Facebook: unpredictable, explosive, unavoidable? These can be positives and negatives. For a repository with an active Facebook page, Facebook apps can be a way to connect with users, or to create more interest in your archives/collections. The blog prompts from 23 Things for Archivists encouraged a discussion on the pluses and minuses of Facebooks apps, and there are many of each.
The advantages of installing apps on Facebook include increased visibility, low- or no-cost marketing (aside from the required time, of course), and creation of an involved community though social networking. Disadvantages come in that most apps require that you forfeit some control over personal information. Facebook may be given access to your Friends list (something you may seriously want to weigh as a repository respecting the privacy of its patrons). Some sneaky apps even require an acceptance of terms that can grant them access to your Friends' (or Fans', if you're a page) information as well. The best advice when app searching is to carefully read and weigh the permissions required to install that app. For an app to access the "personal information" of a repository's web page may not seem to create many negative consequences. Tracking may not seem ultra-threatening to a public institution account that is being responsibly used, either. However, an app that "requests" to access information about patrons ("Friends"/"Fans"/"Followers"), even their "Likes" or locations, could be potentially hazardous (or, at the very least, offensive) to those who trust your repository with information.
Facebook uses "personal" information and activity tracking, when allowed, to entice advertisers to give money in exchange for marketing information. The tracking, geolocating, etc., is used to create targeted advertising for a particular account. Again, for a repository, this might not seem very threatening. Some with personal accounts, however, might not want to subject their account information to analysis, whether the intent of that analysis be benign or malignant. ...It's still kind of creepy, even if it's just for advertising. What does this mean for your repository on Facebook? It means that when you "invite" a Friend/Follower/Fan to install an app, you may be inadvertently asking them to expose their information to third-party applications and sites. Many may be unwilling to do so, understandably, so don't be offended. Many, though, may be unaware of the consequences and particulars of installing apps (especially third-party apps) onto their Facebook accounts. If you'll be doing this regularly, make sure you know what's at stake, and make sure you are able to communicate the pros and cons to your patrons and "Friends".
One feature that can be really helpful to amalgamation and consolidation is importing a blog to a Facebook account. This can only be done for one other site (i.e. only a single blog can be imported). This feature allows you to import blog entries as Notes, automatically. To configure, click on "Notes" on your repository's profile, then scroll down to "Subscribe" (you may have to go into a particular note to access "Subscribe"). Click on "Edit Import Settings", and type in your blog's URL. Easy! Now your Friends can read what you post on the blog right on Facebook. One less step.
We talked about putting Meebo on Facebook in Thing 2... I blogged about it here. But, as Blogger user Norton enlightened me in the comment to that post, a single account can be on either Facebook Chat or Meebo (through Facebook), but not both simultaneously. But, Meebo or Twitter accounts can be linked on Facebook through apps listed in the "Utilities"section. Either or both of these, or a combination of other apps, could be very useful in consolidating different social media accounts. Under "Business" (perhaps one of the most relevant sections for a repository to explore), SlideShare or LinkedIn accounts can be added. Using these tools, an archives can make presentations about its collections and share them via Facebook, or connect with users who might solely use LinkedIn for professional networking. Definitely helpful. The Family Tree app (Utilities) might be a wonderful way to map out a collection created by a family, so that users can see all the players involved. Many interesting possibilities lend themselves to these apps.
Just be aware of the pros and cons of Facebook (I wrote some of my own perspective on this in Thing 6: Social Networking. Also, be aware that many of your users (or possibly even most, depending on your constituency) will not be on Facebook. This is also true of any or all of the other social networking avenues you may be traveling down with your repository. While consolidating on Facebook can be beneficial, be sure to not "put all your eggs in one basket" as it were. And PRIVACY SETTINGS, PRIVACY SETTINGS, PRIVACY SETTINGS! Note especially, as you bop around, that there is an "Info available through your Friends" section under "Apps, Games, and Websites". Make sure you watch out for inadvertently exposing the information of your followers.
But, other than that, happy apping. It can be a lot of fun and a great tool set.
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