#PublicLibrary

Everyone is liking, poking, tweeting, tagging, hash-tagging, rating, and checking in. Some much is happening online and it does businesses and organizations, including public libraries, to be clued into and using sites like Facebook and Twitter to reach more people.

I personally run one Facebook page and assist with another. I know from managing these pages that may people look to them for information and to connect. People use these pages to rate the organizations, provide feedback, and to find out what is happening.

Some libraries with Facebook pages:

Jacksonville Public Library

Miami-Dade Public Library System

Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System

Some libraries with Twitter accounts:

Montgomery County Public Library

New York Public Library

Library of Congress

Here are some interesting reads about social media in libraries:

Social Networking: This is part of a report done in 2012 by the American Library Association

Social Media: Libraries Are Posting, but Is Anyone Listening?: This is an article from the Library Journal

This is a slideshow from Slideshare:

Social Media & Public Libraries from akcrow

Does your local library use Facebook or Twitter? Do you "follow" or "like" them?

Audiobooks

When I was about nineteen years old, I was very busy with working two jobs and a full time student with a course load of 6 classes. I love reading, but I just did not have the time to sit and casually read at this time. I decided to borrow an audiobook from the public library and listen to it in my car while driving to school and work. It was amazing for me. I was finally able to "read" for fun without sacrificing homework time.

There are many different methods to be able to listen to audiobooks and audiobooks come in almost every genre.

There are books on CDs such as this:

There is something called a playaway. The playway is an MP3 player with a single audiobook preloaded onto it. 

There are also downloadable audiobooks available in different formats to be able to be used on different kinds of devices. The company Overdrive allows many public libraries the ability to provide this service. This screenshot of the Overdrive website shows that you can find your local library to see what's available to you and they also have app available. 

Check your local public library to see what is available to you. 

Instagram & Public Libraries?

Seems like I am always seeing someone post something from Instagram or snapping a selfie which made me think about how could Instagram relate to public libraries.

According to the Instagram website, there are:

200 million active users

20 billion photos shared

1.6 billion likes daily

60 million average photos per day.

With statistics like that, public libraries could reach a lot more people by posting photos on Instagram. Public libraries could share their programs, post updates such as when new materials are available at the library, or just random tidbits of information. 

I came across a really interesting list of ways Instagram can be used in the library:

1. Show off your books

2. Show off your events and services

3. Go behind the scenes

4. Give a sneak peek

5. Show the offices/workspaces

6. Take your patrons with you (Take pictures at events/conventions/conferences)

7. Share your staff/librarians

8.Show off your library space

9. Turn print marketing materials into digital ones

Some libraries already using Instagram for their libraries:

San Francisco Public Library

This library has 798 posts and 1,441 followers

Los Angeles County Public Library

This library has 217 posts and 1,079 followers.

San Jose Public Library

This library has 189 posts and 257 followers.

Does your local public library have an Instagram account?

There's an App for that

In today's world, it seems like there is an app for everything. Applications on smart phones can actually be very useful at times, when we are not all checking Facebook or playing candy crush. There are apps for what seems like anything we would need from mobile banking to couponing to even finding a clean restroom (yes, there is an app for that - Sit or Squat).

Mobile applications for smart phones for a public library seem like they would be a great idea. Patrons could browse the catalog, reserve materials, check their accounts, renew materials, and maybe even pay their overdue fines. This thought led me on a search to see if any libraries have an app for that. 

I found these public libraries that have smart phone apps:

Calgary Public Library

Miami-Dade Public Library System

Mobile Public Library

New York Public Library

Why are smart phone applications beneficial to patrons?

People do many tasks on their smart phones. By allowing more access of the public library to patrons, it makes borrowing library materials easier and maybe more appealing to a different crowd. Perhaps, if the public sees that libraries stay up to date with current technologies and they are more than just old books, they will utilize all the public libraries have to offer.

What is this blog about?

I am Vikki, and I am currently a Graduate student in the library and information science program. My ultimate goal is to become a library director for a cooperative of public libraries.

I have loved public libraries for as long as I can remember. I love everything about them. I remember being so excited to be five years old and getting my VERY OWN library card. I felt like I had the key to the world in my hands. I could check out, what felt like, as many books as I wanted. Along with checking out books, the card granted me access to the other services of the library that I obviously did not use at that time, but much later. At twelve years old, I decided that my career was going to be librarian. I volunteered for four years then at the age of sixteen became a paid library assistant. I worked for my local public library until I was twenty-one years old with my last position held being cataloger.

The older I became and the more I worked in the library at different tasks and positions, I realized that many patrons of the public libraries do not know all that libraries have to offer and the help that can be provided to them. I also realized that many public libraries are hindered by their budgets or county officials in that they cannot offer all the services they should be able to offer patrons.

This blog is to provide information on services that are available in public libraries or that could be useful in public libraries and why these services are needed and beneficial to communities.

It is impossible to enter a large library... without feeling an inward sensation of reverence, and without catching some sparks of noble emulation, from the mass of mind which is scattered around you.
- James Crossley