engleski

Do differences exist in the usage of social networks in public, university and school libraries?

Introduction Nowadays, we are surrounded by social networks. With rapid development of new technologies libraries as information institutions, have had to adapt to the emerging trend of social networking. As Facebook has come to dominate the social networking site arena, more libraries have created their own library pages on Facebook to create library awareness and to function as a marketing tool (Jacobson, 2011). Users are increasingly associated with social networks, and we can say that the future of libraries that do not use this form of communication with the public could be recognized as a library with outdated ways of doing business. Social networks such as Facebook allow libraries to be proactive in reaching their users. While some libraries have popular Facebook pages, it remains unclear what attracts users to these pages (Garcia-Milian, Norton, Tennant, 2012.). This research will show differences in usage of social networks between public, university and scientific libraries. The poster will present result of research, which would show what benefits social networks can bring to the libraries and how it affects the overall policy of it. Research will be conducted on City library Zadar, University library Zadar and School Library of tourist-catering school Zadar. Because all three libraries are intended for different kinds of user, research will show what are the differences that are imposed as a principal in the formation of different profiles of certain libraries. This study will present how is social networking affecting libraries today and will it have any impact on them in the future. The importance of social networks in libraries Today social networks present very important way of advertising. It is already widely known that libraries need to use social networks to reach out to their customers. Statistics of Social media usage shows that there are nearly 700 million active Facebook users, over 100 million LinkedIn members, 5 billion+ images on Flickr, 24 million pages on Wikipedia, 300 million Twitter users posting over 7, 000 tweets per second, over 2.9 billion hours of YouTube watching per month (Tortorella, 2012). From the above it is easy to conclude that every day more and more people are using applications on the internet. When we talk generally, libraries has been proven that librarians are using social networking sites as one means of sharing information and connecting with users from diverse groups. Usage statistics and other metrics compiled in 2011 for the library's Facebook page, representative library blogs, and the library YouTube channel were analyzed in an effort to understand how patrons use the library's social networking sites. Librarians also hoped to get a sense of these tools' effectiveness in reaching users at the point of need and engaging them in different ways. (Vucovich, Gordon, Mitchell, Ennis, 2013). Use of social networks for example in university library can be an effective method of student outreach in university libraries if libraries take care to respect student privacy and to provide equal coverage for all subject areas. (Dickson, Holley, 2010). Social networking is used to publicize library events such as gaming nights ; to alert users to additions to collections ; to provide links to articles, videos, or Web content that might prove relevant or helpful to patrons ; and to provide a conduit for community information. Social media also play an important role in fostering relationships with the community by allowing patrons to ask questions or provide feedback about library services. (MacManus, 2012) All in all library should recognize importance of social networks. Libraries in Croatia are at the beginning of development of communication via social networks between librarians and users. Our aim is present results of a study which will report about the usage of social networks in three different type of Croatian libraries: public, academic and school libraries in Zadar. Methodology First phase of our study will bring data which show what type of social network this three type of library use. This phase include interviews with library directors that will explain why they especially use this type of social network. In the second phase our study present the comparison of the use of social networks between these three Croatian libraries. Study will show the difference in the use of social networks with regard to the aims of an individual library. Third phase will show the differences and similarities in the use of social networks in libraries and offer some new ideas to make use of social networks in libraries more effective.

social networks, Zadar City Library, Zadar Science Library, Zadar University Library

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