The Charleston Report, a newsletter about the US Library Market, has been landing on my desk - and over the last ten years - my desktop, for more years than I care to remember. Its focus is of course now primarily on changes brought about within the market by the impact of digital, and it always highlights some interesting tidbits. If the latest edition is anything to go by, it seems social networking trends have hit libraries jus as much as other markets, with reports that:
1. 50% of faculty members across the US believe social networking sites will change the way students learn according to a recent Thomson survey
2. video advertising through sites such as YouTube is now a significant trend as shown by a survey by the Online Publishers Association (OPA) which reveals substantial statistical data on the attitudes and behaviours of Internet users towards online video
3. OCLC has added a social networking feature to WorldCat.org, to allow users to create their own profile and create personalised lists of items catalogued in WorldCat, then share them with colleagues
4. the 'Infotubey' award winners have recently been announced - 'Infotubeys' being awards given to libraries for exemplary content posted on YouTube. Information on winners can be viewed here.
And the social networking theme continues as I have just learned that Pan Macmillan has developed a facebook page for its forthcoming title HEARTSICK, with the aim of generating publicity for the book in advance of publication on 3 August. The group has 150 members and counting, perhaps lured by the promise of a free advance book proof (while stocks last) to everyone who joins the group. Facebook fans might also like to look up the facebook group dedicated to our new book lovers' community site, lovelybooks, here.
On an entirely separate theme our Australian publishing deserves another mention today as Les Carlyon's brilliant book The Great War, published by Pan Macmillan Australia, won Australian Book of the Year last night at the 2007 Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA), as reported by the Australian News here.