I went to school in the late 70s and 80s, way before social
media existed. It is now everywhere. I can only imagine how different my school experiences
would have been. It would have
eliminated a lot of time. Facebook and
Twitter allow us immediate access to information in a matter of minutes. it is no surprise to me that librarians are
using those platforms to engage and communicate with students, parents and the
community.
I have had a personal Facebook page for many years. I must admit I mostly use it to keep up with
family and friends. Rarely do I post
except for special occasions. It peaked
my curiosity as to what a library page might offer. After exploring quite a few pages, it appears
that liking and sharing is more popular than commenting. Almost every page had an “About” section that
consisted of a mission statement and contact information. It also including
pictures (students, décor, etc.), videos (themed, read aloud, etc.), events
(author visits, story fest, and community outreach (beautification projects,
Oni-Con, etc.) Although having a Facebook page for your library would be a wonderful
place to exchange information, there are some drawbacks. A library Facebook page can be an avenue to
bring awareness to library events, gather feedback and connect all
stakeholders. However, it takes time to
manage, some sites maybe blocked by your school’s internet filters and Facebook
is no longer the top social platforms for students. Even with the cons, Facebook is a worthwhile
library commitment.
The landscape of how students
use social media has changed. Facebook
is no longer the most popular online platform. According to a recent article published by Pew
Research Center, “YouTube, Instagram and SnapChat are the most popular online
platforms among teens”. (Anderson and Jiang 2018). Although Twitter did not make the top three
choices of most popular, it is still a great resource and one that I would
choose overall. Twitter is immediate,
interactive and concise. Whatever the platform
of your choose, make sure you know your audience, are willing to maintain page and
be current and relevant.
Twitter Ed Tech
The Daring Librarian
The Daring Librarian. Future Ready. Mover, Shaker, Innovator,
& Google Certified. Geek. Ridiculously Humble. Gwyneth uses the platform of Twitter to showcase the wonderful
things that are happening in her library as well as recommendations and lists
of books to read.
Jim Lerman
Architect of Ideas & Implementation: Educator, Designer,
Author, Speaker, Project Director
Joe Fahs
Director ATS Elmira College, Canvas learner, math instructor,
returned Peace Corps vol (French-speaking Congo), proud grandpa, avid walker,
yoga believer. Joe gives us a glimpse into his personal life with sweet tweets
of his grandchildren doing the cutest things like watering plants. He also shares important and insightful
information and resources related to Elmira College and his department to
technology reviews about the latest happenings.
Kathy Schrock
Educational Technologist/Ed Tech presenter. Geek, DEN Guru, GCT. Apple Teacher 2016. Kathy is a true “techy”. Her tweets are informative and hands-on. She is a true “techy” with a vast knowledge of technology. Her use of Twitter is a great enhancement to creditability.
Anderson, M. & Jiang, JJ.
(2018, May 15). Teens, social media &
technology 2018. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org
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