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National Library of Australia
http://www.nla.gov.au/social-media
The NLA could sit in its lofty position in Canberra, focussing on its collection, but staff have chosen to use Social Media to engage the country in the collection. New
acquisitions, events, exhibitions are all advertised on Facebook and Twitter, and then many are broadcast using YouTube or Podcasts. Blogs add a behind the scenes look at the activities and functions of the library. Social Media enables all Australians to be part of the experience, no matter where they are in Australia.
State Library of Queensland
http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on/news/social
The SLQ uses Facebook, Twitter and an extensive list of web feeds to keep clients informed of services, exhibitions, talks, events and acquisitions. Talks are podcast so that clients can experience events without having to attend. Like the NLA, the SLQ uses Social Media effectively, pushing its services out rather than hoarding the collection in a building.
Charles Sturt University Library
http://www.csu.edu.au/division/library/
CSU Library connects with its clients by Tweeting regularly, thus promoting services
and additions to the collection. Podcasts and online library tutorials assist clients, especially distance education students who are unable to visit the physical library. It is interesting to note that since the blogs do not appear to have generated any comments they act more as an advertising tool rather than a collaborative tool.
Why your library should engage with Social Media
- A proportion of your client base may never actually visit the physical space
- Using Social Media such as YouTube or podcasting is an inclusive practice - no client is left out of events due to an inability to attend
- Social Media gives clients a platform to comment on services
- Social Media, used correctly engages your audience and gives them a sense of belonging to "the club" and a sense of ownership
- Social Media allows you to "push out" information - thus elevating the library's position in the information chain
- Regular posts in social media is reminds clients of your presence as well as the services you offer
I couldn't agree more - in fact mainstream knowledge and entertainment located in physical space is losing out heavily to people finding it on the Internet. It doesn't have to be that way. Libraries for example should get everything about themselves and their resources on line - but in addition to this they must make physically located libraries more than book repositories. I know most have 'talks' and readings etc but these themselves should be videod then posted on Youtube to show how good actually experiencing it is.
ReplyDeleteI digress a little, but the power of the internet must not be underestimated, my wife recently finished a novel and published it independently. It did reasonably well until we decided to make a 'Youtube trailer' for it - sales rocketed into the thousands until it became a bestseller on Amazon - surpassing the sales of powerful authors from established publishing houses.
It was a complete surprise but underscores just how powerful this medium is.
Rory
Thanks for the comment Rory :)
ReplyDeleteWell done to your wife with the book. Her story certainly demonstrates the power of Web 2.0 - the people are the creators, collaborators.
The changing library space is an interesting topic - literally "watch this space". The library I work in has recently added beanbags and a Wii for clients to play with!
Cheers
Lee