Presented at the Western New York Library Resources Council on July 23, 2009.

1. Building an Active
Online Community
Presented by:
Ligaya Ganster
Bridget Schumacher
University at Buffalo Libraries

2. "Facebook is a social
utility that connects you
with the people around
you".

3. It's not just a Fad!
• More than 250 MILLION active
users!
• 4th most trafficked Web site in the
world
• Over 55,000 regional, work-related,
high school, and collegiate networks
• 30 MILLION active users accessing
via a mobile device

4. Facebook Profile

5. Facebook Profile

6. Facebook Groups
• Admins can send
messages to group
members
• Can be closed to
certain members
only
• Ability to invite
members to events

7. Facebook Pages
• Visible to
audience outside
of Facebook
• Send updates to
Fans
• Add
applications to
enhance Page

8. Groups vs Pages

9. Anatomy of a
Facebook Page
Basic Features
• Information
• Notes
• Photos
• Fans

10. Anatomy of a
Facebook Page
Other Basic Features
• Wall
• Favorite Pages
• Video

11. Collaborate & Share!

12. Photo Album

13. Facebook Applications
Every month, more than 70% of FB members
use applications built on the Facebook platform

14. WorldCat ,
JSTOR, & CiteMe
applications

15. Applications Useful for
Librarians
• LibGuides Librarian
• MyFlickr
• Delicious
• weRead
• Slideshare
• CiteMe
• Bookshare

16. Custom UB Libraries
Application

17. Or get
someone
like him
to do
it….
http://vimeo.com/1812624

18. Creating a Page
http://facebook.com/

19. Admin View

20. Insights

21. Department of Media Study

22. Buffalo & Erie County
Public Library

23. UB Green

24. Center for the Arts

25. Why do you need a
Facebook Page when you
already have a website?

26. Importing Blog entries from UB
Libraries homepage
Buried Link

27. The old Student Support website

29. Notes
Application

30. Student Comments

31. “The new style of
marketing is characterized
by conversation and
community.”
-Society for New Communications Research, 2008

32. Marketing Ideas
• Listservs
• Student Associations
• Advertisements
• Signage/Flyers
• Facebook Badge
• Word of Mouth
• Twitter & Blogs

33. Pros
• Free marketing and • Collaboration made
outreach easy
• Outreach to • Conversations
international between users
community
• Consolidation of
• Outreach to key website areas
prospective students;
high school students

34. What Students are Saying…
"Wow, that is really
amazing this extension…
Here in Europe universities
are lacking of doing
innovative stuff like this...
I should really consider going
for that exchange program
with Buffalo my next
semester."
- International Student

35. Facebook & Int’l Markets
Facebook took over the global lead in social networking
sites in April 2008
Facebook had made "an effort to become more culturally
relevant in markets outside the US"
It's introduction to natural language interfaces in
several markets has helped propel the site to 153% growth
during the past year
-comSCORE, August 2008

36. Cons
• Find or become the • Monitor and constantly
person with the skills update the page
to create custom
application • Prepare and plan;
must have everything
• Network and stay ready before you
updated with Facebook publish the page
changes
• Create a marketing
campaign!

37. QUESTIONS ????

38. Further Questions?
Ligaya Ganster,
lganster@buffalo.edu
Bridget Schumacher,
bss4@buffalo.edu

39. Presentation available at:
http://www.slideshare.net/bschu1022