jan10a.indd


January 2010 5 C&RL News

In theIn the

Welcome to the January 2010 issue of C&RL 
News. As social media sites such as Face-
book and Twitter move into the mainstream, 
more and more libraries are examining ways 
to integrate them into their communication 
plans. As with any technology or communi-
cation project, a little careful planning goes 
a long way towards successfully engaging 
your audience. Andy Burkhardt provides 
guidelines for developing, using, and mar-
keting your “Social media” presence in this 
issue.

Despite the current trend towards online 
communication and community, face-to-face 
interactions still play a large part in our work 
lives. Miriam Rigby discusses using “Social 
networking 0.0” to cultivate community and 
connections on campus by creating fun, 
casual connections with colleagues. In this 
month’s scholarly communication feature, 
Gavin Baker provides advice in navigating 
campus politics for librarians working to 

pass open access resolutions. But the tips he 
offers are easily expandable to any campus 
governance situation.

Making connections in your local com-
munity can also extend your library’s reach 
and impact. Thomas Steman and Susan Motin 
describe outreach efforts at St. Cloud State 
University to provide research assistance to 
K–12 students participating in “History Day.”

Make sure to take a look at all of the other 
great articles and columns in this month’s 
issue, including Internet resources on statisti-
cal sources for education and social sciences 
from the ACRL Education and Behavioral Sci-
ences Section, tips on “Professional develop-
ment (on a dime),” and a list of candidates 
for ACRL offi ce in the upcoming ALA/ACRL 
elections.

Happy New Year, and thanks for reading 
the News! 

—David Free, editor-in-chief
dfree@ala.org