Chapter 3- Photos and Images

I have to admit, when it comes to photo-sharing, my experience is pretty much limited to uploading photos onto Facebook. I have received countless invitations from friends to view their photos on Flickr, but to be honest, I tend to ignore those invitations. As I've said before, technology intimidates me and signing up for yet another website for which I'll forget my sign-in name and password as soon as it's created isn't my cup of tea. (However, I did learn through this tutorial that I can browse photos without being a member.) Plus, there are only so many photos of weddings, babies first steps and a friend's recent trip to Orlando that a girl can handle. I mean, I saw some of the photos on Facebook, do I really need to see more?

However, after reading through the Flickr tutorials and learning about what the website can actually do, I'm intrigued. I never realized that social networking could exist through photos. The fact that I can explore pictures of libraries around the world, and connect with the people who took those photos is amazing. I also like the idea that if you join Flickr, you have the option of making your photos private, or only sharing them with certain groups. That particular "safety net" makes me feel much more comfortable if I were to post pictures of my nephews.

One particular Flickr tool that I will definitely use in the future is the idea of creating a Flickr map. I have traveled quite a bit and would love to add my personal photos to a map to show my friends and family exactly where each photo was taken. On that same note, the Findr tool also sounds useful. From what I understand, I could look at pictures from around the world using this feature. The next time I plan a trip, it would be great to use this tool and check out pictures that other people have posted who have traveled to that same spot.

When I consider the applicability of this website for libraries, the advantages are obvious. First, to the extent that the library is employing a strategy of knowledge sharing through a web-based network of learners, these tools permit the community of learners to benefit from the advantages that pictures offer. Pictures add color, information, entertainment and emotion whether they appear in a book or on screen. Second, the library can tap yet another area of user creativity. Where one person may feel most comfortable with the written word, others may feel better able to contribute creatively by posting photographs, videos, maps and charts. Flickr, and similar tools, open that avenue of access to creativity. Finally, the use of these social networks gives the library and its patrons all of these advantages at relatively low cost.