Let's keep reflecting on social networking. What are the possible results of using FaceBook or another social network as a way to promote your church library? What can happen with your library team when you use the Church Librarians Network as a source of ideas, information and a training process?
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Pinterest can be fun; I've been on it for a coupe of years and am teaching 2 workshops on it this summer. It's primary demographic is middle age/older women into crafts, food, and home decor. It's a very niche audience. It's also popular with fashion and wedding planning.
It depends if your goal as a church library is to a) promote Christian literature in general [generating Repins and Likes from anyone on Pinterest, whether they belong to your church or not] or b) to encourage more patron activity in your own church [you probably won't get a whole lot of new church library members or check-outs from Pinterest].
Pinterest would be a fun tool for this type of group, any/all church librarians, to share new titles we're adding, as well as recommended reading lists, and reviews [although GoodReads is great for that too].
Middle age and older women? In my church, it's far more the younger women - in their 20's and 30's who use it. Yes, some in their 40's also but I would not classify the demographic as being middle age and older. So I guess between the two of us, that means it's being used by all ages!
I am only on Pinterest very rarely but have seen enough of it that I'm not sure it would be that big a help for church librarians. We have set up a facebook page for our library, which people in the church can join, and where we post information about what is happening in the library, new books, reviews. It doesn't get used a whole lot, but it has proved to be fairly useful in the half year or so that we've had it.
I'm new to the network, but I have been OFF of Facebook for about 60 days, and I don't know if I will go back. Now we have put a library page up on the church's website, but personally Facebook is vastly overrated. I did not usually get a response from anyone when I posted as Administrator about the library.
I've used Facebook professionally for about 6 years, and have taught Facebook classes for 4 years. I'd never recommend that a church library try to set up or manage their own Facebook page...there isn't a big enough audience for that. Church libraries can make FAR better use of Facebook by regularly providing their church with content that can go on the church's Facebook page: new titles, book reviews, book club info, etc.
Social media and social networking is a big part of my day job. I manage it for our academic library, integrate it into our web products, and regularly teach social media workshops. So, I definitely see value for church libraries.
My recommendations:
Don't set up a separate Facebook Page. Instead partner with your church's communications team to promote the library via the church's main Facebook Page.
Do set up a Facebook Group, something along the lines of "ABC Church Readers" instead of "library"; the title is more appealing and will encourage more church members to join.
Consider setting up a GoodReads account branded under your church library. GoodReads is all about books (print/ebooks/audiobooks) and is a great way to integrate visual bookjackets and lists on to your church library's web page, post and share book reviews, and curate lists of recommended picks for your congregration (i.e., Pastors Picks, New Believers, etc.).
Consider setting up a church library blog (go with free Blogger) to promote books reviews, new acquisitions, book donation wish lists, recommended reading lists, etc. BUT make sure you have a steady team of bloggers willing to commit to regular columns and posts -- othwerwise, go with GoodReads.
I will probably do a tutorial on GoodReads for our regional church library association's new website, and share it on the new Library Technologies group I just set up on this Ning network.
Blessings,
Colleen Greene, MLIS
President, Southern California Chapter ECLA
Library Assistant, Rose Drive Friends Church
Systems Librarian, Pollak Library - California State University Fullerton
Replies
I've also heard good things about using Pinterest to create themes and promote new items/events at the library.
Pinterest can be fun; I've been on it for a coupe of years and am teaching 2 workshops on it this summer. It's primary demographic is middle age/older women into crafts, food, and home decor. It's a very niche audience. It's also popular with fashion and wedding planning.
It depends if your goal as a church library is to a) promote Christian literature in general [generating Repins and Likes from anyone on Pinterest, whether they belong to your church or not] or b) to encourage more patron activity in your own church [you probably won't get a whole lot of new church library members or check-outs from Pinterest].
Pinterest would be a fun tool for this type of group, any/all church librarians, to share new titles we're adding, as well as recommended reading lists, and reviews [although GoodReads is great for that too].
Middle age and older women? In my church, it's far more the younger women - in their 20's and 30's who use it. Yes, some in their 40's also but I would not classify the demographic as being middle age and older. So I guess between the two of us, that means it's being used by all ages!
I am only on Pinterest very rarely but have seen enough of it that I'm not sure it would be that big a help for church librarians. We have set up a facebook page for our library, which people in the church can join, and where we post information about what is happening in the library, new books, reviews. It doesn't get used a whole lot, but it has proved to be fairly useful in the half year or so that we've had it.
Colleen, is Pinterest the name of the site? My Church has many older adults and middle age also, But I am not understanding what this site is for.
Elaine Feero
Library@MyrtleLake.org
Land O Lakes, FL
I'm new to the network, but I have been OFF of Facebook for about 60 days, and I don't know if I will go back. Now we have put a library page up on the church's website, but personally Facebook is vastly overrated. I did not usually get a response from anyone when I posted as Administrator about the library.
I've used Facebook professionally for about 6 years, and have taught Facebook classes for 4 years. I'd never recommend that a church library try to set up or manage their own Facebook page...there isn't a big enough audience for that. Church libraries can make FAR better use of Facebook by regularly providing their church with content that can go on the church's Facebook page: new titles, book reviews, book club info, etc.
Social media and social networking is a big part of my day job. I manage it for our academic library, integrate it into our web products, and regularly teach social media workshops. So, I definitely see value for church libraries.
My recommendations:
I will probably do a tutorial on GoodReads for our regional church library association's new website, and share it on the new Library Technologies group I just set up on this Ning network.
Blessings,
Colleen Greene, MLIS
President, Southern California Chapter ECLA
Library Assistant, Rose Drive Friends Church
Systems Librarian, Pollak Library - California State University Fullerton
www.colleengreene.com | @colleengreene