TOTS session 9: Microblogging

Wednesday December 2, 2009

TOTS Wikihttp://tots.pbworks.com

Links to microblogging tools

Further reading on microblogging and Twitter

TOTS Session 9: Microblogging

1. Welcome and Introduction to Microblogging – Lindsay Ure

2. Twitter as a networking and information gathering tool - Daniel Hooker (SLAIS)

3. Twitter features: aggregator tools and how to 'time' tweets - Allan Cho

4. Use of Twitter with UBC Library eResources blog- Lorne Madgett

5. Twitter-bot for New Materials at UBC Library - Rod McFarland

6. Decision to stop using Twitter - Eugene Barsky

7. Overview of Yammer - Katherine Miller

Microblogging: Definitions

“the practice of posting small pieces of digital content – which could be text, pictures, links, short videos, or other media – on the Internet. Microblogging has become popular among groups of friends and professional colleagues who frequently update content and follow each other’s posts, creating a sense of online community.”

EDUCAUSE, “7 things you should know about…Microblogging.” July 2009

Microblogging: Definitions

“a form of multimedia blogging that allows users to send brief text updates or micromedia such as photos or audio clips and publish them, either to be viewed by anyone or by a restricted group which can be chosen by the user. These messages can be submitted by a variety of means, including text messaging, instant messaging, E-mail, digital audio or the web.”

Wikipedia, “Microblogging”. Retrieved 30 November, 2009: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microblogging

Pew Internet Report: Twitter and Status Updating, Fall 2009

“One in five internet users are now on Twitter or another status update service.” (up from 11% in April 2009)

“Three groups of internet users are responsible for driving the growth of this activity: social network website users, those who connect to the internet via mobile devices, and younger internet users – those under the age of 44.”

Traffic on Twitter went from about 2 million unique visitors per month in Dec 2008 to over 17 million in May 2009

Discussion Questions

Who uses Twitter or Yammer?

1. Do you use it in a way that hasn’t been described here that you’d like to share?

2. Did you learn something new that you might try out after this session?

For those who don’t:

1. Have you been persuaded to try it?

2. If so, how will you use it? Or how do you think libraries can use it?

3. If not, why?