by
SNS. Mostly SNS is useful in getting study related information i.e. (22, 34%), then the
current news information can also be share (20, 31%). The library professional also use
SNS in video/images sharing (15, 23%) and just 8 respondent use SNS for general
information (12%).
Greater
impact
40

7.7. Impact of SNS in library professional

Impact
Greater impact
Rarely impact
Non impact
Total

Responded
19
6
1
25

%
76%
20%
4%
100%

20
Total

Rarely
impact

Non
impact

This table shows the impact of SNS in library professional. The SNS has a greater
impact in library professional life i.e. (19, 76%), just few respondent indicate as rarely
impact on their professional (6, 20%) and one respondent says it has no impact (4%).
Stirring up interactions among the users.
7.8. Use of SNS
Uses
Library
professional use
SNS us on mobile
Increasing social
networks

Yes
(96%)24

No
(4%)1

(72%)18
(84%)21

(28%)7
(16%)4

Responded
%

25
20
15
10
5
0

Yes
No
Total

This table provides the information regarding the various uses of SNS. Library
professional use in which 24 respondent said as yes i.e.(96%) and just one as no i.e.
(4%).The use of SNS on mobile phone 18 responded as yes (72%) and 7 responded as no
(28%). The third point is whether SNS increasing in social networks in library profession,
21 responded as yes (84%) and 16 responded as no (16%).
7.9. Which SNS would be useful mostly for library professional?
SNS sites
Facebook
Google+
Orkut
Youtube
Twitter
Linkindin
Myspace
Fliker
Watsapp

Responded
24
15
1
4
2
25
1
0
3

Watsapp; 3
Fliker; 0
Linkindin; Myspace;
1
25

%
32%
20%
1%
5%
4%
33%
1%
0%
4%

Responnded
Facebook;
24
Google+; 15

Youtube; 4
Twitter; 2

Orkut; 1

The above table provides the information about, which SNS would be useful mostly for
library professional. The Linkindin sites is used mostly by the library
Professional (25, 33%), followed by Facebook as (24, 32%) and Google+ as (15,
20%). Other sites are Youtube (4, 5%), Watsapp (3, 4%), Twitter (2, 4%), Orkut &
Myspace (1, 1%), Fliker nile but first three sites can be useful in library professional
more than other sites.
8. Summary of the Findings
The findings of this paper are derived from the data analysis and interpretation.
1. Most of the library professional uses daily SNS.
2. The time spend on SNS per day by the library professional is half an hour and they
mostly spend more than hours per day in browsing, sharing or stirring up interactions
among the users.
3. The library professional make use of Facebook most often, then followed by Watsapp,
Google+, Linkindin and other SNS sites are used but not as much as the three sites
mention first.
4. The library professional use SNS for chatting and in keeping interaction professional
friends in their profession.
5. The SNS are used for study related information, then the currents news, video/images
sharing and less use in general awareness of information.
6. All most all the respondent have accepted that the social networking websites has
greater impact on their profession
7. Using SNS through mobile phones is increasing day by day and the use of SNSs is
increase in their profession.
8. Most of the responded were exploitation that the SNS websites are useful in library
professional. The Linkedin and Face book SNS websites is more useful for library
professional to disseminate information and to share the resources.
9. Conclusion:
In this information age, providing right information to the right users is the challenge for
library professionals but, the social networking sites bring revolution in library services,
they replace traditional library services. The use of SNS is increasing day by day. In this
study came to know that now days library professionals are aware to use of social
networking sites and they are able to provide new services through SNS.

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