This presentation demonstrates how Facebook, combined with other social networking tools such as blog software, provide libraries with the opportunity to develop a virtual and engaging outreach presence. This presentation will discuss how to maintain an online community using customizable Facebook Pages and importing RSS feeds. Librarians can update and inform students, faculty, and staff of new events, workshops, library services and resources. Challenges and ideas for marketing these tools are also presented.

1. Building an Active
Online Community
Presented by:
Ligaya Ganster
Bridget Schumacher
University at Buffalo Libraries

2. quot;Facebook is a social
utility that connects you
with the people around
youquot;.

3. It's not just a Fad!
• More than 100 MILLION active
users!
• 4th most trafficked website in the
world
• Over 55,000 regional, work-related,
high school, and collegiate networks

4. Facebook Profile

5. Facebook Groups
•Admins can send
messages to group
members
•Can be closed to certain
members only
•Ability to invite
members to events

6. Facebook Pages
•Visible to audience
outside of Facebook
•Send updates to Fans
•Add applications to
enhance Page

7. Groups vs Pages

8. Anatomy of a
Facebook Page
Basic Features
• Information
• Notes
• Discussion Board
• Photos
• Fans

9. Anatomy of a
Facebook Page
Other Basic
Features
• Video
• Wall

10. Collaborate & Share!

11. Facebook Applications
More than 95% of FB members have used at
least one application built on Facebook platform

12. WorldCat &
JSTOR
applications

13. Simply RSS
application

14. Google
Application

15. Custom Catalog Application
My HTML

16. Or get
someone
like him
to do
it….
http://vimeo.com/1812624

17. Applications Useful for
Librarians
• LibGuides Librarian
• MyFlickr
• Del.icio.us
• Books iRead
• Slideshare
• CiteMe
• Librarian

20. Creating a Page
http://facebook.com/

22. Insights

23. Why do you need a
Facebook Page when you
already have a website?

24. Importing Blog entries from UB
Libraries homepage
Buried Link

25. The old Student Support “website”

27. Notes Application

28. “Student Comments”

29. “The new style of
marketing is characterized
by conversation and
community.”
-Society for New Communications Research, 2008

30. Marketing Ideas
• Listservs
• Student Associations
• Advertisements
• Signage/Flyers
• Facebook Badge
• Word of Mouth

31. Pros
• Free marketing and • Collaboration
outreach made easy
• Outreach to • Conversations
international between users
community
• Consolidation of
• Outreach to key website areas
prospective students;
high school students

32. What Students are Saying…
quot;Wow, that is really
amazing this extension…
Here in Europe universities
are lacking of doing
innovative stuff like this...
I should really consider
going for that exchange
program with Buffalo my
next semester.quot;
- International Student

33. Facebook & Int’l Markets
Facebook took over the global lead in social
networking sites in April 2008
Facebook had made quot;an effort to become
more culturally relevant in markets
outside the USquot;
It's introduction to natural language
interfaces in several markets has helped
propel the site to 153% growth during the
past year
-comSCORE, August 2008

34. Cons
• Find or become the • Monitor and
person with the skills constantly update the
to create custom page
application
• Prepare and plan;
• Network and stay must have everything
updated with ready before you
Facebook changes publish the page
• Create a marketing
campaign!

35. QUESTIONS ????

36. Further Questions?
Ligaya Ganster,
lganster@buffalo.edu
Bridget Schumacher,
bss4@buffalo.edu