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Different ways libraries are using social media

In looking at social media and libraries I found most libraries are using Facebook & Twitter, some of the bigger ones are using Pinterest & Instagram too. The library at the University of Melbourne has a strong Twitter account with many tweets during each day till 5pm when the tweeter signs off for the day. The tweets are about info form the libraries collection, exam help, new additions to the collection. The State Library on their Twitter feed and Facebook also do the same but what I liked was all the articles posted re what really goes on behind the scenes at the state library;
http://blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/our-stories/the-slv-paper-run/
As the State Library also hold an enormous archival collection, displaying them worldwide via social media is fantastic, on all their social media account they are actively doing this.

Libraries loving social media;

Frankston Library @frankstonlib
Moonee Valley Libraries on Pinterest
Library at the dock on Facebook

Copyright implications in Social Media

We are all sharing content on social media, photos, articles, even personal posts. Are there copyright implications? Each media platform has its own set of rules re copyright. Twitter doesn't allow the use of image sharing but people do it. How do we retain ownership of our photos? Images will always be bound by copyright. Having content shared and distributed through an array of networks like Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter can be very beneficial but even these networks are bound by copyright.

checkout these articles;
http://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/understanding-image-copyright
http://www.unimelb.edu.au/copyright/information/guides/socialmedialibrarystaff.pdf

Scoop.it and Libraries

Scoop.it is essentially a social media curation tool. Content curation as it's known and also social as people can learn from and follow your topics that you create to scoop about. Similar to Pinterest in that way but not as popular. Scoop.it doesn't rely on images to grab your interest. It seems to me that it would be a topic you would search for on Scoop.it, so in a professional environment like a library this social media tool can be effective for clients and people in the industry itself.

Here is an interesting article on social media and libraries, I scooped it!http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/05/marketing/social-media-libraries-are-posting-but-is-anyone-listening/#_

And I found more librarians than libraries using Scoop.it
http://www.scoop.it/t/the-reading-librarian
http://www.scoop.it/t/libraries-in-the-middle
http://www.scoop.it/t/teacher-librarians-of-the-21st-century

Instagram and Libraries

Instagram is a photo sharing app that can only be accessed by a mobile device. So, how is this good for libraries? Everyone loves an image, and with over one and half million Instagram users in Australia alone it can provide a visually pleasing way to share information to many people, fast and informative.

The New York public library uses Instagram to let clients know of current and upcoming event. At the top of their page is a link to their website, so if you see a photo and want to know more information you just have to click on the link. They also have a shop in the library and they can advertise all their products on Instagram.
their Instagram address is @nypl

Closer to home, the Yarra Plenty Library have lots of photos on their page showing clients in the library, in action, reading! Great promotion for people to get down to their local library.
check them out on Instagram @yprlibrary

social media etiquette...professionally speaking

Whats professional etiquette in the world of Social Media? It's important to stay personable and professional at the same time. Imagine your Facebook or Instagram as an extension of your business, your business card or your business leaflets or pamphlets. Attention to detail is important, yay to spellcheck!! Professionally your followers don't want to know how you're feeling but by the same token they do like if you can imagine how they are feeling. No need for emojiis in the professional social media world I think. Don't forget that word 'professional'! Stay professional but relaxed as social media is such a 'now' way to communicate. Your followers are reading lots of posts, so keep them informal and interesting, and maybe even interactive, by asking your clients or customers questions or opinions. Everyone likes to be heard!
Check out these links for more information
http://www.asha.org/associates/Social-Media-Etiquette-for-Professionals/
https://www.insightly.com/blog/tips-social-media-etiquette/

privacy & social media

I love social media and if you're reading this blog you probably do too, but it's important to be aware of privacy issues surrounding it. Social media sites request personal information from its users. They tell us they want to personalize our experience, our page, and how we interact with our friends, followers and other users, but in reality it is about selling our data to advertisers, increasing the profile and wealth of the social media site. This doesn't always have to be a negative aspect though. The awareness is whats important. I like it when when articles & pages are recommended to me, and my personal information on profile pages is always very minimal. Sometimes I think we have so much information overload on social media sites that privacy is one of the least concerns. Always fill in your profile with the only information you want everyone to know, I think less is better.

Check out these links for more info;

http://www.reputation.com/reputationwatch/articles/top-five-social-media-privacy-concerns,

here is some  information on who can actually access our information;

https://www.privacyrights.org/social-networking-privacy

Pinterest and Libraries

Pinterest is a visual pinboard if you like. For a personal page it is a visual tool for sorting creative ideas or projects (and accessing others); for business and community organisations such as libraries it is a platform to showcase events, new acquisitions, alerts clients to historical archives like san francisco public library, and much more. As Pinterest initially 'interests' the user visually, libraries across the globe are pinning book covers and reviews and staff recommendations, check out moonee valley library.

Why Twitter is great for Libraries

Libraries are using so much social media and Twitter is a great tool for fast, short & direct snippets of information. Twitter has millions of users (tweeters!) so it is an excellent tool for all Libraries to connect with its clients. Libraries can use Twitter to advertise inhouse events like storytime or guest speakers, to notify people when the library is closed/open (public holidays), or when new services or books are available.

Twitter is also used for conversation or accessing information from clients or libraries with the use of retweeting and sharing of links, And of course, libraries following other libraries is a great device for new and constant exchange of information.

Check out these library Twitter feeds;
State Library of Victoria      @Library_Vic
University of Melbourne      @unimelb
Yarra Plenty Library            @YarraPlentyLib

For library professional following other professionals worldwide is an active way to gain useful updates within the information industry.

best uses of Facebook by libraries

Facebook for libraries is a great tool for connecting to a wide range of people. And some of the best uses of Facebook for a library are;

• advertising events
• connecting to clients, asking them questions with access to immediate responses via the comments box, like the Melbourne Athenaeum Library 
• telling clients about other social media the library is using, such as blogs, flickr, twitter etc
• connecting to clients who are unable to come into the library
• book reviews
• updating e-resources in a quick, exciting way, check out the New York Public Library page

Facebook is used for other organisations regarding libraries, & one that is obviously of interest to me isthe ALIA National Library Technicians Group

Libraries using a variety of social media

Just from this blog and research and actual social interaction :) I am discovering the importance of social media in libraries today. Check out this link for tips for using social media in libraries, a couple of years old I know but still relevant; And closer to home the State Library website has numerous blogs that can bring clients from many places together, as it invites everyone to participate; There are a great selection of topical blogs enabling great sharing of information... more to come as I search!

blue books

More book photos

embedding a video for the very first time

doing two things at once, learning to embed videos and learning more about blogging in libraries

time to blog and time to read blogs

Spent the last couple of hours reading a variety of library blogs, some interesting, some quirky, some visually exciting and some dated. More ideas for my own I think. Here are some links, Librarians Matter, Reeling & Writhing and my fave title Bookbuster (demands quiet in the library)

First post 2015

Welcome to my blog!