(note - this is just my ramblings, it is by no means in any sort of "official" format)

or maybe not limited to Libs?

or maybe we don't need this - or maybe it exists?

Okay I was in the shower when I had this idea . . . where else do ideas come from but in the shower, whether they are wild, practical or terrible?!

What do you think of some sort of WORLDWIDE, 24/7, 365, volunteer, independent TWITBRARIAN or something like that (name can be something else)?

What I mean is – what I’m thinking is we are all on Twitter all (much) of the time. I know some of us are working – sometimes we’re not working – and I know it is also a source of “fun” and/or pleasure, socializing, etc., and not necessarily work, or a place we would want to end up getting work from … But – I can’t help but think of what an incredible social resource we are – all of us LIBRARIANS from all over the place on TWITTER….

I know for sure we have librarians from Australia, and United States and maybe even other places – and/or we could get from other places….

I’m not sure if this is a good idea or if there is anything here or not….

I also don’t know it I would see it as being something formalized enough to SAY for sure it IS 24/7, 365, b/c maybe not enough people can or would commit to that.

But I am sort of seeing some sort of wiki page where people can show their availability or schedule or if they are online or not currently and be available to answer questions.

I know there ARE other, individual “Q&A” online chat services (that are even 24/7) – like the GREAT one here in NJ – but this would truly be worldwide and 24/7 – and not require anything to sustain it really except the people. It wouldn’t restrict anyone from being able to ask questions on it – which might be a mistake!?

I don’t know if it would be for ALL THE GENERAL PUBLIC or ONLY Librarians!?

I mean, we sort of naturally do this –Q&A for librarians by librarians, etc. on Twitter, but what about “formalizing it” in an informal way? Promoting such a thing?

Services like this from independent libraries and/or organizations requires funding, people, equipment, advertising, etc… it is never guaranteed that those things will always be there to sustain such services.

Maybe this is too serious – too impractical – or just a darn bad idea, but we collectively on Twitter are a goldmine! ;-)

How/why I thought of this:

I was wondering how I get something for my taxes that shows the donation of the two OLPC laptops I bought so I can get tax credit for them – What I want to do is ASK people I know – on Twitter (on facebook, etc.). But I know that I could or should do a little looking myself – and I’m sure I could find out – BUT I prefer to ask a friend/colleague, etc. first! And this is what we are hearing people prefer or often do first – hence the rise of “social networks” for ratings of things; for opinions; as a first source when one has an “information need” (whether this is good or bad). So, as a librarian myself, I FEEL like first asking my “friends.” WHY!? B/c it is so likely that someone in my particular “network” already knows that or has that info or something…..

So, my idea was sort of building off of that – I would rather first ask on Twitter and THEN do some research – maybe I’m just lazy….

So, I ask you, is there anything here? Or do we already have it in a way that is just fine anyway? Do you think this would be best for “just” other librarians or could it actually be “for the public”? I know this would need a lot of planning/organization before it could really be as big as the original thought “Worldwide, 24/7, 365, Volunteer Twitter Librarians,” but maybe something not so huge!?

Tell me:

-You’re nuts

-You’re stupid

-You might be onto something here

-You ARE onto something here….

Etc

Thanks!

Amy Kearns

Amy.kearns@gmail.com

akearns on Twitter