This document discusses the use of social media tools for librarians and faculty. It provides an overview of microblogging, blogging, video sharing, and virtual meeting tools. For each tool, examples are given and activities are suggested for hands-on exploration of the tools. Resources and related tools are also listed. The document concludes by assigning homework for participants to further explore one of the social media tools discussed and reflect on their experience.

1. Social Media for
Librarians and
Collegiate Faculty
Rebecca K. Miller
VT University Libraries
FDI: Spring 2012

3. “includes web based and
mobile technologies used to
turn communication into
interactive dialogue…”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media

4. “includes web based and
mobile technologies used
to turn communication into
interactive dialogue…”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media

5. Interactive Dialogue Among:
 Organizations and individuals
 Individuals and other individuals

6. Two TED Talks
Nicholas Christakis
http://www.ted.com/talks/nicholas_christakis_the_h
idden_influence_of_social_networks.html
Stefana Broadbent:
http://blog.ted.com/2009/11/02/how_the_interne_
1/

7.  What did you hear in these two talks?
 What issues did Christakis and
Broadbent raise?
 How do these issues affect you, and
your choice to use or not use social
media tools?

8.  In what ways do you use, or would you
like to use, social media?
 In what ways do you see others using
social media? What do you like/not
like?

9.  Communicating with others
 Professional engagement
 Raising personal profile
 For fun: shared hobbies/interests
(Pew Research)

10. Results from VT Faculty Survey
 Wide variety of experiences, expertise, and interests
 Anxiety over blending personal and professional spheres
 Confusion over terminology
 Information about all tools will be “helpful”
 Categories with most interest & need…

11.  Microblogging
 Blogging
 Video sharing
 Virtual meeting

12. Microblogging

13. Overview & tools
 Definition: the posting of very short entries or updates
to a platform designed for brief communications
 Popular tools:
 Twitter: https://twitter.com
 Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com
In depth look: Twitter

14. Examples: Hashtags & Lists
 Archiving
 Conferences and classes
 #alamw
 #vtclis12
 #FDITrackL12
 Lists
 CIL 2012 Speakers:
https://twitter.com/#!/LibConf/cil2010speakers
 Everything Virginia Tech:
https://twitter.com/#!/virginia_tech/virginia-tech

15. Activity:
http://tinyurl.com/FDImicro
 Choice A: if you have an account
 Make a list of people, organizations, and hashtags you
follow
 Choice B: if you want to set up an account
 Visit Twitter (or Tumblr) and set up an account and tweet
about your experience in #FDITrackL12
 Choice C: read & reflect
 Read “9 Things You Didn’t Know About Twitter”
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/technology/persona
ltech/nine-things-you-didnt-know-about-twitter.html?_r=3

16. Resources & related tools
 Resources
 EDUCAUSE 7 Things You Should Know About Microblogging:
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7051.pdf
 LSE Twitter Guide for Academics:
http://www2.lse.ac.uk/newsAndMedia/news/archives/201
1/10/twitter_guide.aspx
 Tools
 HootSuite, TweetDeck (Social Media Dashboards)
 Screenr: http://www.screenr.com
 Twitpic: http://twitpic.com

17. Blogging

18. Overview & tools
 Definition: a web log, or “blog,” represents an easy-to-
use platform where users can publish content
 Popular tools:
 Blogger: http://www.blogger.com
 WordPress: http://blogs.lt.vt.edu/
 Typepad: http://www.typepad.com
In depth look: WordPress

19. Examples:
Different Blogs, Different Missions
 What’s Cookin’ @ Special Collections:
http://whatscookinvt.wordpress.com/
 Notes from Newman:
http://hnfelibrarian.blogspot.com
 VT HRC: http://blogs.is.vt.edu/hrcblogs/about/
 Annoyed Librarian:
http://blog.libraryjournal.com/annoyedlibrarian/

20. Activity:
http://tinyurl.com/FDIblogging
 Choice A: if you already have a blog
 What is the mission of your blog?
 What advice would you give a novice blogger?
 Choice B: if you want to set up a blog
 Visit the http://blogs.lt.vt.edu/ site in order to create an
account and start setting up your space
 Choice C: read & reflect
 The PR Pro’s Guide to Blogging:
http://mashable.com/2011/04/28/pr-pro-blogging-guide/

21. Resources & related tools
 Resources
 EDUCAUSE 7 Things You Should Know About Blogs:
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7006.pdf
 7 Things You Should Know About WordPress:
http://www.educause.edu/Resources/7ThingsYouShouldKnow
AboutWordP/235390
 Tools
 RSS readers
 Google Reader
 Outlook
 Bookmarking tools
 Delicious: http://delicious.com
 Instapaper: http://www.instapaper.com

22. Video sharing

23. Overview & tools
 Definition: video sharing sites are platforms for video
files and related content for easy uploading and
accessing
 Popular tools:
 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com
 Vimeo: http://vimeo.com
In depth look: YouTube

24. Examples
 “More libraries will use YouTube videos and other videos
as a marketing channel/educational medium…”
(http://socialnetworkinglibrarian.com/2011/12/29/top-10-social-media-and-libraries-predictions-for-2012/)
 “Study like a scholar, scholar”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ArIj236UHs
 Librarian in Black:
http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/2012/01/w
ss6.html

25. Activity: Discussion
 Choice A: creating a quick video for upload
 Using the library’s new cameras OR an iPad, work with a
small group to create a short video on any topic you want!
We’ll walk through the process of uploading it.
 Choice B: browse & reflect
 Browse or search through YouTube for “education” or
“libraries,” and see what sort of videos you uncover. What
do you like/not like?

26. Resources & related tools
 Resources
 Innovation Space
 EDUCAUSE 7 Things You Should Know About Online Media
Editing:
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7065.pdf
 Tools
 iMovie
 Garage Band
 Audacity

27. Virtual meeting

28. Overview & tools
 Definition: Software that facilitates communication and
collaboration across physical distances
 Popular tools:
 Tinychat
 Dimdim (recently sold)
 ooVoo
 Skype
 Google+ Hangouts
In depth look: Tinychat and Skype

29. Examples
 ACRL’s STS Info Lit Chat:
http://tinychat.com/steminfolit
 Virtual committee work: have you participated in this?
How has it worked for you?

30. Activity: Discussion
 Choice A: Tinychat
Practice with Tinychat: http://tinychat.com
 Choice B: Skype
Practice with Skype: http://www.skype.com

31. Resources & related tools
 Resources
 EDUCAUSE 7 Things You Should Know About Skype:
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7032.pdf
 Tools
 Camera
 Microphone

32. Your Homework:
http://tinyurl.com/FDIHomework
By next Tuesday (2/28), answer the questions linked
above!
You need to explore one (1) tool that we discussed this
week in more detail, and then reflect on that for the
group.
After next Tuesday, I will compile all the information that
we’ve been entering during the class, and share it with
the entire group (via email).