Social Networking: The Lester Public Library Experience

SOCIAL NETWORKINGSOCIAL NETWORKING

The Lester Public Library The Lester Public Library ExperienceExperience

What is Social Software?What is Social Software?

From Wikipedia: “Social software is normally defined as a range of web-based software programs. The software allows users to interact and share data with other users. This computer-mediated communication has become very popular with social sites like MySpace and Facebook, media sites like Flickr and YouTube, and commercial sites like Amazon.com and eBay. Many of these applications share characteristics like open APIs, service oriented design, and the ability to upload data and media.”

TAPPING INTO THE WORLD OF TAPPING INTO THE WORLD OF ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKING CAN ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKING CAN

BE DAUNTINGBE DAUNTING

BRANDINBRANDINGG

LESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY, TWO LESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY, TWO RIVERS, WISCONSIN ON INTERNET RIVERS, WISCONSIN ON INTERNET

SOCIAL NETWORKING SITESSOCIAL NETWORKING SITES

4 LESTER PUBLIC 4 LESTER PUBLIC LIBRARIESLIBRARIES

WE USE 7 NETWORKING TOOLSWE USE 7 NETWORKING TOOLS

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lesterpubliclibrary/

http://www.facebook.com/LesterLibrary

http://twitter.com/lesterpublic

http://www.myspace.com/lesterpubliclibrary

http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?siteID=4030&BlogID=142

http://www.youtube.com/user/lesterlibrary

http://www.lplteen1001.blogspot.com/

TELL YOUR STORY THROUGH PICTURESTELL YOUR STORY THROUGH PICTURES

Record library activities.Record library activities.

Chronicle community happenings.Chronicle community happenings.

TRACK FLICKR TRACK FLICKR TRAFFICTRAFFIC

“Photos and videos that appear on the library’s website may be gathered from public programs, events, and library spaces. Photos, images and videos submitted by users for online galleries or contests may also be used by the Library for promotional purposes. To ensure the privacy of individuals and children, images will not be identified using full names or personal identifying information without written approval from the photographed subject, parent or legal guardian.”

PATRON PATRON PRIVACYPRIVACY

WHY BOTHER?WHY BOTHER?

BECAUSE OVER 450 MILLION PEOPLE USE IT?BECAUSE OVER 450 MILLION PEOPLE USE IT?

TARGET NEW LIBRARY PATRONS?TARGET NEW LIBRARY PATRONS?

BUILD AN ONLINE COMMUNITY OF FANS?BUILD AN ONLINE COMMUNITY OF FANS?

START A CONVERSATION WITH POTENTIAL PATRONS?START A CONVERSATION WITH POTENTIAL PATRONS?

INSTANTLY PROMOTE YOUR LIBRARY’S EVENTS, INSTANTLY PROMOTE YOUR LIBRARY’S EVENTS, COLLECTIONS & SERVICES?COLLECTIONS & SERVICES?

BECAUSE IT IS FREE?BECAUSE IT IS FREE?

BECAUSE IT IS FUN?BECAUSE IT IS FUN?

YES!YES!

TRACK FACEBOOK HAPPENINGSTRACK FACEBOOK HAPPENINGS

WEEKLY WEEKLY EMAILEMAILSUMMARIESUMMARIESS

TWO RIVERS FACEBOOKTWO RIVERS FACEBOOK

NEW BLOG POST 5 DAYS A NEW BLOG POST 5 DAYS A WEEKWEEK

TRACKING BLOG TRACKING BLOG VISITORSVISITORS

AT LEAST ONE TWEET PER DAYAT LEAST ONE TWEET PER DAY

Occasional YouTube user… Occasional YouTube user… for video inspiration visit Gerard Saylor’s site – for video inspiration visit Gerard Saylor’s site – http://www.youtube.com/user/LDFargoLibraryhttp://www.youtube.com/user/LDFargoLibrary

PUT IT TOGETHER, KEEP PUT IT TOGETHER, KEEP IT FRESHIT FRESH

TAKE A PHOTO FROM FLICKR:TAKE A PHOTO FROM FLICKR:

BLOG ITBLOG IT

CUT AND PASTECUT AND PASTE THE POST FROM BLOGGING LPL INTO MYSPACE BLOGTHE POST FROM BLOGGING LPL INTO MYSPACE BLOG

DROP IT INTO FACEBOOKDROP IT INTO FACEBOOK

THIS TWEET AIMS TWITTER USERS THIS TWEET AIMS TWITTER USERS TO THE PHOTO IN FLICKRTO THE PHOTO IN FLICKR

CREATING AN ONLINE “BUZZ”CREATING AN ONLINE “BUZZ”

TEEN BLOGTEEN BLOG

THESE SOCIAL NETWORKS THESE SOCIAL NETWORKS ARE A WELCOME ADDITION ARE A WELCOME ADDITION

TO OUR ARSENAL OF TO OUR ARSENAL OF MARKETING TOOLS AND MARKETING TOOLS AND

STRATEGIES. STRATEGIES.

IMPACT ON LESTER PUBLIC IMPACT ON LESTER PUBLIC LIBRARYLIBRARY

• Willing to go where potential customers are, social networks – targeting an entirely NEW customer base.

• Gaining state and national recognition.• Gaining international recognition (Japan and Germany)• Elevating awareness on the local level, increased transparency.• Presenting marketing alternatives to local business leaders. • Consulting with local businesses on social networking.• Placing us directly in homes, on prospective library patron’s

computers, laptops, handheld devices, etc.• These tools are basically free but my time is valuable. Making time

to make it work can happen. I am now expected to shoot photos of community events.

• Library staff are involved – experimenting with our Web page and social network tools.

• Ultimately, it is Lester Public Library’s mission in action: Read, Read, Discover, Connect, Enrich.Discover, Connect, Enrich.

Creating meaningful electronic content from the Creating meaningful electronic content from the library…library…

……for our community.for our community.

Politics as usual? Politics as usual?

Becoming invaluable as a local government service.Becoming invaluable as a local government service.

Harness the power of social networks Harness the power of social networks in leveraging your library’s future.in leveraging your library’s future.

Library directors Library directors leading the way – leading the way – acting as the face of acting as the face of the library in the the library in the community andcommunity andonline.online.

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!

This PowerPoint presentation can be This PowerPoint presentation can be viewed at: viewed at:

www.slideshare.net/lpl2riverswww.slideshare.net/lpl2rivers