Wikipedia defines a social network as a social structure made up of individuals (or organizations) called "nodes" which are tied (connected) by one or more types of specific interdependency such as, friendship, kinship, financial exchange, dislike, or relationships of belief, knowledge, or prestige.

Is social networking via the Web just another new digital hype or could it be a renewed, revisited opportunity( compliments of the Internet) to reach out and target niche groups of like interests, attitudes, and concerns? Libraries have so much to offer besides books, but not everyone is in the habit of going to their library.

I say, yes, yes, yes. Let's begin by bringing out those charming and specific displays from their cases, animating them, add a reading list, and patron comments and share it through the library's website with the community at large. Or do you have a concern with an issue like filtering? Let's have a community discussion online and get everyone's perspective. Do you love Project Guttenberg and want to share it with the others. Don't understand the concept of e-Books and want to learn? Library blog. Possibilities abound, and yes, there are questions- who manages this, how does it work, and probably many more. But like most of the changes brought by evolving technology: the Internet, Google, Wikipedia, e-books, etc. and on into the future, librarians and libraries remain a constant as the keepers of knowledge and place we can all share even if it is not the traditional brick and mortar.