We are big fans of social media, because it can be such a great (and pretty easy) way to connect with your community members. We’ve even put out a podcast in our Linking Our Libraries series giving you some strategies you might use for your own social media work!
So we want to pass on some of the ideas from this article:
Instagram Social Media Reboot for School Libraries
“From my very first post on Facebook in October of 2007, I have felt like I am just a bit behind the times in the world of social media. A student helped me create my Facebook page. He also demonstrated a game that “everyone” was playing. It was a strategy game that you played with others through Facebook. It was so much fun, in the beginning, creating a profile. You could list your favorite books, movies, and music–all the things librarians like to discuss. And unlike MySpace, there was not a place to list your salary or body type, so it felt less like a dating site to me. The early statuses were quite short, only a word or phrase about what you are doing.
Why social media
The reason I decided to take the plunge into social media back in 2007 was a need for communication with my patrons. Students were not reading their email consistently, but they were all on Facebook. We took advantage of groups, and then pages. We used events to advertise library events; we also loved an older feature called “Notes.” Keep in mind the first iPhone was released in June of 2007, and it would be a few years before children began carrying these devices. Therefore, Facebook was a common site on the library computers.
From Facebook to Instagram to Snapchat and back to Instagram
In 2014 my students began abandoning Facebook because not only were mom and dad on Facebook, but so was their grandma. Students first went to Instagram and then later to Snapchat, if their parents allowed the app. To communicate and to meet students where they are, we started an Instagram for our library in 2015 and a Snapchat in 2016.
Both the Snapchat and Instagram apps were a struggle at first. I wanted to add articles and links like I do on Facebook and Twitter, but could not do this on Instagram and Snapchat. The apps are visual, and you have to find a way for the picture to convey the message. After two years of experimenting with Snapchat, we have decided that this platform is better for personal communication. The way we use Snapchat is purchasing filters for special events like grandparents day and book fairs. We have decided, instead, to focus our efforts on Instagram.”
Click on the link for the rest of her advice and suggestions for using Instagram in your school library!