Module 4 - Reasons why libraries should be on social media

Select three (3) libraries of your choice that use social networking to meet their goals.
Develop a comparative table which documents how each of the libraries use social networking tools to support information service provision, educational programs, conduct business etc.
Based on this comparison (and in no more than 350 words) develop your own list of “Reasons why libraries should be on social media”, and draw upon aspects of these three libraries to illustrate each point. 

My list of reasons why libraries should be on social media:

1.       Engage with customers – Mosman Library’s Memories of our Streets blog is a great example of creating a space where customers can share their local knowledge and recollections with other users and the library, who can then engage in dialogue and feedback.

2.       Create content - Using the collaborative efforts and collective knowledge of their community Mosman Library is able to add new and unique information from the blog to their collection.

3.       Add value – The blog entries add value to the library’s existing collections, which can then be linked to, and have new exposure in this environment (Brookover, 2007).

4.       Build a sense of community – This kind of blog can build a sense of community in both in the real and online world. People are connected by their common recollections, neighbours and memories and have a sense of belonging.

5.       Create an online presence/identity – Central Western Libraries Facebook page is great example of a library going beyond marketing to include content which gives the library a human face, clearly showing the library staff engaged as part of their community. (Library 2.0 Gang podcast).  

6.       Market programs and services - Central Western Libraries Facebook page also includes information about events and programs, and used as part of a broader marketing strategy this allows the library to get wider exposure.

7.       Communicate with a different audience – Facebook allows the library to interact with to a younger audience (Burkhardt, 2009), who may not be attracted by traditional marketing methods.

8.       Educate users – the State Library of New South Wales has a number of podcasts available on topics which can educate and entertain their users.

9.       Reaching out to remote users, online users and non-users – social media has the capacity to reach different audiences who may never come through the physical door because of distance, disability or disinterest. The State Libraries podcasts are an excellent way to engage with all of these potential customers.

10.   Providing Information –Podcasting allows the library’s collections to be exposed in a different way and provides information in a different format for users.

Example of libraries using social media to meet their goals:

Central Western Libraries Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CWLibraries

Mosman Library’s Mosman Memories blog : http://mosmanmemories.net/about/2/mosman-memories-of-your-street

State Library of New South Wales podcast page: http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/podcasts/index.html

References:

Brookover, S. (2007). Why we blog. Library Journal. 15 November. Retrieved from: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6497263.html

Burkhardt, A. (2009). Four reasons libraries should be on social media (25 August 2009). Retrieved from: http://andyburkhardt.com/2009/08/25/four-reasons-libraries-should-be-on-social-media/

Library 2.0 Gang podcast – Social Software in Libraries. Hosted by Richard Wallis. Retrieved from: http://www.librarytechnology.org/blog.pl?Archive=2009-12&BlogID=2