When Archivists
Lisa Grimm
Drexel University College of
Medicine
lgrimm@drexelmed.edu

why?
• What does it actually do? Isn’t it just like
updating my Facebook status?

why?
• What does it do? Isn’t it just like updating my
Facebook status?
• Not quite – it’s semi-officially known as
‘microblogging.’

what?
• Microblogging? What does that actually mean?

what?
• Microblogging? What does that actually mean?
• In a nutshell: it means you have room for 140
characters per message.

why again?
• So I have to talk about myself for 140
characters? How does this exercise in vanity
help my archives or extend my professional
relationships?

why?
Here’s the secret: it’s all in how you do it.
Consider a few basic uses:
1) Promote your workplace’s website or blog
2) Garner feedback from other archivists
3) Maintain your professional profile

how
Sounds easy enough. How do I get started?
1) Start at Twitter.com and create an account –
either a personal or ‘corporate’ account (or
both)
2) Find some fellow archivists to ‘follow’

how
• But there’s no easy way to search for archivists!

how
• But there’s no easy way to search for archivists!
• True – but here are a few ways to get started:

how
• Try search.twitter.com for ‘archivist’ or
“#archives”
• Follow an archivist you already know (try
searching by their name) – and see if you like
any of the people they are following (or who
might be following them)

how

who
• @adravan • @Jill_HW
• @anarchivist • @librarycongress
• @ArchivesGirl • @lisagrimm
• @archivesopen • @lynnemthomas
• @archivesnext • @MerrileeIAm
• @amycsc • @Michigania
• @BobRGarrett • @mike_rush
• @dancohen • @nicolehgarrett
• @dkemper • @publichistorian
• @GetArchivisJobs • @RobinRKC
• @helentaylor • @spellboundblog
• Adapted from:
http://is.gd/h5KO

how
• But do I have to keep going back to Twitter.com
to read all these updates?

how
• But do I have to keep going back to Twitter.com
to read all these updates?
• Nope – there are a lot of handy time-saving
Twitter-related tools.

how
• Twitterfox – shows • Splitweet – Manage
new tweets in a separate accounts
browser extension
• Twitterfeed – ‘feed’
• TwitterSheep – see
your blog directly to
who is following you
Twitter
• TwitPic – Share
photos on Twitter • GroupTweet – send a
• Twitterific – tweet private message to a
from your iPhone
group on Twitter
• is.gd – URL shortener
• TweetDeck – sort
tweets by topic/group

lingo
• Hashtag – tool to
• Tweet – Send a
message track keywords or
activities, e.g.
• RT – re-tweet – repost
#archives
a message from
another user • @reply – A response
to something you
• DM – Direct message
have posted

tips
• Username/handle: Having your own name
doesn’t hurt
• Tone: Consider whether you can express
sarcasm or excitement in 140 characters
• Audience: Remember that anyone could be your
‘follower’

resources
• http://www.twitter.com
• http://hashtags.org/
• http://twitter.pbwiki.com/
• http://twittgroups.com/group/archives