Evaluation

In recent decades, our society has seen a dramatic shift to connecting with people on the Internet, specifically through social networks. Although social networking is vastly popular with individuals for personal means, social networking has also proven to be a useful tool for organisations to connect with their audience. From a library perspective, social networking on various platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook have been crucial to foundational library functions such as analytics regarding collections, providing support for users, teaching and learning activities as well as maintaining communication, interactions and feedback with users (Taylor & Francis, 2017). Libraries are incorporating various platforms, each with unique and practical features such as text, audio, and visual posting with each having differing yet desirable effects on user engagement. In library discourse, the term Library 2.0 has been adopted to reflect the shift to web-based, social networking in the library (Casey & Savastinuk, 2006). Libraries adopting a Library 2.0 ethos through establishing and maintaining an effective social media is ultimately driven by ensuring their services are best suited to the needs of their users. A particularly relevant aspect to Library 2.0 is the incorporation of mobile technologies (Obinyan, 2020). By ensuring social networks are accessible through mobile technology, such as phones, libraries are becoming more accessible to increasingly varying groups in society whilst also further catering to the current user needs. The librarians behind the change to social networking are just as important as the service itself. The social network developed by the librarian must reflect the same adaptability, enthusiasm, and connectedness they possess.

Although social networking and libraries developing a strong social media presence, there are also some challenges to implementing social media in libraries. Choi and Joo (2018) conducted a comprehensive study that gained insight into the various challenges librarians faced when implementing social media. Some of the challenges cited are in the main areas of time management, expertise level, training, lack of analytic tools, interpreting best practice, concern over unintentionally excluding users, security concerns, policy development issues, reluctant staff attitudes and library culture as well as uncertainty over effectiveness (Choi & Joo, 2018). One of the most challenging aspects to implementing a social media presence is determining which social networking platform will suit user needs. With the extensive number of platforms available today, it is a daunting task for the librarian to select one platform to dedicate efforts. Bacon (2017) contributes additional challenges to implementing social media including lack of growth in audience, measuring the effectiveness of the platform as well as copyright issues. Bacon (2017) addresses a commonly overlooked challenge in other literature which is managing ‘trolling’ or tensions. Whilst social media can have a multitude of positive interactions, it can also be a platform for negative social behaviours.

Despite the challenges, there are many opportunities that manifest for libraries from incorporating social networking. Borom (2013) highlights how an effective social media presence is pivotal to promoting the library and the services they offer, often reaching an audience who may not have considered using the library prior to interacting with the social media account. The social media account of libraries can also cultivate skills crucial to interacting in a Library 2.0 environment including collaboration, creativity, inquiry and literacy. Kahmann and Schwering (2018) highlight the many opportunities that social media can present to libraries such as increased visibility, disband previous perceptions and exhibit the library as modern and future-focused, establish communication with users, be seen as the leading technology service in society, strengthening community connections as well as taking an active role to promote correct research and information service behaviours. An additional opportunity that teacher librarians can achieve through using a social media account is exposing children to a varying range of authentic and engaging resources through external links that can broaden their literary horizons and encourage them to take their learning into their own hands to seek what they find interesting.

For my profession as a teacher librarian, social media will have a profound effect on the library and its function within the school. To ensure a smooth transition to social media, Stower and Donaghue (2016) suggest teacher librarians take the role of learner to ensure they have a solid understanding of how social media works and how to correctly interact with platforms. In my school library, all aspects of the social media platform will be driven by user needs such as the platform used and what is shared on the platform. Stower and Donaghue (2016) also highlight how social media guidelines and a strong policy document is vital to the success of the social media platform within school libraries. Social media policy outlines responsibilities, safe and ethical practice as well as the need to manage time efficiently (Stower & Donaghue, 2016). The National Library of New Zealand (2017) also highlight how school library social media policy must outline permissions, privacy measures, guidelines for appropriate content as well as link to established school policies.

 

References:

Bacon, M. (2017). How libraries use social media. Techsoup. https://blog.techsoup.org/posts/how-libraries-use-social-media

Borom, M. (2013, December 9). Social media in the library. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/education/social-media-in-the-library-20131209-2z0hq.html

Casey, M. & Savastinuk, L. (2006). Library 2.0: Service for the next-generation library. Library Journal, 131(14), 40-42. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/csuau/reader.action?docID=3316145

Choi, N. & Joo, S. (2018). Understanding public libraries challenges, motivators, and perceptions toward the use of social media for marketing. Library Hi Tech. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-11-2017-0237

Kahmann, K. & Schwering, S. (2018). Why modern libraries have to be active on social media: 7 “glorious” reasons. ZBW MediaTalk. https://www.zbw-mediatalk.eu/2018/03/warum-moderne-bibliotheken-in-social-media-aktiv-sein-muessen-sieben-glorreiche-gruende/

National Library of New Zealand. (2017). Social media and the school library. https://natlib.govt.nz/schools/school-libraries/library-services-for-teaching-and-learning/your-school-library-online/social-media-and-the-school-library

Obinyan, O. (2020). Application of mobile technologies in library service delivery. In A. Tella, Handbook of Research on Digital Devices for Inclusivity and Engagement in Libraries (pp. 371-381). IGI Global.

Stower, H. & Donaghue, M. (2016). Using social media to support school library services. Connections, 98, 5-7. https://www.scisdata.com/media/1044/connections98.pdf

Taylor & Francis. (2017). How libraries are applying social media. Digital Landscape. https://librarianresources.taylorandfrancis.com/how-libraries-are-applying-social-media/