Libraries exist in multiple places these days – not just through their websites, but in social media as well. What are the most common mistakes libraries make online? How can you make your library stand out without violating online community standards? Learn to re-think how your library presents itself to the world online.

1. Laura Solomon, Library Services Manager, OPLIN
Laura Solomon, MCIW, MLS
Library Services Manager
Ohio Public Library Information
Network

2. Agenda
1. Comfort zones and egos
2. Hype is not your friend
3. Getting over yourself in social media
4. Why your library’s website is an ego trap
5. The Two-Minute Offense
6. What does this mean to me, Laura?

3. 1. Comfort Zones
&
Egos

7. Which ego is holding up progress?
• Library
• Director
• Department head
• Board member
• The Terrible,
Territorial Librarian

8. EGO > PATRON = LOSS

9. CONSIDER:

10. Who is it REALLY for?
• Full list of board of trustees on homepage
• Mission statement on homepage
• Facebook and/or Twitter account that only posts
program and event announcements
• Social media accounts that only friend/follow
other libraries or librarians
• Links to the staff intranet on the library’s website
• Online content arranged specifically for the
convenience of the library staff

11. PATRON

12. 2. Hype is not your
friend.

13. https://secure.flickr.com/photos/laughingsquid/2421915297/

16. OK, so you’re going to jump on
Pinterest anyway…
• What’s the business case for using it?
• What’s the plan? What will your
library specifically get out of it?
• What will your library do that is unique
and unlike what anyone else is
doing?
• Are you already doing a fabulous job
with all of your other SM outlets?

17. http://www.slideshare.net/augustinefou/the-pinterest-myth-by-augustine-fou-and-tugce-esener/?S=clickz

21. Ask:
• What?
• Why?
• Audience?
• Time?
• Success?

22. Get analytical or expect to fail.

23. 3. Getting over
yourself in social
media.

27. BUSY

29. Nobody likes this guy

30. This isn’t acceptable any more

32. Social
media is…
…a two-way
conversation..

33. Just tools

34. The library SUCKS!!!!

35. NOT an effective coping strategy

36. Bad apples aren’t the whole barrel

37. People who ignore the library are more dangerous

38. 4. Why your library’s
website is an ego
trap.

39. Re-thinking the website

40. [[SQUEAK]]

41. Not a good reason, either

42. Actual reasons to redesign
• LOTS of patron complaints
• The content has outgrown the original
architecture
• Nobody can find the important stuff
• It’s missing important functionality
• The design causes more problems than it
solves

43. 5. The 2-Minute
Offense

47. THENwhat?

48. Who’s it
REALLY
for?

49. What’s the
PAYOFF?

50. http://www.twitter.com/laurasolomon
http://www.facebook.com/laurasolomon
http://www.linkedin.com/in/laurasolomon
laura@designforthelittleguy.com
http://www.meanlaura.com
http://www.slideshare.net/laurasolomon
Thank you!
Stalk me here