For the tools we surveyed last year, we see little change. The most significant shift was in social networking: in 2010, 35% reported using Facebook, Twitter or similar on a daily basis, and 30% never used it–in either a professional or personal setting. This year, 46% use social networks daily in their personal life and only 19% report never using them. Professional use of social networks lags behind personal use, but the gains are still noteworthy, as only 28% of respondents report never using social networks for work. By the way, we are hosting presentations about use of social media in the library in two free webinars this month: get the details from the WebJunction webinar calendar.

Meanwhile, email discussion lists continue to be as popular as they have been for years, with 50% of respondents using them daily (and one-quarter report daily use even in their personal lives). These are long-established, tight-knit, semi-private communities that fill our in-boxes with tips and advice, success and horror stories, rants, jokes, and calls to action. Despite their definite 1.0 clunkiness, they are still useful and used . The discussion forum, however, which could be considered the Listserv’s web-dwelling cousin, seems to be fading fast, with only 6% of respondents reporting daily use in professional life (9% in personal life), and one-third stating they never use discussions (nearly one half never use them in their personal life).

The low level of use of RSS among library staff is (to me) surprising, with roughly half of respondents stating that they never use RSS. Because this tool seems like a practical and easy and efficient way to stay tapped into updated information and news on topics of interest published on the web, and because use of RSS among the general public is reportedly much higher, we are spotlighting a simple overview of this tool on WebJunction with the hopes that more library staff will give it a try.

Here are the full results from the 2011 survey question:

Therefore, it has been interesting to see that even without putting a ton of effort into creating awareness of these satellite WebJunction communities, they have been steadily growing in numbers and activity. Last week we gained our 1,300th Twitter follower (with just a wee bit of prodding). Our Facebook page has 885 “Fans” (anyone else find that term embarrassing?) and our LinkedIn group has 531 members. And stuff is happening in these places: we’re swapping news stories and getting comments on those stories that deepen the perspective; questions of the “how does your library…?” type are getting asked and answered; and links to helpful resources are being exchanged. It has become obvious that social networking has taken root in the library profession. Actually, it appears to be flourishing.

It’s been fun to see all the activity happening in our little carved out niches within the social web, but we realize that many of our members are missing out on the information that is swirling through these satellite networks. In our member survey last year, 30% of you responded that you never use social networking sites. When possible, we bring the resources that are shared in those contexts to WebJunction, but we wouldn’t ever try to capture every rich remark, link, or connection that occurs.

So, it seems to me that our job is to better demonstrate what is happening on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other online spaces that you may find worth your while to check out.

To start, I’ll review each of the Big Three networks over the next few months, to give you some ideas of how you can target your social networking so that it helps you stay up-to-date with the news, people, and information that may be relevant to your profession. Stay tuned to BlogJunction and our Crossroads newsletter for this series.

David says, “Google Wave is a collaborative, instant messaging service which began in a preview (alpha) edition in 2009. Google Wave may change the very face of virtual reference. This group is for libraries/librarians and others who wish to connect with one another outside of Wave and share ideas, projects and tools about and for Wave”.

And he’s already started 3 great discussions: Google Wave Resources, Books about Google Wave, and Are you Waving?

Stop on by the new group or browse other WebJunction Groups.

Michael and David are hoping that you will help build the project by adding your comments to the essays, to answer the question, What do you think librarians need to know to succeed?

If you like what you read, post a comment to his blog to encourage him to write that Part II he mentioned!

Need a primer on twitter? Read this article: “Twitter: A Beginner’s Guide.”.