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Influenced by the Comment Section

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Libraries can utilize social media to keep the community in the loop about library events, such as programs for children and book clubs. If I am entering a new space– library or otherwise –I will scour their social media accounts to get a lay of the land. Social media can bridge the gap between new patrons and the library. Social media posts that show librarians and users can create a space that is more inviting before a person has even visited. Social media can be a brutal place, but it is also notable for its instant feedback. The comment section is where library admins can build a community in different ways. They are able to view and react to comments or criticisms. A response doesn’t mean an argument. For example, I can’t imagine a library going back and forth with the public on the platform formally known as Twitter. Hopefully. Social media can be a place for libraries to see how the community is responding to recently implemented programs. Social media can be used to find what i...
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We'll keep you posted!

By Anna V.
  After reading this week’s articles about social media and libraries, how to get (and keep!) the attention of one’s audience has been on my mind.  It seems to be an ongoing challenge.   I have very little extra time lately, so I am very selective about how I spend that time on social media.   I looked into this a little more and found several sources. Some addressed social media in libraries, others were libraries themselves that had been recognized for their social media.   These suggestions are from the New Jersey State Library.   I enjoy seeing   what other libraries are doing! Taylor and Francis provide some helpful information  here.   This library ’s TikTok and Instagram became extremely popular, and I want to follow them myself now!
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Your book club is where?

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When considering public libraries' involvement in social media, the biggest reasons for use tend to be marketing and communication with the community. Social media platforms are great avenues to connect with existing or potential library users, and I wonder about employing them more for virtual programming. I remember after the Covid-19 pandemic hit the US in March 2020, libraries like mine scrambled to still offer services to the community with virtual programming largely not being practiced. As a society, we often talk of how busy life is today and know nearly everyone has a device constantly at their fingertips, which begs the question... why are more libraries not using that knowledge to their advantage for virtual programming?  A popular library program that could be moved to or have additional groups in a virtual setting are book clubs. With an increasing number of social media platforms out there that promote book discussion or discussions in general, now seems easier than e...
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Digital vs paper

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 Hello all,  While listening to one of my favorite radio channels, WBZ News Radio for Boston, they briefly covered a very interesting piece on the increasing price of ebooks in comparison to their physical counterparts. This has been an increasing issue, especially considering many libraries are trying to work with the ever-rising demand for ebooks from people borrowing books. because of this, they cannot afford as many copies and there is usually a very long wait for extremely popular titles. I ended up looking into this and found that this is not a new problem I received articles dating back as far as 2019. This comes as both no surprise and a bit of a surprise given the history of OA and other sources of that type. I'm including a fantastic article I found below on this matter that really helped break it down for me. Some of the craziest things that I read included the fact that some publishers don't allow libraries to lend out their books at all, the fact that print books ...
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Social Medial Platform for Libraries Only?

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  The number of libraries, large and small, that have jumped into the social web is impressive and Choi’s literary review and marketing analysis indicates that libraries are more comfortable about the concept of integrating social media. A couple of small Maine libraries I am familiar with each handle things very differently, which makes me think about the staffing issues and user needs that our blogging group read about this week, but also information needs that are the core of our information science program. As if trying to strike a timing and outreach balance isn’t enough, libraries need to decide which platform(s) to use. Considering the wide age range of users they may be working with, it must be quite a challenge. Some people may have settled into their favorite platform, some simply don’t want to engage in social media through the library, and other members of the library community may be jolted by political issues such as those of X and TikTok. Pew Research  recently ...
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Using Social Media to Promote Library Programs and MORE

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 Just over a year ago, I was offered a position as the Sullivan Free Library's 'Community Engagement Librarian.' This side job has proven to be the perfect opportunity for me to dig into the works of a small-town public library.  I chose to take a social media course this semester because I knew it was an area that we needed to work on.  As I have been studying other organizations and their social media presence, I have noticed areas we are lacking and found myself thinking a little more deeply about how our library can take advantage of social media.  Right now our goal is to get people to visit the physical library and advertising on social media has been key in getting the word out about our programs.  But there is so much more that I would like to see happen.  Book talks, a place for advice and questions, and patron conversations are only the beginning of what I would like to see happening.  I occasionally share new titles by creating posters on Ca...
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Pinning & tubing education

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While considering social media in education, I thought about my local school district being a "Google district", meaning that the schools use Google applications for teachers, faculty, and students including Google classroom, Google Drive, Gmail, and more. I imagine teachers in a Google district who wish to incorporate social media into their lessons would enjoy the ease of using social network sites that permit login through Google. Gmail is also a common email provider outside of K-12 education, which means tons of college faculty members and students have Google accounts as well and use Google logins elsewhere.  Pinterest allows logging in through Google, but before now I never considered using the platform for school. (This realization did not even occur to me while creating a project showcasing Pinterest!) Its collaborative boards could be fantastic for group projects or peer feedback in the comment sections. Boards can be made secret so only collaborators can access the...
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