Engaging Customers Through Social Media

Julia BrewsterAdministration Support Librarian

Calgary Public LibraryApril 29, 2011

WHAT I WILL COVER

• What is Social Media?

• Why is Social Media important for libraries?

• What you need to know to do it right

• Calgary Public Library and OBOC

• Social Media tools

What is Social Media?

WHY SHOULD YOUR LIBRARY BE ENGAGED IN SOCIAL MEDIA?

IT’S WHERE YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE

DIGITAL/VIRTUAL PRESENCE

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

INSTANT FEEDBACK

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

HOW TO DO IT RIGHT!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnhildreth/5630829088/

IT TAKES TIME

BE AVAILABLE

STAY RELEVANT

BE HONEST AND REAL

http://www.flickr.com/photos/triciawang/3594018801/

BE OPEN TO CRITICISM

You don’t have to do it all but do more than one

WHO IS DOING IT WELL?

One Book One Calgary

• Inaugural launch of OBOC November 2010• Blog posts • Exploring Our Past• Examining the present• Imagining Our Future

• Twitter• Hashtag #oboc2010• Facebook

SO NOW WHAT?

Hootsuite + Twitter = Great Pair!

QUESTIONS ?

What I readBlogs• The Librarian in Black• David Lee King• Mashable• Stephen’s Lighthouse• TechCrunch

Websites• Mashable.com• TechCrunch.com• Lifehacker.comBooks• Doing Social Media So it Matters:

A Librarian’s Guide• Social Media 101 by Chris Brogan