INF206 - OLJ Evaluating how libraries use Social media

EVALUATION OF THREE LIBRARIES USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Eastern Regional Library Corporation www.erl.vic.gov.au

Boroondara Public Library www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/libraries

Frankston Public Library http://library.frankston.vic.gov.au/

Social Media Application	Eastern Regional Library Corporation	Boroondara Public  Library	Frankston Public Library
Facebook		ü	ü
Twitter	ü	ü	ü
Flickr	ü	ü
Blogger	ü		ü
YourTutor
Tumblr		ü
RSS Feed	ü		ü
LibraryThing		ü
QR Codes	ü
BookMyne	ü		ü

Social Media allows libraries to develop relationships with members and the publishing community and engage in conversation with them.  It is this two-way conversation where many libraries fail by only using social media to broadcast.

Frankston Library and Boroondara Library use Facebook as a social media tool.  According to recent statistics they are making the right business and marketing decision as Facebook has over 11.5 million users in Australia alone http://www.socialmedianews.com.au/social-media-statistics-australia-august-2012/

Frankston Library has a multi-purpose blog www.flsblog.blogspot.com.au in which they engage their readers by asking leading questions, tempting them to respond via Twitter for example.  They also reach out to staff as this is where Frankston Library update their footy tipping competition and share feedback on how they have responded.  The libraries transparency increases the confidence in the organisation.

Eastern Regional Libraries (ERL) are considering creating a Facebook account.  The Social Media team are still in the early stages of outlining exactly what they want the Facebook account to achieve for the organisation.  ERL’s social media team review many social media applications and evaluate what they consider will compliment their online presence.  Signing up to everything is not considered a good option (Kerpen,2011, p194).  How an application will work with existing social media tools is analysed.

Frankston Library does not display a link on their homepage to their Facebook account.  Members who read their blog do have visible access to the link.  Users of social media have come to expect a cluster of icons, where they can identify what other applications an organisation participates in.

ERLs homepage displays links to their Twitter account and a feed of their tweets (which does appear below the page fold), RSS feed, Blogger and BookMyne link that rests within the catalogue search area.

Improvement could include such as how the homepage presents to mobile users could include the option for downloadable applications.  Recognising a member is using a mobile device would be good customer service.

Boroodara use Facebook and Twitter with the links appearing with the catalogue details https://twitter.com/BoroondaraLib.  This appears to be a mis-match of unrelated icons.  Their posts are generally passive, promoting events and advising of branch closures etc.  Boroondara have a Flickr account but no link to it on their homepage.

Boroondara’s blog ‘Library News’  http://boroondaralibraryservice.blogspot.com.au  was last updated 24^th September 2012 due to the impending council elections.  Other public libraries don’t appear to be taking the same stance.  Their Flickr account has not been updated for four weeks also.

Choosing the target audience is an important step in the determination of the most suitable method to reaching them.  Time spent analysing the libraries’ target audience and researching where the majority of them are spending their time online is valuable. For example 57% of active users on Facebook are female alone, therefore if the library wishes to reach female members they should start there.  There is an even higher female representation in the membership of Pinterest http://www.socialmedianews.com.au/social-media-statistics-australia-august-2012/

Social Networking is being discussed in many spheres.  Even on a news bulletin the reporter will add a comment that was made on Twitter for example.  Senior Information professionals want to be a part of the social networking community, however, have they done the research and planned how the libraries online presence will look like.  Having a strategy in place is an important key to success.

All three libraries are attempting to provide their audience with a taste of what social media has to offer.  They need to have a clear structure in place to become successful in this area.

Reference

Cowling, D. (2012, September 3). Social Media Statistics Australia – August 2012. Social Media News. Retrieved September 5, 2012, from http://http://www.socialmedianews.com.au/social-media-statistics-australia-august-2012/

Eastern Regional Library Corporation. (2012). Retrieved October 2012, from http://www.erl.vic.gov.au/

Kerpen, D. (2011). Five social pitfalls to avoid. In C.C. Shih (2011, p194). The Facebook era: Tapping online social networks to market, sell, and innovate. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall.

INF 206

What's Positive about Social Media

While studying INF206 Social Networking for Information Professionals my mother passed away in the Intensive care Unit of a Melbourne Private Hospital.  This post is dedicated to her.

I’ve experienced, or been aware of, many sides of social media, good and not so good.  However, during a difficult period in my families and my life, people’s compassion shone through.

The main support came via Facebook friends as I have only been on Twitter a short time and I have a limited number of followers.  The Twitter messages I received mostly came from my sister’s followers as she is more active and been involved on Twitter for longer.

My Facebook friends were lovely and their support touching.  Women that I started primary school with and that knew Mum sent messages both openly and directly. I was astonished and deeply touched when one of these ladies came to my mother’s funeral.  I’ve known her for 42 years and last saw her 30 years ago.  These relationships remain, time and distance doesn’t change the bonds created so long ago. In an age where we have little free time, social media gives us the opportunity to stay in touch. Without it, I’d likely never talk to these childhood friends.

Work colleagues, friends, family friends and acquaintances all felt comfortable reaching out using social media.  I wonder if some of the people would have made contact if they had to communicate directly. For many people social media provides a safe environment to contact us, especially if they aren’t sure what to say. In my mother’s era one would have sent a card.

Either way sitting down each night after a long and stressful day, replying to the messages was, for me, good therapy.  This was a process I needed to go through and a way to distract myself from my families’ grief.

Bringing this back to the course content, Information Professionals can act as facilitators by participating in social networking and encouraging and educating the public regarding best practise.

It’s an exciting time for the Information profession. Libraries can take the lead and embrace social media dispelling the pre-conceived image of an old, boring and static library and engage in conversations with their members and the publishing world.  So let’s be innovative, progressive and lead from the front.  Promotes what’s positive about social media and provide an environment that’s inclusive and attempt to bridge the digital divide.