Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Social Media Tools

Video sharing sites like YouTube have the potential to help libraries connect with current and future patrons. Whether it is a funny video of librarians lip-syncing Lady Gaga or a well designed tutorial, a creative and technologically inclined library staff can make their presence known. YouTube is great tool for educating the public regarding what services are available and how to use those resources. YouTube appeals to visual learners, who like to see tasks demonstrated instead of reading instructions. I was able to find a pretty good tutorial on how to use Palomar’s online library database. Youtube can also be used to get patrons excited about upcoming events. For example, the City of San Diego put out this promotional video regarding the new central library. This is more interesting than a flyer or email blast.

Libraries need to keep up with changing technology and trends. By communicating with people using technology they are already using and are familiar with, libraries can continue to stay relevent.

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