#TumblrTalk: Creating and Curating Your Tumblr

#TumblarianTalk

Creating and Curating Your Tumblr

For Libraries & Librarians

Kate Tkacik

Foundation Center-San Francisco

ALA TechSource

#tumblariantalk

tumblr?!

4/15/15 Kate Tkacik for ALA TechSource #tumblariantalk

http://reactiongifs.com/?p=18056

http://reactiongifs.com/?p=18056

tumblr?!

• Founded 2007 by David Karp– acquired by Yahoo in 2013

• 225+ million blogs*

• “the best baby Twitter and Wordpress didn’t know they had”

• Creative, visually-engaging, diverse

*http://www.tumblr.com/about


tumblr types


tumblr types


tumblr types

• Government agencies/national orgs

• Major media outlets

• Publishing houses

• Booksellers

• Authors

• Educators

• Students!


tumblr types

• 50% of users are between 18-34*

• Equally divided between men & women*

• Average user spends 14 minutes on tumblr per visit (more than Facebook)*

• More teens on tumblr than Facebook or Instagram*

*Why 2013 is the Year You Need to Get Serious About Tumblr, Forbes, Jan 2013*5 Facts about Tumblr, Pew Research, May 2013

*http://mashable.com/2013/04/17/users-stay-longer-on-tumblr-than-facebook/*http://www.themillions.com/2013/04/tumblr-index-your-guide-to-artistic-and-literary-tumblrs-part-iii.html


tumblr types

• Personal blogs

• Organization blogs

• Art/production blogs

• Meme-based/single-focus blog

– Maddieonthings.tumblr.com

– Realgrumpycat.tumblr.com


tumblr types

• Tumblr is a collection of communities of bloggers

– Local

– Fandoms

– Professions

– Movements/advocacy

• Communities organize around #tags and memes


tumblr types

• Content balance is different for every tumblr

– Created content vs curated content


getting started


customize


customize

• Remember you can always make changes to your blog—pick something you like and get posting

• You can link twitter, RSS, other social media widgets & Google analytics


customize

• Use custom domain (https://www.tumblr.com/docs/en/custom_domains):

4/15/15 Kate Tkacik for ALA TechSource

FOLLOW

• The first rule of tumblr is FOLLOW


FOLLOW


follow & search

4/15/15

• tumblr.com/explore• See also: tumblr.com/2014 • tumblr.com/spotlight

#tumblarianalkKate Tkacik for ALA TechSource

follow & engage

• “likes” act as a bookmark as well as engagement tool

• “reblogs” will repost content to your blog

• “replies” have to be allowed—enable replies in your settings


post!

• Posting is so easy. I promise.


post!• Post using bookmarklet or mobile apps (tumblr.com/apps)


post!

• Each post style includes a variety of ways to note source content—best practice with reblogs is to keep original blogger’s metadata & comments


tags

• Tags are the metadata you apply to your post which will organize your content both within your individual blog and within the tumblr tag results (first 7 tags applied within tumblr)

• Relevant tags: #libraries, #librarians,, #tumblarians, whatever is subject specific to your library (i.e. education, archives)

4/15/15 #tumblariantalkKate Tkacik for ALA TechSource

tags

When you add tags to your post here:


tagsYour post will also show up here (in addition to your blog page & your followers’ dashboard):


tags

• Featured or curated tags look like this

• Under the ‘top contributors’ is a link which will show you all posts tagged #history.

• If your post is featured, the tag on your post will turn blue!


tags

• Like following, track ALL the tags, including your name/blog name

• You can track any tag, not just featured tags

• Tracked tags will automatically appear when you put your cursor into the search bar


tags


http://unwrapping.tumblr.com/post/64992950643/using-old-tag-search

#tumblariantalk

tags

• Like following, track ALL the tags, including your name/blog name

• You can track any tag/term

• Tracked tags will automatically appear when you put your cursor into the search bar

4/15/15 #tumblrtalkKate Tkacik for ALA TechSource

assess


• Tumblr includes built in analytics• You can also link Google analytics by adding the Google-generated ID

and code from your customization page

#tumblariantalk

ready to tumblr!


…but wait!

Am I …a tumblarian!?


tumblarians

• Tumblarians, generally, are a self-identified group of library professionals, library students, and/or librarian hopefuls who use tumblr to connect, discuss, share resources, get geeky, and play nice.

• Tumblarians may or may not post library related content


tumblarians

• Survey conducted May 2013 by Molly McArdlefor Library Journal, 350 respondents*

– 64 percent of respondents reported being under the age of 30

– 52 percent are in a public library

– 31 percent in an academic library

– 9 percent in a school library

– 8 percent in special librarieshttp://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2013/06/in-the-bookroom/post/the-library-is-open-a-look-at-librarians-and-tumblr/


tumblarians

• Tumblarians create blogs for themselves and/or their libraries

• Primary and

secondary blogs

are easy to create, though you may want to manage personal-professional blogs independently through separate email addresses


library tumblrs

• Public Libraries

– Young adult and/or children’s libraries

• Academic Libraries

– ARCHIVES, special collections, digital collections

• Special Libraries

• Single-focus/meme based tumblrs

• Library databases/vendors (JSTOR & Oxford Academic)


tumblarian lists/tags

• thelifeguardlibrarian.tumblr.com/tumblarians

• Rebecca Hopman maintains a lists of archives & archivists at ex-tabulis.tumblr.com/archivists

• Primary community tags

– #tumblarians

– #libraries

– #librarians


public libraries

New York Public Library (nypl.tumblr.com)


public libraries

Darien Public Library (darienlibrary.tumblr.com)


public libraries• Brookline Teen Librarian (brkteenlib.tumblr.com)


“…it became clear that my teens were no longer on Facebook.”http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2013/09/social-media/power-tumblng-a-teen-librarian-explains-why-tumblr-is-a-great-way-to-reach-patrons/

#tumblariantalk

public libraries pro-tips

• Please, please include your location

• Remember reader’s advisory!

• Post what’s happening (programming, book displays) in YOUR library—don’t get in the habit of only reblogging others

• Include the link to your tumblr on your library webpage & promote the link elsewhere


academic libraries/archivesSpecial Collections & Archives, University of Iowa

(http://uispeccoll.tumblr.com/)

http://uispeccoll.tumblr.com/post/74950966384/crucial-perimeter-is-our-stunning-new-book-arts


http://uispeccoll.tumblr.com/

academic

libraries/archives/special

collectionsOther notables:

• Hougton Library, Harvard (houghtonlib.tumblr.com)

• Peabody Library, John’s Hopkins(peabodywunderkammer.tumblr.com)

• Huntington Library (huntingtonlibrary.tumblr.com)


librarian tumblrs


Sylvia is a librarian at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM and tumbls at alethiosaur.tumblr.com

#tumblariantalk

librarian tumblrs

Kelly is a teen & YA librarian in southern Wisconsin and tumbls at catgator.tumblr.com


single-focus tumblarians

librarianwardrobe.tumblr.com)


LibrarianProblems.tumblr.com

iworkatapubliclibrary.tumblr.com

#tumblariantalk

#tumblarianproblems

What sort of tumblarian am I?


tumblarians


tumblarians

#gtkytt from Laura @ lecieltumultueux.tumblr.com

#gpoml from Daniel @ thepinakes.tumblr.com


balancing content

• It’s up to you—but make it YOUR tumblr

• Even if you’re running your library’s tumblr, remember to keep a personality

• Share a selfie or fandom affiliation


#tumblarianproblems

…Ok, I signed up. But I don’t get it. I just don’t.


learning the culture


• See a #tag/meme/abbreviation you don’t understand? • Knowyourmeme.com• Urbandictionary.com

#tumblariantalk

#tumblarianproblems

…What’s with all the porn and f*ckyeahs?

#NSFW


it’s still the Internet


#tumblarianproblems


fuckyeahyellow vs fuckyeahlgbthistory

#tumblariantalk

#tumblarianproblems

…Why don’t I have any followers?

• Your content isn’t tumblr-y

• Get feedback from users you know

• Follow others & introduce yourself

• Use library logo on homepage & thumbnail


#tumblarianproblems

…Why aren’t my posts getting any action?

• Use TAGS• Consider timing• Keep it general• Mimic successful posts• Keep it ~*VISUAL*~• Have you used GIFs?• Create a cache of clickbait


the inexplicable internet


#tumblarianproblems

…How do I reach my library patrons?

• Remember to keep a general audience until you have some traction

• Carefully seek out tags relevant to your location/community (ex. #chicago #windycity#chitown)


#tumblarianproblems

…What’s the best way to ‘chat’?

• Enable replies

• Utilize your ask box (/ask)

• Move discussion offline


#tumblarianproblems

• Tumblr will only work for you/your library if you enjoy tumblr

• If Twitter/Facebook are already working for you, USE THEM

• Use your queue

• Divide responsibility or find the staff member who’s already tumbln’


you got this


resources• “The Library is Open” by Molly McArdle, Library

Journal, online, June 2013 (http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2013/06/in-the-bookroom/post/the-library-is-open-a-look-at-librarians-and-tumblr/)

• “Power Tumbl’ng: Why Tumblr Is a Great Way to Reach Teen Patrons” by Robin Brenner School Library Journal, online, Sep 2013 (http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2013/09/social-media/power-tumblng-a-teen-librarian-explains-why-tumblr-is-a-great-way-to-reach-patrons/)

• “Tumblr Index: Your Guide to Artistic and Literary Tumblrs, Part III,” The Millions, online, April 2013 (http://www.themillions.com/2013/04/tumblr-index-your-guide-to-artistic-and-literary-tumblrs-part-iii.html)

• “How to Make a GIF in 5 Easy Steps,” Gizmodo, online, Sept 2012 (http://gizmodo.com/5941436/how-to-make-a-gif-in-five-easy-steps)


contact

Kate Tkacik

Foundation Center-San Francisco

[email protected]

thelifeguardlibrarian.tumblr.com

Twitter: @lifegdlibrarian

Instagram: @katetkacik


#TumblrTalk: Creating and Curating Your Tumblr

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