Introduction
Social networking technologies play a pivotal role in libraries, as well as in education and information professionals because social networking allows users or organizations to collaborate, interact and connect with each other through using various social media tools (Ward et al., 2004). Sharing information with patrons, partners, and other prospective individuals becomes easy and convenient. In addition, it can facilitate internal teamwork and external communication and collaboration. In this reflection, I would like to discuss (1) the development and understanding of my role as a social networker in the information professions, (2) some ideas for class blogs, and (3) the goals of becoming a proficient information professional.
Development and Understanding of My Role as a Social Networker in the Information Professions
In the information professions, utilising social networking technologies and knowledge sharing is pivotal. At the beginning of my studies in INF506, I initially perceived social media as a tool for personal connections with friends and family. However, I recognised that it also applies in information technology settings. Various organisations use a range of social media platforms, such as Instagram, LinkedIn, and Wikis, to offer a service and resources so as to centre on clients’ needs and enhance their engagement. Because of the constantly evolving landscape of social media platforms and the time and budget constraints, we need to understand the trend to carefully choose the most appropriate tools for social media marketing to promote library services effectively (Swan, 2019).
Embracing this concept, I chose the most suitable social media tools for the academic library setting in the first assignment. Initially, I identified the target patrons, including students, researchers, and teachers. Subsequently, I analysed the statistics and trends of various social media tools to determine which are in line with our target patrons, such as demographic characteristics and preferences of the intended users. Finally, I chose Instagram over Facebook by considering the utilisation patterns among teenagers and young adults. Furthermore, leveraging the functionalities of Instagram, I designed different posts to introduce the new books, the novel activities, and the librarian staff. In addition, I utilised Instagram’s latest feature, “Asking Questions,” on Instagram story posts to engage patrons actively. Exploring various new technologies and their features is important to enhance connections with the intended users and effectively promote library services and activities. For instance, during my placement in the academic library this semester, I integrated mobile technologies using the new feature of WhatsApp’s business account to provide services to patrons. This addressed their queries efficiently and eliminated the need for them to visit the front desk physically. These experiences could provide new insight into my role as a social networker in the information profession.
Engagement with class blogs
The class blog is also a social media tool that allows the sharing of textual and digital content facilitating border discussions to exchange thoughts and experiences. I read Natalie’s sharing blog regarding the influence of technology on society, where she highlighted the significant changes in libraries. I agree that providing accessible computers and Wi-Fi in academic libraries and training staff in novel skills are essential. Karson, one of my classmates, also commented on the importance of investing in Wi-Fi infrastructure, acknowledging some challenges that librarians may face. I believe libraries should continually update their technology skills to keep pace with changes. However, librarians’ soft skills are pivotal, requiring adaptability and continuous learning to navigate dynamic changes effectively. Exploring blogs on becoming a proficient information professional in the digital era, I read Ka Yan’s blog, and she shared an identical thought that apart from advanced technological skills, social and emotional skills are also important. However, I am afraid I disagree that we should provide more training to older librarians as they are less likely to be familiar with computers. I suggested providing training for all librarian staff, irrespective of age, to keep everyone up to date.
Blogs are an excellent social media tool that allows the reader to understand bloggers’ experiences, share thoughts, and read others’ comments. Moreover, it can foster the exchange of information and knowledge but also stimulate reflections and ideas. I think it is an interesting way to connect with classmates and let us continuously share thoughts or ideas in this collaborative learning environment.
The Goals of Becoming a Proficient Information Professional
When pursuing to become a proficient information professional, it is important to make use of diverse social media tools effectively. I have to stay up to date with social media trends as this can lead to utilising appropriate and suitable software and tools to connect with intended users and stakeholders. In addition to meeting the needs of patrons, it is essential for me to consider the needs of the organisation (i.e., libraries) and partners in the real world. A social media strategy plan may be created to help the libraries identify the most appropriate way to increase patrons’ engagement rates and effectively deliver resources and services (Widen & Kronqvist-Berg, 2014). For instance, this may involve the process of setting measurable goals, researching the market, analysing outcomes, and adjusting processes until desired results (Schaffer, 2013).
Furthermore, I have to recognise different audiences engaging with particular social media platforms (Surwade et al., 2015). For instance, using Instagram may effectively promote library activities to teenage patrons, while ResearchGate is more suitable for professional researcher networking. Apart from employing social media tools, the analytics tools of social media platforms should be taken into account as these tools can provide statistical reports about the number of followers, demographic details, and the popularity of posts measured by views or likes. As such, through comprehensive statistical analyses, information professionals can identify followers’ preferences and habits and lead to better decision-making.
In the dynamic changes in social networking, adaptive skills, such as flexibility, comfort with change, adjusting to new situations, and a capacity for continuous learning are pivotal personal characteristics for information professionals (Widen & Kronqvist-Berg, 2014). Because the world of social media is constantly changing and developing, I should be more open-minded regarding looking for and learning different types of appropriate social media software. Most importantly, in the information landscape, information professionals should address the problem of privacy and security (e.g., default privacy settings) while actively combatting misinformation through tools (e.g., using LibGuides to guide users in navigating reliable resources) (Lamdan, 2015; Eva & Shea, 2018).
Conclusion
In summary, I realised that it is important to effectively make use of suitable social media tools in order to become a proficient information professional to connect with patrons and other stakeholders. I hope I will evolve into a proficient information professional with the ability to adapt to the dynamic changes in social networking and stay up to date with trends in social media tools to ensure effective utilisation of these tools.
References
Eva, N., & Shea, E. (2018). Amplify your impact: Marketing libraries in an era of “fake news”. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 57(3), 168-171. https://doi.org/10.5860/rusq.57.3.6599
Lamdan, S. S. (2015). Social media privacy: A rallying cry to librarians. The Library Quarterly, 85(3), 261-277.
Schaffer, N. (2013). Maximize your social: A one-stop guide to building a social media strategy for marketing and business success. John Wiley & Sons.
Surwade, Y. P., Jagtap, S. W., & Kour, M. (2015). Social networking: a Good platform for libraries and librarians. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Modern Education, 1(2), 237-241.
Swan, M. (2019). The right social media platform for your library. In N. Verishagen (Eds.), Social media (pp. 35-44). Elsevier.
Ward, D., Liriano, M. I., Gard, B. A., & Johnson, R. L. (2004). Guidelines for behavioral performance of reference and information service providers. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 44(1), 14.
Widen, G., & Kronqvist-Berg, M. (2014). The future librarian: A diverse and complex professional. [Paper presentation].Proceedings of the 2014 IATUL Conference: Aalto University Helsinki, Finland. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/iatul/2014/plenaries/7