Crawford’s Successful Social Networking in Public Libraries offers for the first time an in-depth look at how a large variety of public libraries are using social networks.

Most commentaries to date on library use of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter have focused on a handful of well-funded public libraries with high-profile employees. Now Crawford’s Successful Social Networking in Public Libraries fills in the rest of the picture, offering for the first time an in-depth look at how a large variety of public libraries are using social networks. Examining nearly 6,000 libraries across the US, CrawfordAnalyzes social network usage by libraries of many different sizes and funding levels, showing how many of them are active and effective in quite different waysOffers many examples that will help other libraries establish or refine their own social networking activitiesLays out several key questions that libraries should ask themselves, such as “Who do we want to reach?” and “What’s the best way to interact with communities?”Gives libraries guidelines for setting social networking goals and conducting ongoing evaluationIncludes illuminating comments from numerous librarians on the front lines of communicationBased on broad research, Crawford draws a vivid portrait that shows how a wide range of public libraries is conducting digital outreach and marketing through social networking.

Table of ContentsPrefaceChapter 1Social Networking in Public LibrariesChapter 2What Constitutes Success in Your Library?Chapter 3The Big Picture and the Smaller PictureChapter 4Facebook Success and StrategiesChapter 5Twitter and Two-Network Success and StrategiesChapter 6Finding the Libraries and Other Issues of the SurveyChapter 7State-by-State SnapshotsChapter 8The Changing Picture and Closing ThoughtsAppendix: Surveying the Libraries

Most commentaries to date on library use of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter have focused on a handful of well-funded public libraries with high-profile employees. Now Crawford’s Successful Social Networking in Public Libraries fills in the rest of the picture, offering for the first time an in-depth look at how a large variety of public libraries are using social networks. Examining nearly 6,000 libraries across the US, CrawfordAnalyzes social network usage by libraries of many different sizes and funding levels, showing how many of them are active and effective in quite different waysOffers many examples that will help other libraries establish or refine their own social networking activitiesLays out several key questions that libraries should ask themselves, such as “Who do we want to reach?” and “What’s the best way to interact with communities?”Gives libraries guidelines for setting social networking goals and conducting ongoing evaluationIncludes illuminating comments from numerous librarians on the front lines of communicationBased on broad research, Crawford draws a vivid portrait that shows how a wide range of public libraries is conducting digital outreach and marketing through social networking.