I was in Halifax visiting some friends last week and one of them showed me this video by the Onion. It then popped up on the class discussion board. I took this as a sign.
The video instantly reminded me of the following lines from 30 Rock episode, “Winter Madness”:
Liz: Cross-promotional … deal mechanics … revenue streams … jargon … synergy.
Jack: That’s the best presentation I’ve ever heard.
Both the video by the Onion and Liz Lemon’s use of buzzwords sum up my feelings about social media and ‘2.0’ right now. Throw in terms like “social media economy” and suddenly you are an expert. Slap 2.0 after anything (see Fundraising 2.0 below) and you are a new internet economy maven (that’s a double-whammy, right there).
Social media eliminates the need to provide value to anyone
The more we look into social media and how libraries and other information organizations are using these tools, I am even more convinced that we do in fact need librarians and information professionals who are trained to use these tools. The skills to participate and create online do not come naturally to everyone. There is a big difference between using Facebook to stay in touch with high school friends or check in with adorable nieces and using Facebook to connect with your patrons.
It is not just a matter of setting up a Facebook page and waiting for patrons to ‘Like’ your page with no incentive. The value-added is so important. The use of social media should supplement their in-library experience. While I do enjoy reading the NYPL Twitter feed, at the end of the day I find greater value in reading my local public library’s feed.
In the new social media economy you just have to keep looking like you are doing work and people will pay you for it
In my last post, I talked about creating a social media strategy in relation to using social media as part of a comprehensive fundraising campaign. I’d like to add that I think establishing a social media strategy is crucial for libraries and other information organizations using social media to engage with their patrons in any way shape or form.
I think part of these slightly negative feelings come as a result of poking around the web for libraries using social media only to find half empty Pinterest cover boards, stagnant Twitter feeds, untouched Facebook pages, and countless other neglected social media tools. Does anyone else feel the same?
Further reading:
- Is Your Library Ready for a Social Media Librarian? [PDF] by Crystall Choi
- Top Ten Social Media Competencies for Librarians on HLWIKI
- What Are We Doing With Social Media? by Steven Bell, Associate University Librarian, Temple University
