LIBR 251 – Heather S. & Kelly

For the first time in the history of our blog, we the writers are of two different minds. We will share our thoughts with you, lovely reader, individually.

Heather’s thoughts:
I personally have always thought of blogs as like a digital way to stand alone and scream unheard into the void. This assignment has not changed that. There are so so so many blogs out there on the interwebs way more than humanity can consume at a reasonable rate. Of course, much like anything else on the internet, a very small percentage of the total number of blogs are “discovered” and do go massively viral, while a slightly larger amount are noticed and do gather a decent following. However, most blogs are obscure, and so not have much, if any, followers. The most popular blogs with the biggest following are almost (if not actually) a full time job. The amount of work that is put into aesthetics, posts, original content, and marketing is clearly even though the best blogs appear to be almost effortless in their maintenance and creation. It is kind of ironic, but even though we ran a blog on the importance of social media and marketing (specifically to libraries), we did absolutely no marketing of our blog. The only followers we gained were people who personally knew is, and the only comments we got were from our classmates, who were required to comment. (Notwithstanding the copious amount of spam comments, wordpress was helpful enough to mark as spam and separate for us.) I think that a good blog could be a helpful way to share information with both library patrons and/or industry professionals, (since you have to go somewhere to get the information, rather than being spammed with a ton of unwanted emails that you have to deal with and ultimately get so frustrated with the information overload that you end up unsubscribing). But the problem with creating a successful and professional blog is that it takes a lot of time and effort, which most people don’t have unless their blog is their job.

Kelly’s thoughts:
Over the last handful of weeks posting to this blog I have come to realize a number of things. Firstly, maintaining a consistent uploading schedule is so much easier when having deadlines in place and having a fantastic partner to collaborate with. With this being my first ever blog I am glad that I had someone to share it with and to come up with funny and punny titles alongside. When it came to exploring the features and aspects of creating the blog it made dealing with any problems, like trying to get templates to work and embedding links, a much less stressful endeavor. Using this type of platform to delve into topics concerning libraries was very enlightening and I feel like this kind of blog specifically may be more appropriate to share amongst colleagues more so than the average library patron. With all that being said it has been a pleasure to write on this blog with my fabulous blog partner and I hope you the reader have enjoyed the journey as well. We bid you a good day and a lifetime full of adventures!   

While our other articles focus more so the certain aspects of social media posts, the focal point of today’s is about social media platforms themselves. Each platform is unique and offers different services and attracts different kinds of users. Nowadays there are increasingly more apps and forums being created and with such an overwhelming number of options an organization needs to be able to find the one(s) that best enable them to engage with their customers. “Using social media for libraries”; a guide created by Zoe Vatter for the Peace Library System, could be a great tool in the selection process for what platforms to utilize as well as the link she provides to the Government of Canada’s own similar list on the subject matter. You want to use the right tool for the job, you don’t use a screwdriver for a nail or a hammer for a screw. The same sentiment can translate to choosing which platforms to be on. In the introduction of this guide, Zoe outlines the general uses of some of the top social media platforms. For a library you would want to have a widely used platform that houses many features like the three specific ones that are mentioned in the introduction. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are more suited for libraries because platforms like Snapchat, Pinterest and the like, focus on one main function or feature (Vatter, 2016).

While marketing messages can be changed to fit every platform and user group, some social media is may be better than others. For example, Snapchat is very popular with younger adults and teenagers. However, the main draw of Snapchat, (other than the filters) is the temporariness of the media. Once the media has been viewed, it is no longer accessible. This could be handy for some types of posts or campaigns, but this obviously would be less than ideal for others. While the individual users can always take a screen shot, any information or post will be inaccessible after a certain amount of time if not recorded when viewed. Facebook on the other hand is forever. Facebook is also more widely used by people of all ages. Anything posted on Facebook will be accessible long after it’s posted, as long as it’s not removed by the page admin. Content is also much easier to share, and has a much greater chance of going viral (if the content is viral worthy).

References:

Vatter, Z. (2016). Using social media for libraries. Retrieved from http://www.peacelibrarysystem.ab.ca/sites/default/files/images/peacelibrarysystem/Social%20Media%20for%20Libraries%20-%20Introduction.pdf

Once again, we return to venture through the landscape of social media to come upon the infamous capital of Facebook. In a previous blog post, we talked about how social media can be used to promote conversation and awareness about issues facing your local neighbourhood library. Today’s topic is going to be the other side of that coin – the formula librarians and libraries as corporations can use to have a successful media campaign. Instead of a post from the Marigold library system, we have stumbled onto a photo captured by one of our very own blog masters; Heather! This post was published by the one and only Calgary Reads, an independent special library not affiliated with Calgary’s public library system.

Typically, a successful social media post will have several distinct components. Something that evokes an emotional response, a short message which includes a call to action, and a redirection to a place for more information. Most commonly, a picture of something is used to get the emotional response. In the example we are looking at today (featured below), the picture is of a stack of new or like new baby board books. The call to action is a plea for donations of new, like new, or gently used baby books. This is an effective post because it is short but powerful. It hits home showing people baby board books, reminding them that not every child has books to call their own, and to be read and loved. It asks for donations specially of board books, a category of book that is often overlooked. And it reminds people that not only can they donate books, but they can also come experience the space. 

The featured picture is meant to help in highlighting their outreach programs to the general public and to encourage higher volumes of people. This objective seems to have already been met in some capacity by the time we had encountered it, even just based off of the amounts of “likes”, comments and “shares” that it has received. Nowadays the everyday citizen can go on to the internet, go to any of the top media platforms, and there are high chances that you can find the account or profile for a library near you. Libraries today don’t have to be bound to a physical institution; the libraries that are changing with the times are realizing the value of using technology to become a larger part of peoples’ day to day lives. Some food for thought; would you be more inclined to visit and participate in events that your local library hosts if you see them on your newsfeed when you end up checking your apps throughout the week?

They say a picture is worth a thousand words but a moving picture with words is even better. A video with librarians, or library professionals explaining a concept themselves is a great way to not only get the correct information out there. It also combats fake news and other misinformation that the library fights so hard against. Additionally, is also a great way to promote the library. Today, we will be looking at an example of this.

In April 2014, the Toronto Public Library went on Breakfast Television to discuss a video streaming service that was free to access with a Toronto Library Card. This is beneficial in two ways. Firstly, it gets the knowledge out there that this service exists. It is being promoted by the library itself, with library personnel on air, which leaves less room for misinterpretation. Secondly, this clip can be pulled from the station, and distributed on several different library social media accounts. This means that even though the clip may have aired once, it can still be played again and again at the patrons will. The message still exists, even though the initial airing has past. And it can be used over and over again to promote the Hoopla streaming service, and the Toronto Public Library, as needed.  

At the time this video was released it gave a short but sweet overview of the new e-resources that Toronto’s Public Library had made available for the public. Even though this news segment was broadcast a couple years ago, the ideas and messages it sets forth are still quite relevant today. During the segment, the news channel’s guest from the library discusses how the Hoopla streaming service can be accessed through one’s personal electronic devices like phones, tablets, and the like, while all being at no cost to the user. This shows a great way for the technology that most people use on a daily basis, to be able utilize these library services without having to come to the physical location. Plus, this information is wonderfully balanced by the television hosts’ commentary and testimonials of how some of them still visit the library. And so, throughout the video they promote both the physical library along side with the digital services that are provided.

In a kind of meta way, the viewer is using tech to watch a video promoting tech that the library wants to advertise. And since this video is readily available on the internet one could easily spread through their social media accounts.