I'm not a big fan of sending-an-answer-email-to-the-entire-listserv, but this one might be of help to a few people?

First and foremost, facebook & myspace are marketing vehicles. Treat them like you treat flyers. You can't just make a flyer, hand it out to a few kids who come in your library and expect people to show up to your programs. Same goes for all these social networking sites. Just because you have a myspace profile doesn't mean you are going to have huge attendance at programs, etc.

Figured I would answer these in the order you asked...

1) Which site does your library use? Is it dependent upon which sites your YAs use? Does your library have a blog?

I set a blog up on our library server in conjunction with the state library (blog.bellepl.org) and we are on youtube, myspace, flickr, etc etc etc. We are only active on myspace and facebook.

Unfortunately, on facebook, you can't "set up a profile" per se...you can make a personal account (you don't even need to use your real name, just say "Summit Librarian") and from there you can add friends.

I'll tell you exactly how I use it, and it seems I use it the same way as Kim Paone.

We'll have a program at the library. Beforehand, I'll set up a "facebook event". I'll use the facebook event to invite anyone who I feel would be interested in my friend list. Here's an event I just made a few hours ago: http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=43261796984

Then I hop over to myspace, post a quick bulletin saying "Hey, we are having this event at the library! Here's when and where we are having it and you can click this link to RSVP to the facebook event!" (i post up the facebook event link)

I'll update my status saying when our event is. You can check my status right at the top ----> myspace.com/bellepl

Then I hope that some people show up. My attendance is usually directly related to how good of a job I did promoting the event, which includes word-of-mouth, flyers, press releases, myspace, facebook, and remindingpeople_!

2) How did you advertise your site?

Two ways that I got our initial advertising out is by word-of-mouth and having some of my (trust-worthy) teens add friends. Additionally, if you've been at your library for a few years, you should know many people in town...just find one of them on myspace, look through their friend list, and add everybody who you know.

Our library has 160+friends and I share the account with our YA Librarian and 2 teen staff members. One thing we do differently than most other myspace libraries is that we DON'T add Author Myspaces or other Library Myspaces...it feels more like a closed&relevant community that way, and we avoid all the author spam that they fill your comment box with.

3) How well does it work for promoting your programs?

I guess I answered this before. It is a marketing tool just like a flyer. If it fails or succeeds will depend on how relevant it is to your users and how good of a job you did getting the word out, just like a flyer.

4) Have you promoted other library online services, such as the library\x92s website, databases, or NextReads newsletters in the links on your page?

No, but that's a great idea that I'm sure would work if you found a way to do it that won't turn teens off, just like a flyer.

Everyone, feel free to email me off-list if you wanna chat, and you can add my library's myspace (myspace.com/bellepl) or my personal facebook (facebook.com/people/Librarian_JP_/1065621929) if you wanna check out how we do it.

jp

-- John Patrick J. Porcaro Head of Youth Department

Belleville Public Library & Information Center 221 Washington Avenue Belleville NJ, 07109

blog.bellepl.org bellepl.org/croom myspace.com/bellepl youtube.com/libraryplayers

973.450.3434

---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Ann Marie Aymer ...@summitlibrary.org">aaymer@summitlibrary.org Reply-To: "NJYAC" ...@njstatelib.org">njyac@njstatelib.org Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:58:47 -0400

>

Please excuse any cross postings.

I have introduced the idea of creating a facebook profile for the young adult section at my library, but need to come up with figures and examples from other libraries. SO...I have a few questions for the collective brains.

1). Which site does your library use? Is it dependent upon which sites your YAs use? Does your library have a blog?

2). How did you advertise your site?

3). How well does it work for promoting your programs?

4). Have you promoted other library online services, such as the library\x92s website, databases, or NextReads newsletters in the links on your page?

Any information would be helpful, and if you could, please send the information directly to me, at aay...@summitlibrary.org...@summitlibrary.org">aaymer@summitlibrary.org

Thanks in advance.

Ann-Marie M. Aymer Reference/Young Adult Librarian Summit Free Public Library Summit NJ 07901 (908) 273-0350 aay...@summitlibrary.org

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