Optional Exploration - Social Networking

I can defintely see a use for this. There are many libraries that have a social networking site. Again, it is a way to connect with patrons where they are, particularly the younger patrons. There are many marketing opportunities, as well. Social networking sites are very fluid, and would allow us to change and adapt more quickly that our web site. Not to suggest that a social networking site replace the web page, but that they can compliment each other and serve different functions.

It seems that this is a great way to reach out to teens. However, if the average Facebook user is over 25, then why limit it to teens? One of the appealing things about social networking sites is that you can mold your online image to what you want it to be. What better way to bust the library stereotype? Of course, the image can also be molded by others online, and this means we lose complete control of the message. A challenge, but perhaps worth the risk? We always talk about word-of-mouth marketing. Social networking sites provide just that, but in an online environment.

The biggest challenge could be that the site would need constant updating...a potentially labor-intensive task. Although I have seen some that are more static, so perhaps that would work for us.

Wow! I completed all of the optional explorations! I must be hooked!

Optional Exploration - Twitter & Widgets

I was most excited to try out Twitter, since I had heard so much buzz about it around the library system. It was very simple to set up, easy to use and, once I found some helpful directions, easy to add the widget to my blog. It was truly amazing how easy it was to merge the two tools!

That said, I now must admit that of all of the tools I have explored, I am having the hardest time wrapping my brain around why libraries should use Twitter. I think it is a great way for staff to stay connected when working at remote locations, but feel that it better serves a social purpose. I have to admit that after using it a bit, it is kind of growing on me. But I'm not sure that I can find a good library use for it.

The main reason I can see to use Twitter in the library with patrons is for marketing. And I think the group to target would be teens and younger adults. I know that some libraries are successfully doing this. We could use it to advertise programming, notifiy patrons of overdues and holds, highlight new databases, announce changes to the web site, share information about branch closings... OK...that list was longer than I thought. Because it is so informal, it may be getting outside of our comfort zone, I suppose, but I think we can maintain our standards and just be concise, brief and to the point.

So since it's so simple, why not?

Optional Exploration - YouTube & User Created Content

I worked on all of the optional exercises all at once. How fun! I will report on them separately now.

YouTube and podcasts provide a cheaper way to create visual content and distribute it widely. Since we don't really do much of that now, there is a lot of potential. And we could incorporate it into our web page easily.

Online programming is an idea that was floated before, but never came to fruition. YouTube seems like a simple way to make this type of programming available.

I love the idea of virtual tours of the library and other aspects of the library (how to use databases, etc...). For the self-service patron, they could view the video and know exactly where to go. Having some of these simple questions answered ahead of time by the video would then free staff to spend more time on more in-depth questions. Camtasia is a start, but what is lacks visually is a possibility with YouTube.

Of course, the downside is that we potentially lose the personal contact with patrons. However, I would say that the videos could actually make make librarians more approachable because we have reached out to patrons in a new way and possibly reaching virtual patrons who would not otherwise have come to us.

YouTube and similar resources can also be a gold mine when answering questions. I sometimes remind myself that the visual element is much better for people who are visual learners or have difficulty reading. Particularly when learning how to do something, a video can be better than a written explanation. And some content available is historical, such as news reports from the past documenting a breaking story.

Patrons are generating content all the time, often on our computers. So it is definitely good to be aware of these. It is also becoming a greater expectation of patrons to be able to contribute content. So how could patrons contrubute content to the library? It may be a scary thought...giving up that much control. But this is something that we should consider for the future.