Wednesday 28 July 2010

The Lighter Side of Libraries? Exploring Library Facebook Pages, Thing 16

This Blog post is going to be short and snappy. To the point.
I think there IS a space for Facebook and libraries IF you go about it the right way.

Exhibit A.  Library FB Groups and Pages that work:

Why do they work? It's a simple formula: keep it light-hearted, post regularly, interact, make it visual. Put a face(book) to your library, add pictures of staff and events, invite readers for cookies and juice, or to complete a stress-busting jigsaw puzzle during the exams, post interesting/amusing links. Why not? It's a bit of fun and shows that you care and are approachable.

What you shouldn't do is use your FB page for your serious and/or extensive announcements.  There are other and better ways for exchanging this kind of information.


Exhibit B: Library FB Groups and Pages that don't work (yet!):

Interestingly, I know that Cambridge University Library did have a FB page, but I can't find it anymore. My guess is that it was of a similar nature to the links above and they did the right thing and pulled it.  By a similar nature, I mean  too textual, irregular posts and no interaction.

I'm not saying a FB page is for every library. It's not even for life. But, if you can make it work and have the time to make it work, it can become a great space for your readers and staff to interact. However,if it's not working, forget about it. Just beacuse 'everyone is on Facebook' doesn't mean you have to be too.

6 comments:

  1. Many Facebook pages, relating to institutions such as Nortwestern University Library or places seem to be lifted straight from Wikipedia. Can they be taken down?

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  2. Interesting point Suzan. No idea to be honest, I will take a look...

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  3. The thing about the Central Library Facebook presence is that that's quite good, but their stand-alone webpage is terrible - http://hipweb.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/central/ - (as mentioned over on whispersinthewilderness).

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  4. To Girl in the Moon: I totally agree about the Central Library website ; it's awful. I'd like to know a) who designed it and b) who maintains it? Maybe they are placing a little too much attention on their FB page and not enough on their web pages. The latter should always take priority if you ask me.

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  5. We should ask them, shouldn't we? I'll try when I'm feeling a bit more tactful!

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  6. We should. Let me know when you are feeling tactful!

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