Online Social Online Social Networking Networking

A tool for Reference and Outreach

Prepared by: Sharmaine J. Luba, RL

““One of the best means in making One of the best means in making a library popular is to mingle a library popular is to mingle freely with its users, and help freely with its users, and help them in every way” (Zabel,2011)them in every way” (Zabel,2011)

Social Networking?Social Networking?

A social networking site is a unique A social networking site is a unique community of registered users who read community of registered users who read other people’s profile pages, create other people’s profile pages, create profiles describing themselves and their profiles describing themselves and their interests, and communicate with each interests, and communicate with each other electronically (Agosto & Abba, 2009).other electronically (Agosto & Abba, 2009).

Why Use Social Why Use Social Networking?Networking?

Reasons for using Reasons for using Social Networking in Social Networking in

the Librarythe Library• To seek opinion on the library and its services.To seek opinion on the library and its services.

• To reach library users in their homes or virtual To reach library users in their homes or virtual spacesspaces

• To publicize events, services, news and presence.To publicize events, services, news and presence.

• To encourage collaborationTo encourage collaboration

• To increase usage of library collections by To increase usage of library collections by promoting new and existing contentpromoting new and existing content

• To connect with other librarians To connect with other librarians

• To build a sense of communityTo build a sense of community

Social Networking Social Networking ObjectivesObjectives

PromotionPromotion

Collection management toolCollection management tool

OutreachOutreach

Teaching and learningTeaching and learning

Advantages Advantages

FinancialFinancial

Requires a little trainingRequires a little training

Promotes the libraryPromotes the library

Increases engagement and interactionsIncreases engagement and interactions

Helps gather feedbackHelps gather feedback

Enhances communication Enhances communication

Used for outreach activitiesUsed for outreach activities

Challenges of using Challenges of using social networkingsocial networking

Social networking can require considerable time Social networking can require considerable time commitment commitment

Social media can require technological expertiseSocial media can require technological expertise

There are potential copyright issues when using There are potential copyright issues when using social networking. social networking.

External factors External factors

A library needs to work hard to maintain A library needs to work hard to maintain engagement with library users and attract engagement with library users and attract popularity popularity

There are limited fundsThere are limited funds

Sample Social Sample Social networking Sites networking Sites

FACEBOOKFACEBOOK

Facebook is currently the biggest social networking site. It’s made to connect you with friends, family, groups and other libraries. It is used to easily track your fan page engagement and the success of your posts. This is very helpful information in making adjustments to your postings or schedules. Facebook pages can also be used for customer service purposes.

TWITTERTWITTER

People go to Twitter because these People go to Twitter because these users are hungry for new information, users are hungry for new information, opportunities, services oropportunities, services or

People can follow you, or you can People can follow you, or you can follow other people through Twitter. follow other people through Twitter.

People who follow your Twitter account People who follow your Twitter account will see all the postings you’ve created. will see all the postings you’ve created.

LinkedInLinkedIn

This is a social networking site designed for This is a social networking site designed for professionals or for people in professional professionals or for people in professional occupations. occupations.

Since LinkedIn is a place for professionals, Since LinkedIn is a place for professionals, you can share and build your expertise on you can share and build your expertise on this platform. this platform.

LinkedIn has the capability to create LinkedIn has the capability to create groups, just like Facebook. Every group has groups, just like Facebook. Every group has its own discussion, news, and job postings. its own discussion, news, and job postings.

Uses of Social Uses of Social Networking Networking

To promote events To promote events

To promote library services To promote library services

To promote resources/ collections of the libraryTo promote resources/ collections of the library

To update library refurbishments To update library refurbishments

To promote new acquisitions To promote new acquisitions

To promote library guides, exhibition guidesTo promote library guides, exhibition guides

To connect with new students joining the universityTo connect with new students joining the university

A teaching tool to promote information literacyA teaching tool to promote information literacy

Uses of Social Uses of Social Networking Networking

To engage with the academic communityTo engage with the academic community

To connect with the wider community beyond the To connect with the wider community beyond the universityuniversity

To connect with distance learnersTo connect with distance learners

As a customer service tool– complaints, As a customer service tool– complaints, suggestions, inquiries, feedbacksuggestions, inquiries, feedback

To connect with potential students To connect with potential students

As a research tool to locate official documents As a research tool to locate official documents and studiesand studies

Keep your list clean Keep your list clean by “BLOCKING”by “BLOCKING”

Develop Develop a relationship with a relationship with your followers your followers

Have a sense of Have a sense of humor while humor while remaining relevantremaining relevant

Sources:Sources:

“ “Reference reborn: breathing new life into public Reference reborn: breathing new life into public services librarianship”. Diane Zabel, editor. California: services librarianship”. Diane Zabel, editor. California: Libraries Unltd., 2011. pp. 193-202.Libraries Unltd., 2011. pp. 193-202.

““Reference services & social networking”. Ariel Reference services & social networking”. Ariel Dagan & Laura Hogan . 2013 (ppt presentation).Dagan & Laura Hogan . 2013 (ppt presentation).

““Use of social media by the library: current Use of social media by the library: current practices and future opportunities” Taylor & practices and future opportunities” Taylor & Francis,2014. (pdf file)Francis,2014. (pdf file)

““Top 3 Social Networking Site & Their Advantages Top 3 Social Networking Site & Their Advantages For Your Business” Dogulin Digital. Web. 05/04/2015.For Your Business” Dogulin Digital. Web. 05/04/2015.http://dogulindigital.com.au/social-networking-site-advantages/..

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!

Prepared by: Sharmaine J. Luba