Social Networking: Product or Process and What Shade of Grey?

Social networking debuted in 1997 and is now an established and common method of communication and is increasingly related to and supportive of academic publishing, scholarship and generating new information. Some of the most mature and popular sites are Facebook, Bebo, Twitter, Linked-In and Plaxo plus many more specialized examples. As many professional societies and individuals choose to develop a presence on social networking sites (SNSs), the utility of them has become more valuable and ubiquitous. With emerging forms of technology to provide personal space and networking opportunities, the sites gain a new presence blending information products with new means to be discovered and searched. This paper explores how academic libraries are implementing a range of social networking activities to augment their online presence through traditional websites and launch new ways for their users to find, discover, access, navigate, evaluate, create and apply content. Libraries are also extending access with greater mobile optimized sites for Smartphones (iPhone, Droid, and Blackberry) and other emerging technologies that enhance information in utilizing and managing data, images, audio and streaming media. Today, library collections and services are being transformed due to electronic publishing, data curation, preservation and archiving efforts in order to allow users dependable 24/7 access to resources with potential for interactive communication. In an increasingly global and mobile society, the new social communication mediums reduce boundaries, transcend the digital divide and invite more transparency and participation by shadowing the grey parameters in the scholarly community and redefining publishing outputs and opportunities. This evolution did not happen without cautious regard to intellectual property, privacy and confidentiality. The new by-products are not always tangible but remain instructive and promote innovation within communication as a new adopted and accepted form of authorship and creative expression. By adding the social communication features of this kind of networking that promotes introduction, networking, commentary, critique, discourse, sharing, and the building of new communities, grey content is enhanced and the sources of access multiply with an open and entrepreneurial future for SNSs.