How libraries use social media

Social Media can be a great platform for bringing together people who share a common interest. Libraries can and are using social media extensively via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest etc to promote themselves and publicise events.

The National Library of Australia's Facebook page has over 18,778 likes. 
https://www.facebook.com/National.Library.of.Australia

Melbourne Library has 4,332 followers on Twitter
https://twitter.com/melblibrary

&

the Geelong Regional Library has 15 boards and 247 followers on Pinterest.

https://www.pinterest.com/geelonglibrary/

Facebook and the Library    

Libraries are embracing Facebook as a great way to communicate with their patrons. Facebook is easy to use and is cost effective. Check out what 100 libraries are doing on Facebook.
      

http://www.mattanderson.org/blog/2013/01/31/100-libraries-to-follow-on-facebook/

Scoop IT in the Library.

Academic staff within the Business & Law faculties at Deakin University have found that using Scoop It for alerts for resources for teaching and researching has been quite successful.

The Scoop It platform was found to be easy to navigate and use and is visually pleasing which increased the interest of the staff.

http://deakin.libguides.com/content.php?pid=392794&sid=3266920 



Copyright and social media

The popularity and use of social media networks just keeps growing and growing and information is passed on with the speed of light. With the fast pace sharing of news and information are we unwittingly and unknowingly  violating copyright laws.

Social Media platforms encourage the sharing of our own and others people's material (copyrighted material included)and  it would be easy to unwittingly violate copyright laws. What constitutes fair usage for the average social media user and when does it become an infringement of another persons copyright.

The following article, using Pinterest as a  case study offers an insight into the ramifications of copyright and social media.

http://www.bna.com/social-media-and-fair-use-pinterest-as-a-case-study-by-mary-ann-l-wymore-greensfelder-hemker-gale/

What to expect from libraries in the 21st century: Pam Sandlian Smith at...

Social Media Etiquette & Behaviour

While most of us are aware how to behave when dealing with face to face contact, social media etiquette is a relative new concept and involves different sets of rules for the different platforms. There is also the added difficulty of miscommunication and misunderstanding. In on line dealings we don't have the benefit of body language and facial expressions that can help us interpret intent.  
Social Media Etiquette is a guideline on how to behave properly  while online and the link below has a great guide to the "unspoken rules for the most popular social networks."

http://www.problogger.net/archives/2014/10/24/a-social-media-etiquette-guide-you-might-find-useful/ 

Just remember to ask yourself "Would you do what you do online in real life?"

Libraries using Facebook

This is a great blog that discusses various reasons libraries use Facebook and the positive and educational value that comes from that use.

Libraries using Facebook

http://blog.sl.nsw.gov.au/pls/index.cfm/2011/11/8/libraries-using-facebook