What's trending now in public libraries? Part 2

This is a continuation of the previous blog post on libraries embracing social media technologies as a way of connecting to more users. As I had noted earlier in the last blog post, this article was full of helpful information. The library system that I work in had just implemented this summer social media technologies: Facebook and Instagram. We are in the early stages of connecting with our users via the web. This article provided some really helpful ideas and advice from social media directors of really large public libraries. The Library Research Service staff members of the Colorado State Library also interviewed the top libraries with most active social media users: Arlington Public Library (Va.), Columbus Metropolitan Library (Ohio), Westerville Public Library (Ohio), and the New York Public Library (N.Y.). As for as content is concerned each library is different. WPL's content is based on goals set in their social media plan, while NYPL focuses their content on its mission statement (Hofschire & Wanucha, 2014, p.8). CML keeps their content fresh every week by following a daily schedule plan for posting meaningful content.

Each organization was asked how they handle negative comments on social media. Johannes Neuer from NYPL stressed the importance of responding promptly and directly to the individual through private messaging. Neuer also mentioned that the library's followers stands up to the naysayers on behalf of the library (p.9). That tells you how much the Library means to the different communities that surround the city of New York. Even though it is a large library system, the followers seem to be a close knit sort of people who is devoted to their library. The other libraries mention in the article had very little issues and were well mannered. All four directors spoke positive about their social media experience within their respective libraries.  

According to this study, there has definitely been significant growth with social media technologies in U.S. public libraries. The 2012 study suggested that social media technologies and mobile access will surge in growth, but how the technologies will be implemented will be uncertain (p.9). I predict more libraries or rather smaller libraries will incorporate more social media in their strategic planning. This study is not over; the researchers at RLS planned to continue this longitudinal study this past spring. It would be interesting to see if public libraries do tend to follow after web-based technologies. 

Hofschire, L., & Wanucha, M. (2014). Public library websites and social media. Computers in Libraries, 34(8), 4-9. 

Lincoln-Lawrence-Franklin Regional Library Facebook Page. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/Lincoln-Lawrence-Franklin-Regional-Library-705577652885991/


Www. nypl.org. (n.d.). Stephen A. Schwarzman Building [Image]. Retrieved from http://cdn-prod.www.aws.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/locations/36/interior_sasb_reading_room.jpg