Ramp Up Your Social Media with DGI, Part Three: GovLoop

By Peggy Garvin, Garvin Information Consulting

We invite all SLA Government Information Division members to take a look at GovLoop, a site that is emerging as the leading social networking site for government workers at all levels around the world.  This invitation is the latest step in building DGI 2.0 and exploring networks for our members.

GovLoop is similar to other social networking sites such as Facebook or LinkedIn, but the conversation is focused on topics like managing and leading in government, Gov 2.0, upcoming seminars, and knowledge management in government, with plenty of fun stuff sprinkled around.  GovLoop welcomes "gov't employees (fed/state/local/intl); public policy students/professors; good gov't organizations; and gov't contractors with good intentions."

A group for librarians has already been established on GovLoop by Dr. Curtis Rogers of South Carolina State Library.  We’ve talked with him, it is an open group, and he’d love to have DGI members on board.  The group is called Libraries – Local, State, Federal and Curtis describes it as "a group for library employees to share ideas, keep up to date, and learn from one another."  The group is open to anyone.

DGI members can use GovLoop as another place to network with other government librarians and information professionals, but also as a way to join in discussions with the wider world of government leaders, managers, and staff outside of the library world.

It can also be a good place to promote libraries in the public sector.  For example, a GovLoop member recently started a discussion that is just begging for a professional, informative response from a DGI member: "How do you search? … Does anyone use libraries anymore?"

If you are not already a member of GovLoop, consider joining, and consider joining the Libraries group!