Social media is THE place in this day and age for all things news, entertainment, and socializing. So it's no wonder that libraries have been using social media in order to connect with the public and attract new users while maintaining a sense of cultural relevancy.
As written in an article by Chase DiBenedetto, libraries are often portrayed in popular media as intensely quiet and strict, a place for scholars and brief research scenes in movies. However, on social media hubs like TikTok and Instagram, libraries come alive in the form of content created by fellow meme-enthusiasts with human voices and faces. While some people may see this as trivial or out of place, TikTok-style videos are known for being silly yet often very informational.
Between lack of funding, book bans, and other governmental threats, libraries are in need of support. But you aren't going to reach a new, younger audience via the library newsletter. So, many public libraries have turned to social media, to meet a new audience in a place where they are already gathering. Whether you are trying to become the next viral phenomenon, reach your local users, or just create content for the fun of it, social media is the key to getting there.
As written in an article by Ryan Hudgins, libraries have not really reached the same level of popularity as they did in the pre-pandemic days. Libraries needed to think outside the box in order to encourage in-person engagement, thus creating communities like LibraryTok and BookTok. While posting does not need to be on TikTok, that appears to be the most popular platform among libraries and users alike.
Some libraries have even gained national attention with their posts! Like the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library (@cincylibrary) and the Milwaukee Public Library (@milwaukeepubliclibrary). The majority of TikToks posted by these libraries are funny, on trend, and inform the public on why they need to visit their library. Even a local Long Island library has gained some attention recently!
So if you are a library, consider upping your social media game! And if you're a patron, maybe your library has created their TikTok account and could use a new follower!
Hi Olivia, this is a great post, and we're definitely interested in the same topics. Both our posts are in conversation with each other; I can't emphasize enough how important it is for librarians to keep up and stay on trend. You're so right that we live in a scary time where education is being defunded and higher powers are trying to keep the public from valuable information. Now more than ever, libraries are safe havens, and we need the public's support and money more than ever before. So if that means making fools out of ourselves on TikTok or having running social media accounts be a mandatory part of the job description, I welcome that.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed your point about changing the public perception of libraries. We can all attest that they're super fun and about so much more than books and quiet study. In one of my other classes, LIS 518: Reference and Information Services, we talked in our discussions about why people are so nervous to approach librarians and have trouble asking for help. A lot of that comes from preconceived notions and stereotypes about libraries rather than actual experience, so anything we can do to banish those and create the most welcoming experiences possible is beneficial to everyone!
Hi Olivia, thanks for a great first blog post! I love the cultivation of funny, age-appropriate and relevant social media posts as a way of engaging and connecting children and teens into seeing libraries as a place of joy and creation, and community, which I believe is why so many of these posts go viral and are enjoyed by so many. I know that so many librarians do feel the difference in "temperature" to pre-covid days within their respective libraries, and I am hoping to read more on the possibilities of what "the work" looks like to re-engage community members back to these rooms created just for them. I think having options such as "chat/text a reference librarian" are so important for younger folks in removing the stigma of having to ask outloud to someone, for the developmental stages where shame is so inherently difficult an emotion to feel, let alone withstand, that more libraries should use such features, and, as Madeline noted in her comment above, that "welcoming experiences is beneficial to everyone." Thanks for the great share!
ReplyDeleteHi Olivia,
ReplyDeleteThanks for an awesome blog post! I love seeing librarians be silly on social media, in my opinion it makes us more endearing to patrons. I think it's easy for us to think of ourselves as fun and relaxed, but to someone not familiar with libraries, or if they had a bad experience with libraries prior, they won't think of us as that. Posting on IG or TikTok allows us to reach more people and hopefully shed that preconceived notion!