Nings: Country Clubs and/or Esprit de Corps

Nings are custom social networks. They are online communities created for a designated group.

At first glance, Nings look great. They have a great face.

Libraries might consider creating Nings--as ways to create custom social networks--and to foster the stickiness needed to provide community for their patrons. Yet, a consideration needs to be taken into account.

In the article "Viewing American Class Divisions Through Facebook and MySpace," Boyd discusses how social networks have a tendency toward a type of social caste system.

It seems to me that Nings could be something of a virtual Country Club--suffering from some level of exclusiveness.

After all, who invites whom, when Nings are being formed?

America's public libaries cannot fall into any level of exclusion. We are Free Public Libraries for all of our people. If we are to be a community, we must be an umbrella--one that encompasses all of the factions.

Yet, Nings, just of a library's staff, could be effective. A small Ning of this nature would invite all of the members of the staff--and no exclusion would take place. A Staff Ning could be a way of building esprit de corps. It could be a good message and sounding board for the staff. But Nings for the entire library--no, I can't see that happening.