Week Two: Online Communites, Part I

A slow Saturday at work, led to the creation of my first ning, thus completing week two's assignment for 23 Things Kansas. My initial impression:

WOW! Why are we not using this at our library?

It was quick, easy, and surprising versatile. I was able to create lenore.ning, an Edgar Allan Poe ning, in around 15 minutes, with a full host of features that would easily migrate into a workable customized online community for a host of specialized library groups and services.

A few potential groups:

• Book groups: There is already a social component to book groups/clubs that would translate quickly to a ning. At the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library we offer "Book Group in a Bag" kits for groups to check out that contain multiple copies of books, discussion questions, etc. (It is really cool, check it out here.)
  
  I think an online community geared towards Topeka book clubs, with forums for book discussion, the ability to post events, and other features of Ning, could help sustain a thriving book culture which always helps the library.
  
  
• Gamers: Again, a social community, that might use a specialized online community website.
• Small Businesses: This group is always looking at ways to connect or network, and a library business users Ning could provide a nice focal point for library business reference and programing.

Therefore the question becomes, aside for the staff time it would take to create, monitor, update, etc. each ning, what are the potential drawbacks to a "ning approach" to patron services?

What am I missing here? Is it the effort? motivation? a technology issue?

What do you thing?

Oh and if you like Poe, join my Ning!