Libraries reaching out to students online

I think by reaching out to students in an online environment, libraries can offer a service which is much beyond its traditional role as a custodian of knowledge and will be able to provide access to a wealth of new resources to the patrons that would not have been possible otherwise. By connecting with students in an online space through various popular social networking sites, libraries can become aware of the information needs and trends of the student population in a community and be able to identify the resources required to meet those information need.

Especially in Academic libraries, collaborating with students in a online space will enable them to market their resources and reference services in a more effective way. Also, since the online space fosters a friendly, informal atmosphere, students can feel more comfortable while interacting with the library even while giving feedback on the library services. So it would be a very successful outreach service by the libraries if they can connect with the student community online and offer a much richer, faster and personalized learning experience to the students through the online spaces.