Libraries and Social Networking

Social networking engenders strong affiliations between libraries and the communities they service.  Richard McManus highlights American Library Association (ALA) findings that:

"Social networking is used to publicise library events such as gaming nights; to alert users to additions to collections; to provide links to articles, videos, or Web content that might prove relevant or helpful to patrons; and to provide a conduit for community information”.

The (ALA) report also states that "Facebook and Twitter in particular have proven themselves useful tools not only in publicising the availability of online collections, but also in building trusted relationships with users."



Social Media in Libraries

Open source cataloguing (allowing patrons direct input) is increasingly being utilised. This feature allows the facility for patron driven book reviews and collection suggestions.

What does this mean for you?

You could have a job where one of your main roles is being the social media guru! You could spend your day on FB, Twitter, Pinterest and whatever the next big thing is.

Here is a library using social media and another. Think you can build on what they are doing?

Want to find out more?