Marketing the library in a Web 2.0 World: Thing #38

I debated whether to do this month's thing because I would prefer to implement a plan, rather than just write about it.  I don't have the authority to do that at our library. Our library does have a blog but that is maintained by another staff person.  I have suggested a Facebook page or Twitter account for the library but so far, the decision has been to stick with one thing other than our library web page, and that is the blog,.  So far the blog hasn't seen much traffic, partially because new posts are few and far between. 

I did enjoy reading Darlene Fichter's Seven Strategies for Marketing in a Web 2.0 World.  Her comments made lots of sense.  I think the key thing that makes this form of marketing successful is the interaction.  I have a personal Facebook account and without friends adding new updates or photographs, the motivation for me to check my account would decline quickly.  I think that pertains to marketing the library on Facebook as well.

If I was given permission to set up a page for our library on Facebook, I would like to initially start in September when we are starting up our programs again-August has no events or programs.  To get people interested in checking out the page, we would need to give "mini-commercials" at our programs to let our audience know the page exists.  I would make sure that our page would have links to our blog and website and to our Google calendar.   Regular program weekly themes could be shared and special events could be shared and also be event invitations.  I could also envision sharing interesting book titles from our new book display.  I'm not sure I would necessarily do popular authors' new books since those disappear from the shelf so quickly unless I could encourage people to add their names to the request lists.  I think this would be a good start for a Facebook page.

I do use my personal Twitter account to share information about special library events.  I "followed" our county's tourism tweets and responding to one of them that did mention the library.  Now they follow me and have retweeted some of my tweets about library events. 

I have hope that since the local television station has come to the library twice for stories on Facebook, we will have a page in the near future. 

Getting her diploma!

Getting her diploma!
Originally uploaded by cranefarm

It was such a special moment to see Karissa crossing the stage. I was surprised when he sounded out the "i" in her name as "e" so the camera jerked a little. Of course, I was holding the camera but watching the ceremony rather than seeing it through the camera lens. We couldn't get a good still shot so this was a great way to preserve the moment. Now we are the proud parents of Dr. Johnson!!! 

Hooding Ceremony

Hooding Ceremony
Originally uploaded by cranefarm

This was a proud moment for us as our daughter, Karissa, received her hood in preparation for graduation from medical school.

Thing #34-Is this our Competition-Online Answer Sites

As I read the assignment from Nebraska Learns 2.0 and began exploring the wide variety of online answer sites, I began to ponder...Do people ask questions on these sites to find out the answers or do they ask the questions simply for the interaction with other computer users?    Are people spending so much time online that they search for yet another thing to do to fill their time?  Do they rely on the answers given and accept them as fact?  Do they really want an answer or just an opinion?  My mind came up with more questions than answers.  I answered a question about when zip codes were first used and one about  the number of representatives Montana had in the House.  I didn't register on the site initially and went back to try and find my answer, by now not remembering for sure which site I had looked at.  As I explored zip code questions, I found a similar question with an answer that would have taken pages to print.  That brought up another question-do people want short concise answers or long extended answers?  I personally don't feel any motivation to answer questions and "earn points" for my answers. 

Many of the questions asked could easily be answered with a quick call to the library because as librarians, if we do an Internet search to answer the question, we know sites that we can trust for correct answers.  Would I want to answer a question about appropriate gifts for a mother-in-law?  No.  I generally won't give opinions, which is what is being solicited in this case. 

I can see why people might use the online answer sites.  Questions can be asked at any time of the day and you can check back for an answer at your leisure if you don't need the answer immediately.  I'm sure some people don't think of libraries as answer places although we do get  an interesting array of questions come our way in-between simple queries for phone numbers and addresses.  I'm glad to see librarians "invading" the sites and submitting answers although I didn't participate in the Slam the Boards.  Librarians do have their own answer sites.  While researching a patron question regarding California law, I found www.AskNow.org which allows you to ask a question of a librarian, if you live in California.  I found a few sites specifically for asking law librarians. 

This was an interesting exercise.  I was truly amazed at all of the sites available and the variety of questions asked.

Too busy to write!

Where has the time gone? It seems like I'm running from place to place and not much time to truly call my own. When I'm home and I choose to goof off a little, I see the clutter around me and end up feeling pretty guilty. At work, our computer center has been busier with people applying for job, government aid, etc. etc. I regularly check all of my e-mails and Facebook, but generally, I'm not as inclined to post much myself. Even the digital camera has gone unused since Christmas.

Of course, I am "in charge" of a meeting at church on March 13th that has required lots of planning and some creativity. Tim has taken a town job and we are trying to carpool which gets me in town an hour earlier and I stay later to accommodate his longer hours. We thought he found the ideal job opportunity-staff accountant, working in an accounting firm. The major focus right now is income tax filing so he is doing close to 60 hour weeks. Farm chores including milking the two cows fall on both sides of his work day. I'm milking cows at night on days I have off and I even learned to use the skid loader to clean several inches of snow from our drives. The first time was definitely an experience! Other organization responsibilities are intermixed with everything else as well as time spent with and for family members.

Do I want to scream " stop the merry-go-round and let me off"? Not really, life is interesting and not boring and in a few months life might slow down again. In all of this, I've met interesting people and definitely had some new experiences. Tax time will end and Tim will only work part-time in the summer; by next year, we will have less farm animals and be better prepared for the longer hours.

And now, since I really am too busy to write but wanted to add some meandering thoughts, I must end.