Circulation

Note: This is the second (part a) question of a 15-part questionnaire I sent out to over 90 libraries with Twitter accounts. 65 libraries responded. I used this information for a web 2.0 article for my LIS5313 class at Florida State University. Once the article is finished, I will share it on the blog. In the meantime, I am sharing data collected of the responses for each question.

On the whole, of the 65 libraries that responded, a majority believe that Twitter has so much to offer their library: Twitter is easy, fun, free to use, is a great marketing and public relations tool, allows for collaboration amongst staff and community, provides opportunities for professional developing and networking, has strength in its brevity, and allows libraries to meet many of their patrons “where they’re at.”

Efficiency. Twitter is powerful in its ability to efficiently get the word out via a whole range of communications. The Library doesn’t have to memorize all their patrons’ contact information. Patrons that are interested can subscribe to the library’s Twitter feeds and get the information on the web or on their phone. Libraries can reach a massive amount of people in little time (and for free).

Twitter is easy to use, requires very little effort to reach multiple people at once, more immediacy than a blast email. We don’t have to remember to update Twitter, we just update the Calendar and the events are fed to Twitter; we update our blogs and those get sent to Twitter.”

Marketing/Public Relations. Twitter is an excellent way for libraries to grow their online presence and profile (or “brand”). Twitter gives libraries a chance to promote their content and it extends the Library’s audience by finding new users/patrons/readers. By using a third party application such as rss2Twitter or Twitterfeed, Libraries can drive traffic to their website or blog.

We reach a segment of our community using this communication tool. We keep up with the converstions going on locally and participate too. We use this too to advertise our events, blog entries and photos.

Brevity. Using 140 characters or less to write a post is a quick way to get the message out. It forces users to be brief and to the point, thus creating another way to communicate effectively. The short tweets are effective for concise messages and news items or links to longer messages and news items.

140 character posts is constraining but it’s ultimately a good thing. Keeps us focused.”

Instant Information & Active application. Twitter as an “always-on” micro publishing tool. Users can send and receive tweets in a variety of ways and third-party applications make it easy to quickly send out information from blogs, websites and other RSS feeds.

Twitter is a great way to inform lirary users and website visitors about up-to-the-minute goings on.”

Networking and Collaboration. Libraries can use Twitter to network with other Libraries, Librarians, bloggers and patrons. In doing this, they not only market their services, but they provide user-centered information. Furthermore, they create a community with the constant updates. Several librarians mentioned following others as they twittered at conferences – it was as if they were virtually attending.

It is a tool librarians can use to update each other on the newest programs or services.”

[It's an] equally great way to stay in the loop of what other libraries are doing.”

Customer Service. Twitter provides Libraries the opportunity to have another way to provide customer service, increase and open the lines of communication. Twitter can be used for patrons to provide information about what they really think about the library.

You can interact with people that are expecting you to talk to them. By people following our library on Twitter they are wiling and eager to listen to what the library has to say.

Cost. Although there is the cost of staff time, Twitter is free to use. Libraries can avoid using expensive software or hardware to communicate with their constituents. For patrons that have unlimited texting and for those that can access Twitter accounts through the internet, the cost is low for them as well.

…Ease of use and the fact it’s free – basically there’s no harm in trying. If you reach even one patron that wouldn’t otherwise have known about an event or something, it’s worth it.

Quick, Accessible and Easy to Use. Not only is it free, it is easy to sign up on the web and easy to use, whether one uses it on the web, via browser, email, instant messaging clients or the phone or through a third party application.

[Twitter] gives us a potential method to update portions of website without needing to know web skills.

Open API (application programming interface). Twitter publishes an API so applications are regularly being developed. These creative applications build upon Twitter, thus consistently improving its reach and type of service.

Twitter (with Twitterfeed) provides an easy, automated way for our library to provide our patrons with another “channel” to receive information abou tlibrary programs and service. no difficulties so far in using the service.

Forward-thinking. Several librarians note that using Twitter is positive in that it shows they are forward-thinking in using the technology.

It allows us to demonstrate a familiarity with web 2.0 applications, which I hope makes us look more relevant to younger patrons.