Using Facebook and Twitter to Highlight the Relevance of School Libraries

Using Facebook and Twitter to 

Highlight the Relevance of School Libraries

Social media networks are preferred meeting spaces for the world's busy populace.  The following blog post highlights how school libraries have begun to use ever-popular Facebook and Twitter pages to gather, share, motivate, and spur followers to action.  

This task was one originally met with a bit of trepidation, as I was not yet a member of Facebook nation.  To earn credit for the task (and a bit of a cushion in the form of bonus points), I created a Facebook page for my campus library - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012461497149

The Facebook site was extremely user-friendly and provided gentle guidance to help me arrive at a decent product.  My Twitter account had been previously established and gave me an opportunity to connect with a host of heavy-hitters and great thinkers within this realm of educational technology.  I found it difficult to resist retweeting and commenting on a number of truly amazing, innovative ideas shared within the "Twittersphere".  I instantly saw the value in creating both a Facebook and Twitter presence and the endless possibilities they afford in the way of providing innovative ideas, continuous learning opportunities for personnel, ideas on marketing the campus library and establishing it as a vital component within the school community.  

Facebook Reflection:

The following represents a small sampling of ways I observed school libraries using Facebook during my search:

-     Promoting contests and soliciting support for library initiatives that require little more than casting votes to increase the facility’s opportunity to win books to augment the physical collection (St. Mary’s CBGS Belfast – voting link:  http://www.nationalbooktokens.com/schools#.V1fVTk1OXVI) -     Celebrating the year’s successful initiatives (Immaculate Heart Middle and High School - national library week / St. Paul’s Anglican Grammar School – joint study session with high school students for collaboration and idea sharing – creation of library communities) -     Sharing researched findings / articles from trusted literary sources like the School Library Journal to further educate the masses  (M.I.T. Media Lab – reposting of an SLJ article on coding – “Never Too Young to Code”) -     Spotlighting/highlighting effective, engaging programming and innovative librarians (we must learn to celebrate and market ourselves to make others want to visit if for no other reason than the see what all the fuss is about…)

-     Posting and sharing photos and site access links to solidify presence and document patronage User/visitor comments existed in the following forms: -     Pledges of support from members of the library community -     Periodically, mean-spirited, “Negative Nellys” display digital courage hiding behind their computer screens spewing hateful foolishness. For example:  a self-proclaimed “education major” at New York University authored the following post in response to the SLJ article post “Never Too Young to Code”.  He shall remain nameless as to not increase his celebrity and further spur his misguided views:        Code and be a good little toxic gadget maker to ruin future generations and the planet itself! Yeah!

Perceived advantages and disadvantages of using Facebook to promote school libraries:

Advantages: -          Span, reach, wide dissemination of the information -          Advertise library events to increase patron participation -          Promotion of successful initiatives -          Solicit support for library initiatives -          Establish relevance and solidify the importance of funding and supporting libraries on school campuses Disadvantages: -          Vulnerability to mean-spirted rants by malicious commenters with the potential to taint the views of innocent visitors to the site. -          Herding of sites among those sharing similar names that may contradict the positive vibes being sent out.

Twitter Experience Reflection

Twitter is the equivalent of a global cocktail party without the frill and the fluff.  Here, newcomers and experts alike mingle and offer ideas on topics of interest and relevance within the poster's area of expertise.  It is always a vote of confidence and a nod of affirmation when a respected poster "likes" a comment a freshman librarian has shared.

Many of the twitter feeds I followed spoke to the passionate commitment educational technology specialist have in regard to integrating tools, activities and techniques that appeal to 21st century inhabitants and learners to positively impact their experiences and views on the reach and relevance of school libraries.

The following represents a small sampling of tweets/retweets made during my Twitter sessions:

https://twitter.com/MrsJBJohnson5/status/741060134999203840 Linda Braun @lbraun 2000 - This is a retweet about professional development opportunities made available through YALSA in the form of webinars, webcasts, and more! https://twitter.com/kathyschrock/status/739966285224775680 Kathy Schrock @kathyschrock – Google cardboard cases made out of graham crackers to encourage patrons to “devour” learning expeditions!  Who says learning can’t be delicious?! https://twitter.com/TheCLAlliance/status/740695099173154817 Connected Learning @TheCLAlliance - I began following this organization after reading a post by Buffy Hamilton @buffyjhamilton.  This tweet identifies an awesome way for those facing lengthy hospital stays to beat boredom by joining, exploring, and creating as members of the MakerSpace movement!