This document discusses how libraries can use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare. It recommends that libraries use social media to build their brand, communicate with patrons, understand patron needs through feedback, and learn best practices from other successful library pages. The document provides links to resources on setting privacy settings and using insights to analyze social media usage. It also predicts that location-based services like Foursquare will continue growing in importance.

1. Social Media & Libraries

2. Why? Brand Communication Marketing Respond to feedback positive/negative Figure out patron needs

3. Social Media platforms MySpace – teens, music Facebook – college, opened up to everyone Twitter – disseminator of information Ning – niche groups Gowalla – location based social networking Foursquare – location based social networking

5. Social Media Best Practices http://tametheweb.com/2010/03/18/social-media-best-practices-for-libraries/ http://www.davidleeking.com/2010/05/04/10-reasons-to-not-quit-facebook/

6. Privacy http://librarianbyday.net/ http://www.davidleeking.com/2010/05/04/10-reasons-to-not-quit-facebook http://www.omahalibrary.org/pdfs/OPLMySpace_Facebook_TermsofUse_Final.pdf http://www.davidleeking.com/2010/05/04/my-facebook-privacy-settings

7. Learn from others http://mashable.com/2009/03/30/successful-facebook-fan-page/ http://www.viralblog.com/social-media/top-50-facebook-pages/ http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30849344&id=1654519580#!/newyorkpubliclibrary http://www.facebook.com/#!/NPR http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30849344&id=1654519580#!/pages/Omaha-NE/The-Architectural-Offices/167944410143 http://www.facebook.com/#!/BluePlanetNaturalGrill?ref=ts http://www.facebook.com/#!/OmahaOldMarket?ref=ts

8. Insights aka usage http://www.facebook.com/help/?search=insights

9. Where we are headed http://www.infogroupcafe.com/smallbusiness/?p=1333 Back to foursquare http://mashable.com/2010/04/22/foursquare-claim-your-business/