Privacy
concerns associated with Facebook must be balanced with the benefits of the platform.
That balance will vary according each library’s situation goals of utilizing
social
networking
sites.
Peter Fernandez
Both articles regarding Facebook by Peter Fernandez
are great stepping stone resources that address pertinent issues for libraries
as they attempt to explore social media policies and, as Fernandez suggests,
developing such policies is advisable. Yet such an endeavor is not without
complications. For example, in "Balancing
Outreach and Privacy in Facebook: Five Guiding Decisions Points,"
Fernandez outlines how “Facebook creates a unique set of challenges for
librarians who are dedicated to the principles of both outreach and privacy”
(2). The dilemma of balancing outreach
and privacy will resonate in particular with librarians who came of age when the
advocacy of such concepts as privacy and free and equal access was a major part
of librarianship (see Revolting Librarians); but who, at the same time, realize
the incredible force that Facebook is in outreach efforts today. Fernandez statistics of Facebook users are
staggering; and since the article was published in 2009, those numbers are sure
to have increased. There can be no doubt
that libraries will need to address the issues that arise because of such
social network sites as Facebook. In
fact, just as I was thinking that Fernandez’ article is essentially a call to
reevaluate such issues and move discussions into more rigorous,
academic and professional forums; I read Fernandez' “Privacy and Generation Y.”
Librarians can
provide leadership and a forum within their communities to encourage dialogue
on this issue.
Peter
Fernandez
In “Privacy and Generation Y,” Fernandez does, in
fact, suggest the importance of libraries taking a more proactive role in
forums that explore the ethics associated with Facebook. He also stresses the importance of constantly
reassessing social media policy. Fernandez attempts to bridge the aforementioned
dichotomous issues of libraries using Facebook by suggesting that there is a
potential for the “underlying structure and values of the library” to remain “unchanged,”
but that “proactively dealing with as many potential complications as possible, libraries will
prepare to deal with unanticipated problems” (19).
On the other hand, Fernandez’ description of Gen Y’s
response to librarians using Facebook is interesting. The idea that some Gen Y’s react “poorly if
they feel as though their space is being invaded” by figures of authority—such as
librarians—is echoed in the other articles for this week’s module, too (18). In fact, the book I read for this class--Don Tapscott’s
Grown Up Digital--also suggests that such
generations are not only wary, but “great scrutinizers,” as well.
Fernandez,
Peter, "Balancing Outreach and Privacy in Facebook: Five Guiding Decisions
Points" (2009). Library Publications and Other Works. http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_libfpubs/11
Fernandez,
Peter, "Privacy and Generation Y: Applying Library Values to Social
Networking Sites" (2010). Library
Publications and Other Works. http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_libfpubs/32
