Technology Sandbox

For this post I looked at different technology platforms and how they are and can be used in libraries. The first platform I looked at was a blog. This can be a great way for libraries to connect with the community because they are able to write about virtually anything. Community members are able to interact by commenting on blog posts and this is one effective way to get the community involved and connected to the library.

Next I looked into Flickr as a means of communication for libraries. I hadn’t thought about this platform for libraries before. This is a way for libraries to post pictures of collections, library rooms, events going on at the library and more. Flickr allows users to group pictures based on category and provide a short caption. This could be a nice way for patrons to get a look at the library. I’m not a huge fan of this platform because Flickr does not allow users to write a caption or explain a lot about the pictures. I don’t think this is the best site for libraries to use as a way to connect to the community.

Another platform I looked at in regards to libraries was Facebook. This is an extremely popular social media site with over a billion users. Libraries are making their presence known by having their own Facebook pages. Similar to blogging, Facebook is a way for libraries to share information, promote events and activities, connect to community members, and much more. Libraries can connect and network with a large population of people through Facebook. There is one downside to using social media sites. Libraries need to be careful about what is being posted to their page. If something inappropriate is posted or written this could greatly damage a library’s reputation.

The last platform I looked into was Twitter and microblogging. Similar to Facebook, Twitter allows users to post updates about events, share new information, connect with users, etc. but at a smaller scale. Twitter only lets users post a specific number of characters, so tweets need to be concise and to the point. Again, this is a great way for libraries to connect to the community and keep followers updated on events going on at the library. As with Facebook, libraries need to make sure posts are appropriate and relevant in order to maintain a positive reputation.

I think the two best resources libraries can use are Facebook and Twitter. These are two very popular social media websites, so I believe having a Facebook page and a Twitter account would allow libraries to reach a large population. Both sites allow users to post updates, pictures and videos. This is a nice way to keep the community informed of different events and activities happening at the library. They both also allow followers to engage in discussions and comment on different posts. Having a Facebook page and Twitter account would help connect the community and keep people updated on what is happening at the library.

I would be interested in maintaining a Twitter account for my library. I feel like this website is becoming more popular and could be beneficial for a library. I would be able to post pictures with captions of different things I want to highlight. I would be able to keep the community informed of a variety of things by posting multiple Tweets throughout the day and/or weeks. A wide range of age groups can use twitter, so this would be a nice way to keep any and all members of the community informed. I’ve been considering starting a Twitter page for my current library, but I’m not sure how beneficial it would be since I work in an elementary school. I’ve had many 5^th graders mention that they have Twitter accounts, but I feel like my account would be geared towards parents. I would be able to showcase what my students are learning in class so parents could be more involved.

Resources

23 Things UK. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2015, from https://23thingsuk.wordpress.com/