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SPEC Kit 304: Social Software in Libraries (July 2008)

SPEC Kit 304 explores how many libraries are using social software and for what purposes, how those activities are organized and managed, and the benefits and challenges of using social software, among other questions. For this study social software was broadly defined as software that enables people to connect with one another online. The survey asked about ten types of applications: 1) social networking sites; 2) media sharing sites; 3) social bookmarking or tagging sites; 4) Wikis; 5) blogs; 6) sites that use RSS (Really Simple Syndication) to syndicate and broadcast content; 7) chat or instant messaging (IM) services; 8) VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services; 9) virtual worlds; and 10) widgets. This SPEC Kit includes documentation from respondents of examples of Web sites that show how each of the ten types of social software is used.

Link to the free online SPEC Kit 304 on the ARL Digital Publications website.

A print copy is available for $45.00 ($35.00 ARL members) plus shipping and handling.

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