I first found out about the Poken at a digital marketing conference I got a chance to attend a couple of weeks ago. I immediately thought about the possibilities this small gadget holds for libraries and how libraries and users can benefit from this tool.

I got even more excited about it when I realized that this little thing called Poken (that kind of looks like a toy) ties into my research on successful social networking strategies for libraries.

But first, let me explain what a Poken can do.

What’s a Poken?

A Poken is a small USB tool that allows you to exchange your social networking information with other people who have a Poken. So when you meet someone new, instead of exchanging business cards, email addresses, or other information, you simply touch your Pokens together to get connected. Once you “poken” you still have the option to accept and deny the new connection. The Poken also allows you to share only the information you choose in your “digital business card.”

To put it briefly, it’s the easiest and fastest way to share online social networking information with others. And that’s where libraries and library users can benefit from this simple, little tool.

Poken in the Library

By placing a Library Poken at a central place (maybe near circulation? the reference desk? maybe all librarians should carry them around?) users can easily get the library’s social networking details like the library’s Facebook page, Twitter account, Flickr account, etc. and vice versa; the library can get information about their users and see which social networking sites they’re using, which can be very useful for the library in terms of planning and implementing new social networking technologies.

Library users benefit from the ease, simplicity and speed of the device. Libraries also benefit by being able to easily connect with patrons, but they gain even more by being able to learn about users and their social networking preferences. We all know how difficult it can be to choose the right social networking technologies to implement at the library and then promote them to patrons. The Poken can play a key role in both of these areas.

The Problem with the Poken

At the moment, one problem with the Poken is that it’s not very popular. Yet. At only $20 a piece, I think it has the potential to become widespread.

Another problem is with the privacy of the device. When you add your social networks to your Poken account you’re asked to enter your password to verify that the account is really yours; the Poken website states that passwords are not stored and that they’re only used to confirm your accounts, but I still don’t think that’s very safe. On the other hand, many applications and websites ask for both usernames and passwords to your social networking accounts in order to verify that you own them.

I guess only time will tell if the Poken will be the next essential little gadget that everyone will one day have.

I did find one library that started using a Poken, and as you might have guessed the library is in the Netherlands.

Further Reading:

• Do You Poken? (or have business cards gone the way of the Dodo?)
• I wanna love the Poken (but I can’t)