Done right, I think librarians can be a welcome addition to blogs and social networks by:

• Adding value to our services from our patrons’ perspective
• Being respectful of the social environment we’re a part of (no library-ese, no sales pitches)
• Inserting our expertise and resources in a relevant way (such as in response to an expressed need, as Brian’s initiative does)
• Monitoring discussions to assess needs and improve our services
• Having fun and engaging patrons!

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh sustains more than 700 jobs annually and has an economic return of $91 million, according to results of a study released Thursday.

[snip]

The library generates a return of more than $91 million to the economy of Allegheny County, which equals $6 for every dollar of local public funding, and $75 worth of annual benefits per person in the county.

The study also found that accounting only for circulating books, DVDs and videos as well as databases, the library provides an estimated value of $41 million to library customers each year.

[snip]