Kelly Dallen's article "How Your Library May Not Be Using Twitter But Should" describes very effectively how libraries can utilize this tool to their advantage. The first benefit is that it is absolutely cost-free and while there is a time investment required, with enough training and practice it could eventually take an experienced "tweeter" very little time to send out a tweet. Twitter can be used to promote events and programming in the library. It is also a good way to promote materials in the library, such as new releases, DVDs, etc.
Libraries can get creative and use their Twitter accounts to send tweets with a little humor, provide links to fun and informative articles, videos, and current events. Libraries are becoming less about providing merely books and more about providing information, and Twitter enables the librarian to do just that. Not only does it require librarians to stay on top of current technologies, it can also be used as a reference and customer service tool. Twitter provides two-way communication, some of which can happen in nearly real time. The patron who asks a question or provides feedback via Twitter can be replied to in a speedy way.
Lastly, Twitter can cultivate connections and relationships amongst fellow librarians, who can follow each other and network, collaborate, and have discussions remotely from different locations. My personal view on Twitter has completely changed after learning about it this week. I had previously thought "what's the point?" and now feel it is a social tool that can be of value to libraries that choose to explore it.
Dallen, K. (2009). How your library may not be using Twitter but should. Retrieved March 1, 2011 from http://www.kellyd.com/2009/07/29/how-your-library-may-not-be-using-twitter-but-should/
I had a similar change of heart towards Twitter, Dave. Although I have by no means been completely won over by Twitter I now see that it can serve a much more useful function than I previously thought. I think the fact that we had to begin following some already established members of the field really helped get that point across to me.
ReplyDeleteThough I think the hardest part for me in my introduction to Twitter was working with the 140-character limit I have also grown to appreciate the brevity of it all. I think that this point will be its greatest selling point in terms of Twitter in libraries. Patrons are much more likely to read & absorb information that does not take up much of their time & effort.
--Elizabeth