The document provides an overview of various social media platforms and how they can be used in academic libraries. It defines social networking and lists common features such as user profiles, friending, groups, messaging, and privacy controls. Specific platforms summarized include Facebook, LiveJournal, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, SlideShare, Google Docs, Flickr, Skype, Pinterest, Scoop it, Prezi, and QR codes. Examples are given for how libraries have used some of these tools for outreach, marketing resources, and engaging users. References are provided at the end.

1. By Houeida Kammourié-Charara
InfoCommons Librarian
©2012

2. Introduction
With the huge amount of Social Networking
Media that are currently available on the Net, I
found it useful to “CURATE” some that may be
used in academic libraries environment.
Content is collected from selected websites, all
definitions are taken from the “About Us” or
Media Home pages or Wikipedia.

3. Outline

4. Social Networking Definition
Social networking is a communication
phenomenon. The Oxford English Dictionary
Online (2010) defines social networking as:
[. . .] the use or establishment of social
networks or connections; (now esp.) the use of
Web sites which enable users to interact with
one another, find and contact people with
common interests, etc.

5. Social Networking Core Features
• User profiles • Videos, Photos,
• Friending Music
• Groups • Blogs,
Journals,Wikis
• Individual messaging
• Searching
• Announcements
• Privacy controls

7. Facebook in Academic Library

8. Facebook

9. Marketing Library Resources and
Activities via Facebook

10. LiveJournal
LiveJournal (LJ) is
a social network
owned by SUP
Media where
Internet users can
keep a blog,
journal or diary
Source: Wikipedia.

13. MySpace
Aimed at a Gen Y
audience, Myspace
drives social
interaction by
providing a
personalized
experience around
entertainment and
connecting people
to the music,
celebrities, TV,
movies, and games.
http://www.myspace.com/

14. MySpace Account via Facebook login
You can add
photos, music
and more

15. YouTube
Founded in February 2005, YouTube allows billions
of people to discover, watch and share originally-
created videos. YouTube provides a forum for
people to connect, inform, and inspire others
across the globe and acts as a distribution
platform for original content creators and
advertisers large and small. See our company
timeline for more information on our company
history.
http://www.youtube.com/t/about_youtube

16. YouTube

17. Library Publishers using YouTube

18. http://youtu.be/oaPm_6ySNog

19. YouTube

20. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7gZsQRGir
M

21. British Library

22. Twitter
Twitter is a real-time information network that connects
you to the latest stories, ideas, opinions and news about
what you find interesting. Simply find the accounts you
find most compelling and follow the conversations.
At the heart of Twitter are small bursts of information
called Tweets. Each Tweet is 140 characters long, but
don’t let the small size fool you—you can discover a lot in
a little space. You can see photos, videos and
conversations directly in Tweets to get the whole story at
a glance, and all in one place. See it in action.
https://twitter.com/about

25. What Are Hashtags ("#" Symbols)?
The # symbol, called a hashtag, is used to mark keywords
or topics in a Tweet. People use the hashtag symbol #
before relevant keywords or phrases (no spaces) in their
Tweet to categorize those Tweets and help them show
more easily in Twitter Search.
Clicking on a hashtagged word in any message shows you
all other Tweets in that category. Hashtags can occur
anywhere in the Tweet – at the beginning, middle, or end.
Hashtagged words that become very popular are often
Trending Topics.
Source: Twitter help Center

26. SlideShare
SlideShare
allows you to
share
presentations,
documents and
professional
videos.

27. Google Docs
To create, share on the web
with documents,
spreadsheets, presentations
and more.
Google Docs will soon be
upgraded to Google Drive

28. Flickr
Flickr is an image
and video
hosting website
that allows you
to upload your
photos, then
easily share
them through
Facebook,
Twitter, email,
blogs and more.
http://www.flickr.com/

30. Skype
Skype is software that enables the world's
conversations. Millions of individuals and businesses
use Skype to make freevideo and voice calls,
send instant messages and share files with other people
on Skype. You can use Skype on whatever works best
for you - on your mobile, computer or a TV with Skype
on it. Skype is free to download and easy to use.
http://www.skype.com/intl/en/home

33. Overwhelmed with your accounts

36. TweetDeck New Interface

37. What’s Social Media Curation?
“Social media curation is when you filter,
select, review and reposition quality content
on the web for a specific audience and/or
topic”.

38. What is Content Curation?
“Content Curation basically means that – out of all
the content you find on the social web – you pass on
the most valuable stuff to your network.
A slightly more coherent definition of someone who
curates content comes from marketing expert Rohit
Bhargava:
A Content Curator is someone who continually finds,
groups, organizes and shares the best and most
relevant content on a specific issue online”.
http://www.michielgaasterland.com/content-marketing/what-is-content-curation-and-how-
it%E2%80%99s-useful-to-you-and-your-network/

40. Curation
Dashter's in-line
curation technology
allows you to curate
social content
whenever you find it.
http://dashter.com/tour/curate/

41. What is Pinterest?
Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard.
Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful
things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan
their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their
favorite recipes.
Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other
people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new
things and get inspiration from people who share your
interests.
To get started, request an invite.
http://pinterest.com/about/

42. Pinterest
How libraries could generate interest via Pinterest?
1. Create a boards for new books that your library has received
within the past few weeks or months.
2. Create boards to promote activities or programs with links to
learn more and pictures of the activity or program.
3. Create boards for each one of your major collections and share
the most popular items as pins.
4. Create boards with pins for your library displays or rare
collections.
5. Create boards with pins to promote your movies and other
media.
6. Share your boards on your library facebook and twitter.
Source : http://socialnetworkinglibrarian.com/

44. Scoop it

47. http://www.scoop.it/t/social-media-
what-we-think-about

48. Topics are curated by other Scoop it users

49. And many more: Blogs (WordPress),
Wikis, Bookmarking, Tagging, etc.

50. QR Codes (From Wikipedia)
QR Code (abbreviated from Quick Response Code) is
the trademark for a type of matrix barcode (or two-
dimensional code) first designed for the automotive
industry. More recently, the system has become
popular outside the industry due to its fast readability
and large storage capacity compared to standard UPC
barcodes.
The code consists of black modules (square dots)
arranged in a square pattern on a white background.
The information encoded can be made up of four
standardized kinds ("modes") of data (numeric,
alphanumeric, byte/binary, Kanji), or through
supported extensions, virtually any kind of data.

51. QR Codes use in Libraries
They can be placed inside the library
catalog, linking to subject guides and
placing the codes on the shelves near
the materials about that subject, using
them near the physical journals to link
out to the online versions, connecting
the codes with mini surveys asking
students to share their opinions and
more.
http://socialnetworkinglibrarian.com/

52. PREZI
Prezi is a cloud-based presentation software
that opens up a new world between
whiteboards and slides.
The zoomable canvas makes it fun to explore
ideas and the connections between them. The
result: visually captivating presentations that
lead your audience down a path of discovery.
http://prezi.com/about/

56. References
Berube, L. (2011). Do you web 2.0? public libraries and social networking. Oxford : Chandos Pub.
Bozarth, J. (2010). Social media for trainers: techniques for enhancing and extending learning. San Francisco : Pfeiffer.
Clyde, L. A. (2004). Weblogs and libraries. Oxford : Chandos
Cordell, D. (2012). Skype and the embedded librarian. Library Technology Reports, 48(2), 8-11.
http://search.proquest.com/docview/927128199?accountid=27870
Courtney, N. (ed.). (2007). Library 2.0 and Beyond : innovative technologies and tomorrow's user. Westport, Conn
Dickson, A. & Holley, R.P. (2010),"Social networking in academic libraries: the possibilities and the concerns", New Library
World, Vol. 111 Iss: 11 pp. 468 – 479. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/03074801011094840
Evans, W. (2009). Building library 3.0: issues in creating a culture of participation). Oxford: Chandos Pub.
Hamilton, B. J. (2012). Introduction. Library Technology Reports, 48(2), 5-7,2.
http://search.proquest.com/docview/927128231?accountid=27870
Kroski, E. (2008). Web 2.0 for librarians and information professionals. New York: Neal Schuman Publishers.
Landis, C. (2010). A Social Networking Primer for Libraries. London : Facet Pub.
Morris, T. (2010). All a Twitter: : a personal and professional guide to social networking with Twitter. Indianapolis, Ind. : Que.
Websites:
Social Networking Librarian: Exploring SociaL Networking and Technologies in Libraries
http://socialnetworkinglibrarian.com/
Social Media: what we think about! http://www.scoop.it/t/social-media-what-we-think-about