What are some of the challenges in starting an online community?
Starting an online community is a wonderful idea, but there are some challenges in place. There needs to be a central goal between all the community members. If some want to focus on one topic and others another then the cohesion of the community is compromised. When the community has and maintains a similar goal, there is potential to grow.
Something that is important but possibly challenging is creating a community where members not only pay attention to the happenings on the site, but also contribute. If only a few people are contributing to the online community, there is not much of a community to build. The purpose of these is to create a place where people feel heard. There needs to be participation from different people with insights and thought about different things. Wikis in public libraries can be very useful to get information to and from many different branches. This is not how it works many time though. From my experience, the administrators or other designated people edit the wiki and the rest of the staff simply read it. This defeats the purpose of an online community.
Starting something is always difficult because people resist change. Many may say that it does not make sense to have an online community when there is a personal community already established. Getting people to "buy in" to the process could be challenging. Once they are in, the community could easily thrive.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
Week 8 Blog
What do you see as the best applications of twitter in libraries and why?
Twitter is a powerful tool in academic and public libraries. School libraries may find this useful at the secondary levels as well but for elementary, there are better alternatives.
In an academic library, the students could easily find out what resources are available in the library. There are many different uses for the library in an academic setting and often many meetings are held there. This would be an easy way for the campus to keep news of the library current. Many college students are tweeting in their everyday lives. They are spreading news like wildfire and following the news of many different organizations. Twitter has taken this generation by storm and what better way to reach them than in a medium they already use.
In public libraries this tool is useful for its wide spread ability. Many programs can be spoken about and people can be tagged in the tweets. The library could advertise events that promote literacy but are not in the library as well. The community could be reached easier and many more people could see the library as important.
Twitter is quick, simple and ever changing. The library strives to change with the times and this is one way to do this. I think one of the best ways to reach people when they move so quickly is though their social networks. Twitter gives the ability to send messages without many navigational steps. Libraries need to utilize this depending on the community they are in.
Twitter is a powerful tool in academic and public libraries. School libraries may find this useful at the secondary levels as well but for elementary, there are better alternatives.
In an academic library, the students could easily find out what resources are available in the library. There are many different uses for the library in an academic setting and often many meetings are held there. This would be an easy way for the campus to keep news of the library current. Many college students are tweeting in their everyday lives. They are spreading news like wildfire and following the news of many different organizations. Twitter has taken this generation by storm and what better way to reach them than in a medium they already use.
In public libraries this tool is useful for its wide spread ability. Many programs can be spoken about and people can be tagged in the tweets. The library could advertise events that promote literacy but are not in the library as well. The community could be reached easier and many more people could see the library as important.
Twitter is quick, simple and ever changing. The library strives to change with the times and this is one way to do this. I think one of the best ways to reach people when they move so quickly is though their social networks. Twitter gives the ability to send messages without many navigational steps. Libraries need to utilize this depending on the community they are in.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Marketing Critique- Spokane County Library District
www.scld.org
The Spokane County Library District
The Spokane County Library District uses a few different resources to improve its online presence. The district has spent time trying to understand which social networking sites are more useful than others as well as which applications it should be offering. The district now has a Twitter, and Facebook account. It also encourages Goodreads and Library Thing to its patrons. There are a few mobile applications The Spokane County Library District offers to its patrons as well for ease of access.
Marketing through online forums is very important in today's society because people are connected at all times to their online networks. The Spokane County Library District (SCLD) utilizes Facebook and Twitter to market the programs and events going on in the library. Links to these accounts can be found on www.scld.org. Currently, there are 1,348 likes on Facebook for SCLD and 172 followers on Twitter. This shows the library how many of its customers are paying attention to library news.
The Facebook page for SCLD is relatively simple to navigate. News is posted often about new services and materials. There are photographs of the staff interacting with the public as well as of the various programs. Because SCLD is comprised of 10 branches, there are pictures from each branch giving a sense of community to the greater Spokane area. One marketing technique that is useful on Facebook is the events tab. The library can place all the events and programs in one place. This saves the patron from needing to look many places to find when they want to be at the library. In the events tab, the branch location of the program as well as the subject and time are listed. This is a smart way to market programs because of the ease in which it can be used.
Twitter is the other main place SCLD uses to spread information about itself to patrons. The library district uses this site for news. Events are tweeted about on the day they are happening so patrons know what is going on at any moment. Most of the tweets are one to two sentences in length. This is a smart marketing technique because many people do not have time to be reading a paragraph for all the organizations they follow on Twitter. The district utilizes the features of Twitter to infiltrate the fast paced nature of our society.
While Facebook focuses more on what the library is doing and the materials in it, Twitter focuses on events such as interviews with authors and community forums. Two different audiences are targeted with these two sites which is smart in some respects, but a downfall in others. As time goes on, more and more teens are tweeting. Twitter may have more followers if the content was focused to the groups who use the site more. If the library tweeted on teen programs as well as adult ones, the teen group may follow more closely. This would widen the online reach the library has.
The library district encourages patrons to be part of Goodreads and Library Thing, but its presence on the sites are limited. If hired as the social media consultant, I would encourage the district to place links in their catalog to Goodreads and Library Thing. This would give the parton the option of saving the title for a later time on these sites. This would link the patron to the list of books they want to read at any time. There are many times when people cannot remember which books in the series they have read. This would help because a link to their book lists would be accessed from the library catalog.
Beyond social networking sites, The Spokane County Library District uses five mobile applications to create easy access for their patrons. This amplifies the online presence of the library because people are on their mobile applications often. These applications do not help the library in marketing directly, but they create an environment where the patron feels their needs are met, which indirectly markets the library.
The brand created by The Spokane County Library District is consistent, clear and simple. It is just starting to expand to become a big presence in the community. Because the brand is still small and expanding, there are room for improvements. I would suggest that the library start a blog to market new materials. This would give patrons a place to easily see new materials as well as reviews of classics. They could comment and feel part of the blogging community created. This could boost the use of the library by showcasing the ever growing and changing collection. This would be a more personal way to reach out to the public, but I believe it would be well received.
Overall, The Spokane County Library District has worked its way into the online world. Each day it is expanding and attempting to give patrons a new way to connect with their library. The library is a place for knowledge and sharing. Most of this sharing happens on the web these days. The Spokane County Library District is well on its way to making a difference with the community because its online presence is all based on sharing current knowledge and learning more.
Marketing through online forums is very important in today's society because people are connected at all times to their online networks. The Spokane County Library District (SCLD) utilizes Facebook and Twitter to market the programs and events going on in the library. Links to these accounts can be found on www.scld.org. Currently, there are 1,348 likes on Facebook for SCLD and 172 followers on Twitter. This shows the library how many of its customers are paying attention to library news.
The Facebook page for SCLD is relatively simple to navigate. News is posted often about new services and materials. There are photographs of the staff interacting with the public as well as of the various programs. Because SCLD is comprised of 10 branches, there are pictures from each branch giving a sense of community to the greater Spokane area. One marketing technique that is useful on Facebook is the events tab. The library can place all the events and programs in one place. This saves the patron from needing to look many places to find when they want to be at the library. In the events tab, the branch location of the program as well as the subject and time are listed. This is a smart way to market programs because of the ease in which it can be used.
Twitter is the other main place SCLD uses to spread information about itself to patrons. The library district uses this site for news. Events are tweeted about on the day they are happening so patrons know what is going on at any moment. Most of the tweets are one to two sentences in length. This is a smart marketing technique because many people do not have time to be reading a paragraph for all the organizations they follow on Twitter. The district utilizes the features of Twitter to infiltrate the fast paced nature of our society.
While Facebook focuses more on what the library is doing and the materials in it, Twitter focuses on events such as interviews with authors and community forums. Two different audiences are targeted with these two sites which is smart in some respects, but a downfall in others. As time goes on, more and more teens are tweeting. Twitter may have more followers if the content was focused to the groups who use the site more. If the library tweeted on teen programs as well as adult ones, the teen group may follow more closely. This would widen the online reach the library has.
The library district encourages patrons to be part of Goodreads and Library Thing, but its presence on the sites are limited. If hired as the social media consultant, I would encourage the district to place links in their catalog to Goodreads and Library Thing. This would give the parton the option of saving the title for a later time on these sites. This would link the patron to the list of books they want to read at any time. There are many times when people cannot remember which books in the series they have read. This would help because a link to their book lists would be accessed from the library catalog.
Beyond social networking sites, The Spokane County Library District uses five mobile applications to create easy access for their patrons. This amplifies the online presence of the library because people are on their mobile applications often. These applications do not help the library in marketing directly, but they create an environment where the patron feels their needs are met, which indirectly markets the library.
The brand created by The Spokane County Library District is consistent, clear and simple. It is just starting to expand to become a big presence in the community. Because the brand is still small and expanding, there are room for improvements. I would suggest that the library start a blog to market new materials. This would give patrons a place to easily see new materials as well as reviews of classics. They could comment and feel part of the blogging community created. This could boost the use of the library by showcasing the ever growing and changing collection. This would be a more personal way to reach out to the public, but I believe it would be well received.
Overall, The Spokane County Library District has worked its way into the online world. Each day it is expanding and attempting to give patrons a new way to connect with their library. The library is a place for knowledge and sharing. Most of this sharing happens on the web these days. The Spokane County Library District is well on its way to making a difference with the community because its online presence is all based on sharing current knowledge and learning more.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Week 7 Blog
Describe the impact you think organizational culture has on knowledge-sharing.
Organizational culture has a huge impact on knowledge sharing within the organization as well as sharing with the outside world. When the culture is welcoming and open, employees will have a better understanding about why things are done in an organization. They will also feel like they are part of something larger. Employees will feel as though their voice is heard and their opinions matter in a culture that is welcoming. Because of this, the organization has more potential to grow as a productive company. The staff will be happier and more inclined to want to come to work in a positive environment.
When the internal culture is negative, employees have a hard time expressing their opinions and concerns because they either are afraid to or they feel as though it will not matter. People may treat each other poorly and there may be a low sense of community among the staff.
If the culture is positive with the outside world, knowledge sharing is easy. Customers will feel informed and therefore willing to share more with the organization. When people trust an organization, they are willing to promote its services. When they love the atmosphere somewhere, they recommend the establishment which generates more business. Having a positive culture always benefits the organization.
Organizational culture has a huge impact on knowledge sharing within the organization as well as sharing with the outside world. When the culture is welcoming and open, employees will have a better understanding about why things are done in an organization. They will also feel like they are part of something larger. Employees will feel as though their voice is heard and their opinions matter in a culture that is welcoming. Because of this, the organization has more potential to grow as a productive company. The staff will be happier and more inclined to want to come to work in a positive environment.
When the internal culture is negative, employees have a hard time expressing their opinions and concerns because they either are afraid to or they feel as though it will not matter. People may treat each other poorly and there may be a low sense of community among the staff.
If the culture is positive with the outside world, knowledge sharing is easy. Customers will feel informed and therefore willing to share more with the organization. When people trust an organization, they are willing to promote its services. When they love the atmosphere somewhere, they recommend the establishment which generates more business. Having a positive culture always benefits the organization.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Week 6 Discussion
What 2.0 tools do you think are most effective in marketing lbirary services? Why?
I think that there are a few different tools that are useful for libraries to market themselves depending on the community they are in. By taking a poll of what the community uses, the library can get the attention of members of its community in the best possible way. Some communities might use Facebook more than any other web 2.0 tool. The library should then post programs, reviews, links, pictures and videos to this tool. They will be able to promote themselves to their target audience. If the community blogs, having a blog filled with interesting things for patrons to read, learn and explore would make the library and integral part of the society.
Twitter is very good for communities where people move though life quickly. There are quick tidbits of information on a feed constantly changing. In a community where the people are continuously on the go, they may only want small bits of information at any given time. This would be a great way for a library to keep themselves in the front of a person's mind.
Each community is different, therefore one tool will not be the best for all libraries.
I think that there are a few different tools that are useful for libraries to market themselves depending on the community they are in. By taking a poll of what the community uses, the library can get the attention of members of its community in the best possible way. Some communities might use Facebook more than any other web 2.0 tool. The library should then post programs, reviews, links, pictures and videos to this tool. They will be able to promote themselves to their target audience. If the community blogs, having a blog filled with interesting things for patrons to read, learn and explore would make the library and integral part of the society.
Twitter is very good for communities where people move though life quickly. There are quick tidbits of information on a feed constantly changing. In a community where the people are continuously on the go, they may only want small bits of information at any given time. This would be a great way for a library to keep themselves in the front of a person's mind.
Each community is different, therefore one tool will not be the best for all libraries.
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