The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) has published a study, Social Software in Libraries, which provides an overview of ARL libraries' implementation of software that people use to connect with one another online. Citing comScore, ARL notes that in the last few years, the use of social software has grown enormously. MySpace.com attracted more than 114 million visitors in June 2007, a 72 percent increase from June 2006, while Facebook grew 270 percent, to 52.2 million visitors.
While a growing number of libraries have adopted social software as a way to further interact with library patrons and library staff, many things are unclear about the use of social software in ARL member libraries. The survey was designed to discover how many libraries and library staff are using social software and for what purposes, how those activities are organized and managed, and the benefits and challenges of using social software, among other questions. Social software was broadly defined as software that enables people to connect with one another online.
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