I had the opportunity this morning to attend a Cincinnati Social Media Breakfast. The event was was held in the spectacular Mercantile Library, which has been a working private library since 1835 and is so breathtaking in a step-back-in-time kind of way, that I wanted to share some pictures of the library and the event.
I was amused by the irony of this classical marble goddess trying to “shh” the library patrons juxtaposed against the social media set chatting and twittering the event live from their iPhones.
The talk was on Intellectual property law. Local attorney John Greiner, who specializes in media law, gave us the legal rundown on running a website and participating in online communities.
Everyone participating in social media—yes that’s you!—needs to familiarize themselves with the Communications Decency Act (Section 230), which sets the standard for what web content hosts and creators can be held liable for.
If there’s a Social Media Breakfast in a city close to you, I highly recommend taking part. They’re wonderful educational—and of course social—opportunities for anyone who’s trying to find their way in this new online universe we’re in.
Below, enjoy a few more photos from the historic Mercantile Library in downtown Cincinnati. Don’t you just love old libraries?
-Maria Schneider
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Oh funny, I was just there Wed night to see author Denis Johnson speak! As seen here:
http://kristanhoffman.com/2009/04/24/see-you-in-spain/
Kristan,
Hey that’s cool. Didn’t realize Denis Johnson was just in town. I’m going to try to get down to the Mercantile more often– what a fabulous spot.
So sorry I had to duck out at the last minute. Looks like it was a great time.
What a beautiful library…that is one of the things I miss living over here in NZ, the buildings with that kind of history and presence.
Thank you for the link, will check it out.
Thanks for the pics, Maria. In college, if I’d had a library like that to study in, I’d have been a straight A student!
–John
That’s a lot nicer looking library than the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen Library where this weekend’s New York Roundtable Writers’ Conference is taking place. There was a similar anachronistic feel there, as the Library is this massive old room, dripping with history, and the panel I was on was all about blogging, Twitter and social networking.
PS: I gave you and your authors using Twitter post a shout-out as a good reference point for beginners. :-)
Thanks Guy! Hope you’ll write a post about the Roundtable conference to fill us in.