Social Bookmarking is used for a variety of things ranging from personal to educational purposes in which there is no set way to categorize your information. This makes the possibilities to search and share almost endless.
As stated by Amanda Etches-Johnson (2006), “there is no such thing as controlled vocabulary here, no hierarchical relationships, and certainly no faceted classification.” This quote was in reference to tags. Etches-Johnson (2006) went on to explain where social bookmarking is going in education, specifically for libraries that connect user-defined tags to existing subject headings.
Barbara Fiehn (2008) discussed social networking and using OPACS (Online Public Access Catalogs) in school libraries. Fiehn (2008) mentioned Amazon.com as the leader in using Web 2.0 tools and social bookmarking for some time now as it contains a variety of features providing reviews, ratings, and suggested lists.
Feihn (2008) found the following: The first school library automation system to integrate such features was released this past July by Follett Software Co. Destiny Library Manager v8.5 Destiny Quest provides an online searching interface designed to catch the attention of students used to using the internet. The standard search interface combines with social networking in a colorful graphical environment allowing students, teachers, and staff to give star or text ratings to books and submit text, audio, or video reviews. The school community can recommend books to each other, suggest items for purchase, and request additional copies. Destiny Quest also improves the ability to upload digital objects to MARC records. This upgrade also provides Destiny users with a free, 65-title ebook collection.
Feihn’s (2008) final thoughts on the matter after her discussions with library media specialists were “ I think these latest enhancement will be engaging for the students, and also for the teachers. I can see many applications for book reviews and recommendations, which would provide a way for teachers and students to communicate beyond the school setting and school term. I say, Bring it on!"
In addition to the uses of social bookmarking for library use in education, multiple applications in education can benefit from it. Laura Gordon-Murnane (2006) breaks down the process of using social bookmarking in which the learner, educator, or anyone else is able to: keep found sources through individual collections, share collaboration through folksonomy, discovery through serendipity, and portability through multiple web access at any time and place. Gornon-Murnane (2006) also lists the growing number of social bookmarking sites available including Delicious, Furl, Magnolia, Simpy and many others.
Through all of these, the possibilities for higher education are endless. Social bookmarking can really lend itself to the new generation of tagged library catalogs taken to a whole other level.
References
Etches-Johnson, A. (2006). The Brave New World of Social Bookmarking: Everything You Always Wanted to Know but Were Too Afraid to Ask. Feliciter, 52(2), 56-58. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=20673319&site=ehost-live
Fiehn, B. (2008). Social Networking and Your Library OPAC!. MultiMedia & Internet@Schools, 15(5), 27-29.http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=34689396&site=ehost-live
Gordon-Murnane, L. (2006). Social Bookmarking, Folksonomies, and Web 2.0 Tools. Searcher, 14(6), 26-38.http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=21269127&site=ehostlive
"This makes the possibilities to search and share almost endless." Yes, and as individual as each student in every classrooms. Just curious because of your last paragraph, what you think of use in high schools and middle schools? Excellent post Ashley!
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