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.
A comparison of Web2.0 tools as used in a select university libraries. Ohio University Library(Ohio) has a focus on interaction, and on engaging customers in instant communication. Facebook and Twitter is used intensively on Ohio to promote library services and to track feedback from customers. Ohio has not used Blogs where as Charles Sturt Library uses Twitter and Blogs and has a focus on instant live chats with their customers. It appears the University of Auckland Library has not invested much in Web2.0 with just Tags, RSS feed and Email available. Auckland University has the Mobile applications provided for their customers to access and use their Library on the go.
I am surprised that Charles Sturt Library and the University of Auckland Library have used less social networking sites and social media. It is becoming essential for libraries to to take the idea of Web2.0 and apply its tools to engage, interact and empower library patrons. According to Breeding (2010, p 28), "social media provides opportunities for exposure to the library and funnel users into the service it offers".
Facebook use in libraries is summarised as follows:
- Live reference chats
- Engage with customers by allowing customers to add comments to posting or to "like posting"
- Collaborated to library catalogue to able customers to share information on books they are reading.
- Promote the library services and encourage participation
- Book clubs and study groups
Twitter can be used to pull customers to the library and track what the library patrons think of the services offered.
- Reference services: tweet information on current events
- It helps in the identification of user needs
- Promote library services.
- Attract followers to the library
- Collaborate Twitter to the Library catalogue to enable users to share information on library material
- Bulletin board: Some libraries use Twitter as an online bulletin board for which they post programme announcement (Krabill, 2009, p. 15)
RSS feed is great for pushing out information to people. RSS enhances the traditional library's current awareness service "Selected Dissemination of Information (SDI) function.
YouTube videos can be used as a social tool to promote the use of library resources. For example, Ohio University Library has promoted their library services with a series of Video help. I find video tutorials facilitates learning a subject quickly and it could be used also as a learning tool in a University learning environment..
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