Transcript
Handy Tech Tools for Library Outreach
Sarah LudwigALA TechSource Workshop
June 19, 2013
The Plan
• Who I am
• Who you are
• What we'll be talking abouto Keys to using social media in librarieso Freshening up the standbyso New(er) toolso Choosing the right tool for your audience
• Time for questions
Quick question
What's your social media standby?
Why We Use these Tools
source
Key Goals
• Currencyo Connect patrons with ideas and services that are
important to them right now.
• Relevanceo Information connects with your library, your users,
and your community.
• Authenticityo Don't update just to update. Share when you feel like
sharing.
• Frequencyo Find the right balance.
• Cross-pollinateo Bring users into multiple platforms.
Social Media Standbys
Twitter promoting fun activities that have happened and that are to come
RTing others' mentions of the library, drawing users to other media platforms
highlighting the collection, services, and connecting users to community resources
sharing resources and services
drawing users to other media, highlighting acquisitions
relevant to community, highlights services
informational, offers convenient services
highlighting materials
highlighting events
highlighting digital resources
Instagram Invites users into the library, no matter where they are.
Questions so far?
New(er) ToolsAnd not just social media, either...
Remind101
Tumblrhighly visual, light-hearted access to books and library-related media
Scoop.itcurate digital resources, show your expertise
Smore
promote your library with slick templates
Weeblymake professional, interactive websites with a drag-and-drop back end
mutiple elements, have multiple editors, multiple templates
Branch
generate online discussions
Storify
curate information from social media and digital news sources
Vine
Choosing the Right Tool for your Audience
Questions to ask about your users
• What are our users already doing online?o Ask themo Search for your library on different social media sites
• Do our users have mobile devices?
• How tech-savvy are our users?
• What do our users care about when it comes to their library and their community?
• What do our users want to learn about, either broadly or as it relates to the library?
Questions to ask about your library and staff
• What privacy issues do we need to think about?
• Who on staff is comfortable using social media?
• How much time can we devote to using tech tools?
• Are there any outreach strategies we use now that can be replaced or supplemented with technology?
• When can staff update social media?
• Does our staff have the resources to use social media?
• What library services do our users not know enough about?
• What are the most popular library services we offer?
Advice• Look at your entire staff to find the right people for the
job. Don't make any assumptions based on age, position, etc.
• Staff can share responsibilities.
• Don't overwhelm yourself or try the scattershot approach. Focus on one or two tools at a time, and integrate them.
• Choose one user group to focus on at a time. Teens may be your first instinct, but they might not be the best place to start (teens are fickle and wary of adults in their space)
Questions?
Thank you!contact me anytime:
sarah.ludwig@gmail.comsarahludwig.wordpress.com
@sarah_ludwig
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