Week 5: How do you know if it's worth the time? What are metrics? Featured apps: Readers advisory tools: Shelfari, GoodReads, LibraryThing

Question of the week:  What kinds of social media apps do you think you might use in your library?  If you use some already, what ideas did you get for making better use of them?

Our library currently makes effective, public use of Facebook. We use it to share information and photos for our own events and programs, promote community activities, share articles and ideas and engage our online patrons in some library banter. I think that we could be more effective in using Facebook for simple promotion of new books and media. I really like the concept of the library widget for Shelfari and will definitely look into using it to promote new titles. I know that I need to be more effective and consistent in promoting ebooks. Yankton Community Library does a great job at this.  I could certainly look to include more posts that provide feedback from our patrons.

Currently, Dan and I both use GoodReads personally. I have started a shelf for my YA book club and any adult book club meetings that I host, but it is for my own reference. I know that I could look to GoodReads more often as an RA resource.  However, when it comes to an effective and public sharing tool for the library, I need to spend some time looking into Shelfari. I did discuss Goodreads with my teens as an effective way to track what they are reading and find more titles -- they (and I) find the app easy to use and especially like the function where you can scan ISBNs to add books to your list.

I like the idea of using Instagram in the library as well. I currently have a personal account that I use quite regularly. Our teens are Instagram nuts -- many of them have multiple accounts, and I think that it would be a fun way to reach them and track and share what's happening in their library world. I would certainly link this account to our facebook page, because I don't anticipate that many of our Facebook users are on Instagram.

In general, I will stay on the lookout for more library social media. I pay attention to what and how other libraries use and promote these applications, and this course has pushed me to do this more regularly, and to be more forward thinking when it comes to putting them to use in my library. There are lots of exciting prospects out there, and I look forward to exploring them further.

Week 4: What is a social media policy? Featured app: Instagram

Find two libraries that are using Instagram in their marketing plan:

The Lawrence Public Library in Lawrence, KS uses Instagram to promote their own events, promote happenings in their community, track progress on building projects and displays and showcase photos taken at library events.  My favorite photos are from the library cook book club: http://instagram.com/lawrencelibrary

The Boston Public Library in Boston, MA has an extensive and active presence on Instagram. They post photos of everything from local architecture and changes in décor at the circulation desks to active programming photos.  They promote their print media (brochures, mostly) which I found very interesting. The do not seem to promote their collection in the same way smaller libraries do, likely because they have so many branches. It's a great feed. I think I'll follow it: http://instagram.com/bplboston

Week 3: What is social captial? Featured App: YouTube

1.  Post the URL of a library video that teaches you how to do something--like download Overdrive books, use a database, or use self check-out at the library.

I found a video from the Johnson County Public Library that teaches you how to place holds online. It is very basic, has clear steps and instructions and is easy to follow.  That said, it's a little dry. But there's peppy music, which helps to move things along. Here you go:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nktgeCd98Qo

2.  Watch a video that one of your classmates has posted and comment on it.
I watched the video that Rhonda posted, created by kids, about how to choose the right book for you. It's fantastic!Engaging, funny and short. 

Week 2: Find two library Pinterest boards and tell us why you would use them at your library.

I just started using Pinterest after Institute this year. I found amazing ideas for summer reading and have revisited it for window displays, storytime and homeschool lessons on a regular basis this school year. I have yet to actively use it for social networking for the library. Perhaps this class will give me the confidence and insight to do just that.

1. The first board I found is for the summer reading program. Fizz, Boom, Read: CSLP Summer 2014.  It has fantastic activity pins for the children and teen programs:
http://www.pinterest.com/artliteracy/fizz-boom-read-cslp-summer-2014/

The second board I found is for Banned Books Week. I created our window display for Banned Books Week this year and used several of the ideas I found on this board. I was able to adapt them to fit our needs, our budget and the supplies we had on hand:
http://www.pinterest.com/search/boards/?q=banned%20books%20week

2.  I commented on Raven's blog. Keep pinning, Lemmon!

Week 1 - what are four kinds of things libraries are doing with Facebook?

1.  Libraries are:
-promoting events
-having contests/surveys
-sharing new books
-posting photographs of programs and people using the library

2.  I commented on Doris' blog. Nice work, Doris!

Back in the blogesphere

I'm Anne and I'm ready to go! I'm the youth services librarian in Lead, where I just started my third year. I'm excited for this class and excited about libraries in general.