-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: Maps-L is on Facebook
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:40:42 -0400
From: Grabach, Kenneth A. Mr. <[log in to unmask]>
To: Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship <[log in to unmask]>
My use of Facebook began primarily through my role as a librarian at my
institution. I have found it a way to 'be where' most of my customers,
college students are. They do not intrude on my other uses of it, and I
try not to intrude on theirs, either.
I have also found it a means to share interesting items in geographical
and science news that I find. I am also able to pass along interesting
items that others have shared. I think a Facebook group for MAPS-L is a
good means of sharing information about maps, mapping and geospatial
imagery, as well.
Of the idea of Facebook as a medium for marketing: As a user of
Facebook, I do nothing with advertising that appears there. I do not
find it intrudes on my use or enjoyment of the medium. We purchase
magazines and newspapers for our personal use, and for our library
systems. They carry advertising, as well. One can read the adverts and
act on them, one can read the adverts and not act on them, or one can
choose to turn the pages without affording them any attention at all.
It does no good to complain about the advertising that, say, the New
York Times carries on its pages or its online site. Facebook is far
less a medium for advertising than many other digital media, and
certainly than traditional printed publications. I don't know if this
adequately addresses the commercial marketing issue, but it is my take
on it.
In short, I find Facebook to be a simple way to reach a focused group of
interested users and colleagues, as well as friends and relatives. It
is a means to share interests, professional activities, thoughts and
ideas, in a simple-to-use medium that includes imagery. And it also is,
on the spectrum of advertising and marketing media, pretty low-key.
Privacy? Well, privacy is as privacy does. Because some post where
they are at lunch or what they are thinking while up at night, doesn't
mean one is compelled to mimic that behavior. And I have not
encountered any misuse or misappropriation of information I have on
Facebook. Don't put it on your profile if you want nobody to know about
it...
Ken Grabach <[log in to unmask]>
Maps Librarian Phone: 513-529-1726
Miami University Libraries
Oxford, Ohio 45056 USA
-----Original Message-----
From: Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Angie Cope, American
Geographical Society Library, UW Milwaukee
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 12:07 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Maps-L is on Facebook
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Maps-L is on Facebook
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:32:14 -0400
From: Joel Kovarsky <[log in to unmask]>
To: Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship
<[log in to unmask]>
There is no point in trying to halt broad social trends, since it will
not work, but I have some distinct concerns. I do not belong to
Facebook, and I recognize that some of this is generational (but
changing). There are very significant privacy concerns with Facebook,
and pushing everyone to join could split the information posted to the
list. My own reaction to the marketing behemoth has nothing to do with a
fear of technology, but does relate to how they use personal information
(no matter what your privacy settings).
It will be a loss if posts start to be split, and there are other ways
to allow larger files. MapHist permits some Word files, and there are
usually ways to disseminate and post documents and photos that don't
involve all the negatives of the massive social networking site. Small
bits are fine, but pushing people to this strictly on the basis of mass
marketing could create any number of problems.
While one could create a survey of opinions regarding the issue (not an
original thought on my part), one problem with many of those short
surveys is that they frame both questions and answers, not to mention
the issues surrounding sampling errors. I hope that others will share
their thoughts, perhaps in some detail, with the list.
Joel Kovarsky
On 6/14/2011 9:22 AM, Angie Cope, American Geographical Society Library,
UW Milwaukee wrote:
> Hi Everyone,
>
> Sue Hawkins has created a Maps-L group page on Facebook. This could be
> a great forum for video, image, blog, event and other announcement
> sharing. Check it out ... search MAPS-L at fb.
>
> This email list will continue to operate as it always has.
>
> Angie
>
>
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