Social Media in the Library

1.       In this age of social media obsession, it only makes sense for library media specialists to use social media to promote their library media program. There is definitely a place for social media in the media center. It’s important for library media specialists to promote their program continuously; to students, teachers, and the community. That ensures that their patrons remain informed about the happenings at the media center. That, in turn, would do a lot to increase book circulation and media center usage.
   

    

        I know that many school districts do not allow access to social networking sites, but that should not stop a library media specialist from using social networking. The media center patrons will still benefit from media center social networking. I visited with a media specialist that has a Twitter and Facebook account for her media center. She includes pictures of what is going on in the media center, links to book reviews on her blog, shares recommended books, keeps students abreast of current contests going on at the media center, informs patrons of new books that have just arrived, and more. She has students that ask for book recommendations via social networking, and share reviews of books. So, it’s a great way to involve students and promote reading.

    

        The way the aforementioned media specialist used social media to promote her media center is great. Social media should be used to promote the library program, and keep patrons informed of its services and offerings. Social media provides a great way to increase reading motivation by:

        • Allowing the media specialist and students to discuss books and increase motivation for other students to read the book.

        • Informing students of the variety of books that the media center offers.

    

        Social media is an asset to a media center that can motivate students to read and keep patrons informed of the media center’s happenings.