As part of its mission, OCLC a worldwide library cooperative prepares in depth studies and topical surveys of issues and trends of interest and concern to all types of libraries, including law libraries. One of their latest reports addresses the topic of sharing, privacy and trust in our networked world .
Although this report was prepared primarily for OCLC member libraries the topic being addressed is of obvious importance to all of us, regardless of occupation, who are working in this highly interractive world of networks and are confronted daily with the necessity of reconciling matters related to information sharing, information security, and privacy. Recognizing this importance we are posting the entire document below. Since it is quite large we have created three links for your convenience. The first links only to the Introduction, the second only to the Conclusion, and the third links to the complete report in pdf format.
The report is divided into 15 sections including the following:
Introduction
Our Digital Lives
Our Social Spaces
Privacy, Security and Trust
U.S. Library Directors
Libraries and Social Networking
Beyond the Numbers
Conclusions
Six Appencices
The following is an brief introductory statement prepared by OCLC:
The practice of using a social network to establish and enhance relationships based on some common ground-shared interests, related skills, or a common geographic location-is as old as human societies, but social networking has flourished due to the ease of connecting on the Web. This OCLC membership report explores this web of social participation and cooperation on the Internet and how it may impact the library’s role, including:
The use of social networking, social media, commercial and library services on the Web
How and what users and librarians share on the Web and their attitudes toward related privacy issues
Opinions on privacy online
Libraries’ current and future roles in social networking
The report is based on a survey (by Harris Interactive on behalf of OCLC) of the general public from six countries-Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States-and of library directors from the U.S. The research provides insights into the values and social-networking habits of library users.
LINKS;
Click here to see the entire report.