This document provides guidance on using Facebook for libraries. It discusses why libraries should create a Facebook page and how to get started. The key aspects covered include understanding Facebook's features and audience, creating a library Facebook page, ways to utilize the page like building community and collaborating, and strategies for communication and growth. Advanced tactics are also mentioned, such as staying current on research areas and leveraging social plugins.

1. Facebook for Libraries A Best Practices Guide

2. Start Here Why: Why are we doing this? Who: Who are we trying to reach? Who will do the work? What: What’s our strategy? Once these questions are answered, it’s time to choose the platform.

3. Facebook

4. Facebook at a Glance More than 600 million users Nearly half of those users log in every day One of the most-trafficked sites in the world Each user is connected to an average of 130 other users People spend over 700 billion minutes per month Average user creates 90 pieces of content per month More than 30 billion pieces of content shared each month About 70% of Facebook users are outside the US 200 million active users access via mobile devices

5. The Elements of Facebook The Home Page News Feed – personalized feed of friends’ updates Application and messaging controls: Wall posts, Pokes, Status Updates, private messages, Chat The Profile Information user has chosen to share Interests, education, work background, etc. Applications Photos Events Videos Groups Pages

6. The Home Page

7. The Profile

8. Applications

9. What Users Can Do Create personal profiles Add other users as friends Exchange messages Send automatic notifications when they update their profile Join common interest groups Enjoy applications Create and share media

10. What Organizations Can Do Create organization profiles Create and promote events Communicate with users Connect with other organizations Update profiles and send notifications Send messages to organization “likers” Users must opt-in to your page by clicking “Like” Track interactions Feature discussions Create and share media

11. The Difference: Profile vs. Page Profiles are focused more on the individual. Pages are focused on organizations or communities. Libraries should utilize the Facebook page.

12. Facebook & Libraries

13. Facebook & Libraries Most librarians first joined Facebook when it was limited to colleges and universities. Experiment in engagement “Be where the students were” Considered to be low cost, minimal effort

14. Facebook & Libraries Strengths and Weaknesses Ruth Sara Connell, Libraries and the Academy Academic Libraries, Facebook and MySpace, and Student Outreach: A Survey of Student Opinion, 2009 Most respondents indicated they would be accepting of library contact Concerns about privacy Recommended librarians proceed with caution when implementing social networking profiles

15. Facebook & Libraries Things have changed Active users have grown by more than 4000% Millions of business websites Facebook users get personalized content Facebook encourages users to change expectations on what should (and shouldn’t) be on Facebook. Redefining relationships, shift to user-resource interactions rather than student-t0-student

16. Shifting Spaces Libraries are becoming more social, both physically and virtually. Overlap between physical space and virtual space, as well as academic spaces and social spaces

18. A Case Study Do you Facebook? Networking with students online by Brian S. Mathews. C&RL News, May 2006 Outreach via Facebook to engineering students at Georgia Tech Answering patron questions Which software was available? How to renew items online Recent building changes Information about library spaces

19. Facebook Page Creation

20. What You Need to Know First You need to have an account on Facebook to create a Facebook Page Your Facebook page will be tied to your personal profile as the admin of your Facebook page; however, only you and Facebook know the connection exists. You can have an unlimited number of fans (Facebook users who “Like” your page). Facebook Pages are public—anyone can find and view your page whether they are logged into Facebook or not. All content posted on your Facebook page gets indexed on Google.

21. What You Need to Know First You can target your posts by location and language. You can add applications to your page, including your own custom content—video, rich text, graphics, opt-in box and more. You can add additional admins (highly recommended). All admins have equal rights to administer your page, including adding and removing other admins (choose with care!). Select your page title and category carefully as they cannot be changed once set.

22. Many patrons are using Facebook as a primary source for library news.

23. Facebook Pages The place to house all pertinent information about your library Overview of library Website & contact info Press releases Blog RSS Videos Twitter Updates News and status Community interactions Events

24. Facebook Pages http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php

25. Now what? I have a Facebook page.

26. Utilizing Your Facebook Page Reach new audiences Engage with users more effectively Enhance services by allowing greater interaction and feedback Three C’s Community Collaboration Communication

27. Community Connect with patrons and constituents Participate in discussions Start conversations Share opinions (advocacy) Approach with caution

28. Collaboration Not just with other librarians. Your community too! Research and academic projects Fundraisers Surveys & polls Source quotations/feedback Events

29. Communication Free Marketing Starting and sharing conversations Answering patron questions Breaking down barriers to information Serving as an interactive resource LISTEN!

30. Growing Your Facebook Page “Like” other local organizations “Like” interests common with your patrons Link to the Facebook page on your library’s website Link to the Facebook page in email newsletters Cross promote on other platforms, such as Twitter, blogs, etc. Share on your personal profile and “Suggest” Hand out business cards with your Facebook page URL on it Custom URL – how to get one

31. Library Related Applications CiteMe Books iRead BookShare Catalog searches: COPAC, Worldcat Electronic resources: JSTOR LibGuides Internal catalog searches

32. Advanced Use of Facebook Stay up-to-date on domain-specific research Learn about changes to publishers’ content Leverage social plugins to tap into a user’s likes and dislikes to offer up personalized content Eg. The Open Library Environment project

33. Sources Davis, Hilary. 2011. “Reconsidering Facebook.” In the Library with the Lead Pipe blog posting January 26, 2011: http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2011/reconsidering-facebook/ (last accessed on March 16, 2011). "Factsheet." Facebook. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. <http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?factsheet#!/press/info.php?statistics>. KarestenWenzlaff. Echologist.com: The Science of Making Social Networks Resonate. Web. 17 March 2011. <http://www.karsten-wenzlaff.de/category/echologist/>. King, David Lee. DavidLeeKing.com. Web. 15 Mar. 2011. <http://www.davidleeking.com>. Smith, Mari. "Facebook 101 Business Guide." Social Media Examiner: Your Guide to the Social Media Jungle. 10 Aug. 2010. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. <http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/facebook-101-business-guide/>.

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