OMG! I just met J.K. Rowling. Can you imagine a post such as this one and
no one actually seeing it? Such a post
would likely be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc., and most
likely accompanied by a photo op. This
post would also see the obligatory “like” or a random comment made by social
media “friends.” Is that what social
media, such as Facebook, has become? It seems that the answer to that question
is yes.
Facebook has become an easy and
convenient way to communicate amongst people.
People on your friends list can range from childhood friends, family, or
co-workers. Facebook has become an easy
way to keep up with the latest news and happenings in and around the
world. It also happens to be extremely
easy to create an account.
Some accounts are for personal use and
others are for business use. There is a
also a specialized use for schools and school libraries. School libraries are of particular interest
due to their increased use of this particular social media. Schools and libraries have expanded their
exposure by trying to keep up with the times.
This is surprisingly convenient for school library users since Facebook
is likely the quickest and easiest way to get the word out for upcoming
events.
Upon searching for school library
Facebook pages, it was apparent that not all local school libraries adhere to
this new form of communication. I was
able to find two local high school libraries, but no elementary school library
pages. I know that for my own school
library, any announcements or upcoming events are posted directly to the school
Facebook page. When I asked our school
librarian why we did not have a school library Facebook page, she stated that
it wasn’t something that administration has discussed doing.
It seems that some schools are going
the extra step to get their information out into the community and others are
still lagging behind. I was able to
browse and collect information on the school libraries that did have
Facebook pages. There were limited
comments and most weren’t very positive.
Comments requesting changes to procedures or policies were mostly
seen. There were limited “likes” of the
Facebook pages as well. The information
that was being shared was important and valuable such as time changes or
closings. Other information included
upcoming events or contests.
Unfortunately, I didn’t see many followers and although the pages
provide valuable information, it is viewed by very few people.
There can be many contributing factors
to the meager use of Facebook when it comes to school libraries. The lack of interest in Facebook could be a
major factor. Many social media outlets
exist and have taken over such as Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. Users may no longer feel compelled to follow
posts on Facebook anymore. People may
also feel that there is nothing new or interesting to follow.
It is my opinion that Facebook is a
valuable tool for school library promotion.
I do agree, however, that it is perhaps not being used properly when it
comes to awareness or exposure. I would
like to see more on the spot “likes” or positive comments while the visitor is
at the library instead of hoping they remember when they get home. The library counter is the perfect place to
get people involved with social media such as Facebook. Things could be better and probably should be
better. There are great advantages to
having the “likes” and “comments” when it comes to school libraries. This means that you have become valuable
asset to the community.
