2012 Best Practices for Government Libraries

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BEST PRACTICES 2012
YOU. Engagement works best when the community feels like they are interacting with a
real person. Please note, however, being candid on your library channels does not mean
getting too personal or sharing too much about yourself as the channel manager/owner.
In other words, stick to your content plan and try not to stray into areas outside your
library’s mission (as tempting as it may be!).
6. Counted: If you’re going to take the time to do Cs one through five, you also should
define, and then measure, your metrics of success. Are you tracking how many Twitter
followers the library has? How many Facebook likes? Blog visits and comments? Podcast
downloads? While the metrics themselves will vary depending on your respective content
plan, channels and targeted communities, the importance of measurement applies to all.
7. Commitment: The seventh and last “C” sometimes proves to be the hardest step. You
start your social media program with the best of intentions and then other responsibilities
take precedent for a while. Suddenly, you have less and less time to tend to your
channels. I’m sure this sounds familiar to some readers out there. Make this your mantra:
“If I start a social media program, then I will make the time to maintain it on a long-term
basis—for as long as my users want it.” Better to wait until the time is right to start a
channel than have it turn into a dreaded “ghost town” (picture virtual tumbleweeds).
So there you have it; my seven Cs of social media. I hope my tips help you better utilize
social media as you advance your institution’s mission and support your users. Did I miss
anything? Do you have other questions? How about “Cs” of your own to share? E-mail
libraryconnect@elsevier.com if you would like to continue the conversation.
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