An Introduction to Libraries in Social Media

Open source, no attribution from memegenerator.com

As a public library employee with aspirations of becoming a social media librarian one day, I am interested in an oddly specific subset of digital culture that isn't discussed often in the digital or public sphere.

Each week, I will strive to uncover new voices in this conversation, provide personal insights on the diversity contained within this seemingly minuscule area of digital culture, and discuss the potential impacts of libraries on social media both for libraries and the communities they serve.

The Evolving Library

"Wait, libraries are still a thing? I thought they would be all obsolete by now, since the Internet's where everyone gets their information!"

I hear this (or some iteration) pretty much every time I tell someone that I want to be a librarian, and I've gotten pretty excellent at honing the perfect response. So to answer your question if you're one of the confused, or maybe validate you if you're a fellow library nerd, I give you the following response:

Aside from the obvious benefits of free books and reading programs on community literacy, libraries have been evolving along with the rest of us, and are leaning toward becoming more akin to lifelong learning community centers. So yes, libraries are still a thing, and for many institutions, staying active on social media and present in other aspects of the digital landscape is important to their services and survival.

The Big Picture

For various reasons, public libraries in particular have needed to become much more active in the digital sphere to stay relevant and accessible to the communities they serve. A good starting point for understanding the bigger picture of public libraries in social media are the digital reports put out by the American Library Association.

One general resource not directly affiliated with digital culture is the State of American Libraries annual report. These reports assess annual trends in various types of library institutions, regarding various types of patrons & patron bases, and takes into account current events and advancements. It offers a review of great things happening a libraries nationwide & offers food for thought.

The 2017 report is a good read for anyone curious about just what libraries are doing these days, especially if you're surprised that libraries are still alive and kicking. I was extremely happy to see a picture of the library I love and work for (the Pima County Public Library) featured on one of the first pages!

This most recent report covered the impacts of the 'fake news' concerns many people face daily on social media and through conventional media sources and how libraries can help combat misinformation in this age where mass deception has become a social media sport of sorts.

Digital and media literacy are also mentioned as increasingly important factors in the average person's ability to keep well-informed, and this kind of literacy spans multiple kinds of programs, software, hardware, etc. and can be difficult to acquire if you aren't a digital native.

The Digital Side of Libraries

But the ALA has also recognized that digital culture - specifically 'social networking' within this broad expanse of the digital realm - is increasingly important to patrons, and thus the libraries who serve and reach out to them.

In this 2014 Social Networking summary, the ALA provides a helpful analysis of the digital and social media climates libraries utilize and trends in digital content and spaces that have survived and thrived, as opposed to those that have not worked out.

One point of note is that larger libraries and library systems seems to benefit more from social media use than smaller systems would. This is understandable as such systems serve a large population and are unable to be personally connected to many of their patrons, so they reach out on a platform that many turn to for leisure and information (most popular is Facebook, but Twitter and Instagram are close behind).

Each platform and type of digital interaction has different benefits to offer to different kinds of libraries and their patrons, and contributes differently to digital library culture.

Each week, I'll carry out a case study of library (or library-related organization) using social media, or analyze current events surrounding library creation of digital culture. These analyses will briefly touch on the varieties of digital presences created, how this is accomplished, and how this impacts local and global digital library culture. I may also discuss how the digital culture(s) created can impact library use and library perception in general.