LIBR 246 Week 10

Identify a library using Flickr or Pinterest.  Provide a link and an overview on how they are using this software.  How could it be improved? What other things should they consider? Should they be a model for other libraries?  What are the top considerations libraries should have before using Pinterest or Flickr?

First of all, let me direct your attention to this, http://pinterest.com/awfullibbooks/.  This is a hilarious and clever idea for a Pinterest page for your library.  I know we have all been weeding and come across the most rediculous title.  Totally outdated books on etiquette, making friends, a how-to guide on living in your van!  While these are hilarious and likely to garner interest of a wide variety of people, it also lets library users know that their library is up to date and properly maintaining the integrity of the collection.  Food for thought!  That said, anytime a library starts social software page, they should keep in mind the message they want to convey to their followers.  All posts should be done with the library brand in mind, building a good reputation, and appropriate for the audience you have in mind.  For example, should I be posting pictures of a friends of the library gala to a Flickr account set up for teens...nope.  Should I pin info on Rowling’s new book on a tween page, definitely not.  Audience and purpose must be established with either of these social media sites.

The Denver Public Library is extremely skilled with their Flickr account.  I mentioned it before in my marketing critique...but I’m sure no one read the post with a fine tooth comb given its length!  So I’ll say it here, the Flickr account is used to create poetry out of book titles.  Books are stacked so that their spines face out and a poem of sorts is created!  So clever, easy for all to participate, encourages use of the library to find great titles for your poem, and may even a encourage a teen or two to pick up a book with an intriguing title!  I don’t love how Flickr is organized, personally, so I think it is up to the user to use excellent labeling to help with navigation of the site, DPL does a great job of this.  Each label draws me further into their Flickr account.  Denver could improve on their number of posts.  When a social media page is created, it must be committed to, and when posts are infrequent it looks like an afterthought.  I absolutely would model my Flickr page after that by DPL. I hope they add a Pinterest page as well because it would not consist only of the boring book recommendations, but include contests, videos, book related recipes, pictures, and more.   Flickr and Pinteres