Check It Out:

Been to your library website lately? Maybe you’ve noticed that Newport Beach Public Library can now be followed on two new social networking sites. Technology is a big part of today’s library, and you can read all about it by checking out some of its newest books.

“What Would Google Do” by columnist and blogger Jeff Jarvis presents his ideas for surviving and prospering in the Internet age, with its new set of rules for emerging technologies as well as industries such as retail, manufacturing and service. We learn that customers are in charge, people anywhere can find each other and join forces to support a company’s efforts or oppose them, life and business are more public, conversation has replaced marketing, and openness is the key to success.

Ben Mezrich, author of “Bringing Down the House,” has written another bestseller in “The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal.” This book relates the incredible true story of the accidental creation of Facebook, and the even more amazing tale of what happened afterward — a real-life adventure filled with unimaginable wealth, sex, exotic locales, 6-foot, 5-inch identical-twin Olympic rowers, and betrayal.

“Twitterville” by Shel Israel focuses on the increasing use of Twitter as a business tool to maintain contact with customers, to troubleshoot problems, and to brainstorm new ideas. Israel notes the growing trend toward social media, including Twitter, the leading software in what is called microblogging. Twitter traveled a circuitous route from a system to allow software developers to keep track of each other to a fast and succinct communications tool. Readers interested in Twitter for business or personal reasons will find this a valuable resource.

Having your own blog isn’t just for the nerdy anymore. Today, it seems everyone from multinational corporations to a neighbor up the street has a blog. They all have one, in part, because the folks at WordPress make it easy to get one. But to actually build a good blog that people want to read takes thought, planning and work.

From picking a theme and using tags to choosing widgets and building a community, creating your blog really starts after you set it up. In “Building a WordPress Blog that People Want to Read” by Scott McNulty, you will learn how to set up and maintain your site.

“The Facebook Era : Tapping Online Social Networks to Build Better Products, Reach New Audiences, and Sell More Stuff” by Clara Chung-wai Shih was written for those who want to take advantage of social networking for marketing, sales, recruiting, collaboration and product development.

The author uses case studies and a how-to guide to illustrate how social networking can be used to find new business opportunities, target-marketing campaigns and involve customers in product development and innovation.

Whether you access the library website on your home computer, iPhone, laptop or new “on order” iPad, remember to check for all the newest in technology right here in your backyard.

CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public Library. All titles may be reserved from home or office computers by accessing the catalog at www.newportbeachlibrary.org. For more information on the Central Library or any of the branches, please contact the Newport Beach Public Library at (949) 717-3800, option 2.