Have you considered using pinterest for your library? Pinterest is a new site within the past 6 months and yet it is already getting more traffic than the crafting site Etsy. I personally joined about 6 weeks ago and I’m having quite a bit of fun and getting some interesting connecting and results with my home business. I personally think that Pinterest could be quite useful for public libraries, museum libraries and other libraries that have a large public audience. Since I work for a small college library, I don’t see it really being that beneficial for us but I might try it. In any case here are some ideas about how libraries could generate interest via Pinterest.

1. Create a boards for new books that your library has received within the past few weeks or months.
2. Create boards to promote activities or programs with links to learn more and pictures of the activity or program.
3. Create boards for each one of your major collections and share the most popular items as pins.
4. Create boards with pins for your library displays or rare collections.
5. Create boards with pins to promote your movies and other media.
6. Share your boards on your library facebook and twitter.

Other ideas on how to use Pinterest for libraries?

Connect with me on Pinterest.

The book- Doing Social Media So It Matters: a Librarian’s Guide- is unlike any other book I have ever read. It focuses specifically on social media for libraries and how it is changing how libraries do business as well as why libraries must use it.

Here are a few of the key points from this book:

1. Social Media has changed how patrons interact with the library.
2. Social Media has given libraries new options for marketing their services.
3. Social Media can be used as an avenue for change for libraries.
4. Social Media can be used very effectively to advocate for libraries.
5. Not every library will benefit from the same social media tools. You need to experiment to see what works for your library.

This book also talks about how libraries can leverage social media to get more attendance at public classes and other events. Along with this part, there is a discussion about how constant promotion of the library’s collections and services is much less effective.

In short, if your library needs a social media makeover, then you undoubtedly need to check out this book.

Doing Social Media so It Matters: a Librarian’s Guide Book.

Does your library have a social media policy and do you need one? Some things to consider as far as a library social media policy include:

1. If we have a library wiki who can post and contribute?
2. Are we using facebook and if so, who are the admins of our page and can our patrons contribute?
3. If we have a blog what goes on it and how often?
4. How many sites are we going to use for our library?
5. Why are we involved with social networking and is it really contributing to our library’s mission?

There was an article posted in the library journal, Should your library have a social media policy recently which I think all librarians should read.

If you have a social media policy for your library, what does it say? Any thoughts about libraries and social media policies?

Are you using your social networking skills to make money? I know that this may seem a bit off topic for this blog but the reality is that as librarians we are nearly all suffering. There are hiring freezes everywhere. Many of us don’t have jobs or we are underemployed and library school is expensive thus causing many of us to have a lot of debt. I am currently making quite a bit of extra income with social networking so I thought I would share some tips with the rest of you in hopes that I can help you.

1. Develop as many relationships as possible and network with new people.
2. Offer value to others. Give before you can receive.
3. Start some kind of an online business, whether you write and sell your own information products, offer some kind of a service or partner with a direct sales company does not matter but you need to have something to sell.
4. Blog and sell advertising to make money and promote your blog via social networking.
5. Sell your crafts or other items that you make.
6. Do affiliate marketing.
7. Get paid to write. One of my favorite places for this is Examiner.com You can then promote your writing on social networking sites to earn even more money.
8. Use social networking to find a job.

How can I help? I would happy to speak with you. Contact Me

Do you need some help with your library 2.0? If so, there is plenty of it available online. I came across this list of 100 free library 2.0 webinars. What is interesting about this list is that is includes not only webinars but also podcasts, articles, blog posts, wikis and other tutorials and covers all kinds of social networking in libraries and library 2.0 topics. A very useful tool for any library needing help with their social networking and technology projects.

Normally I share ideas about how you can use social networking to help your library. However, today I want to talk a bit about how you can end up ruining your library with social networking.

Here are some things that could happen and how to avoid them.

1. Trying to use too many social networking sites to promote your library. This can confuse your patrons and staff and be too time consuming. Pick one or two and focus on these.

2. Angering your patrons. If a patron becomes angry enough or annoyed enough they may use social networking to tell everyone about it and this can end up being a nightmare.

3. Not keeping track about what is being posted on your library social networking sites. This can cause content or comments to be posted that are spammy or that are not what you would like. If you are going to use social networking with your library then you need to keep track of what is being said and posted.

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