Virtual Communities Resource Center

Facebook is likely the most influential and easy to use social media website that libraries could use. With 500 million users, Facebook has one of the largest user bases of social media sites. Because of this, it is very probable that libraries will find their customer base already online and connected with Facebook, and therefor already ready to connect with their local library.

Facebook allows libraries to share many different forms of content as well - libraries can post text about upcoming events, links to upcoming programming events, as well as important information about service changes (computers being down, for example) or information about early closings or upcoming holidays.

Additionally, libraries can share outside information - links to news articles, educational videos, or any other online content that their patrons may be interested in. Like other social media sites, Facebook also gives room for those patrons to share those posts with their own communities, encouraging more growth for the libraries group as other people see shared posts.

My own account.

I've been using Facebook since 2007. It's been interesting to watch it grow and change, and - for the most part - I like the ways in which companies and groups are able to connect with their customers online.

I posted a question to my department's page - while it didn't receive any answers, it did get a few likes (although they were from fellow classmates, not alumni).

However, I have found other library-related groups on Facebook which are very useful. The ALA Think Tank is an excellent resource for librarians. I used it last semester to find someone to interview for a project, and found the community to be immensely helpful.

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