Library Social Media Accounts
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Hello. In light of the ongoing revelations about the negative effects of social media (and the lack of meaningful regulation to curb it), we are considering dropping our library’s Facebook account. Have any of you responded similarly, and if so, how are your decisions aligned with those of your institution’s social media policies? Also, has TCLC considered this? Please email me directly if you have experience or insights you would like to share.
Thank you! Carol Traveny
carol.traveny@brynathyn.eduHi Carol,
The Holy Spirit Library has an inactive Facebook account, but we recently started an Instagram account. Our staff has been hesitant about using social media because of the difficulties of aligning our account posts with the institution’s policies. The social media team employed for the larger institution may want to manage the account themselves as a precaution (public relations purposes, maybe?). Luckily, a student who happens to be a library assistant at HSL is taking a social media course and has created an Instagram account for us as part of his class assignment. We haven’t discussed his efforts with the University’s social media department, but I suspect we must communicate with them in the future. What are the benefits (and goals) of having a social media account for a University library? We began posting a “Book of the Week,” and one event we had in October. Also, what would attract University students to subscribe or follow a library’s page or account? If you do not mind, please share some of the “ongoing revelations about the negative effects of social media.”
Thanks,
ChrisHi Chris.
Sorry for taking so long to respond! I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving.Our library has had both a Facebook and Instagram account at least since 2015. We recognize that FB is mainly used by community members (rather than students); our Instagram account is popular. We use it to update schedules, promote activities and events in the library, and generally spread goodwill. (Bryn Athyn College also has social media accounts, particularly the Athletic Department and Admissions.)
However, my original question relates to the reports released over the last several months about social media companies (in particular Facebook and Instagram) that knowingly continued operations as usual, despite evidence that those practices exacerbated the spread of misinformation, and was actually harmful. Here’s a link to summarize: https://www.npr.org/2021/10/25/1049015366/the-facebook-papers-what-you-need-to-know
In any case, we have been discussing whether it is morally right for our Library to continue to support Facebook and Instagram through the use of our accounts. At this point, Bryn Athyn College does not have a policy regarding this, though conversations here generally indicate that participation in social media is a necessary evil, needed for outreach, and that the College monitors content on its sites. The issue reminds me of stances taken by institutions (including colleges and universities) to divest assets tied to South Africa during apartheid (1970s-80s).
I was just wondering if other institutions have social media policies that address this.
Thanks!
CarolHi Carol,
Our institution has not made any mention of social media outlets’ effects on society and what type of information they provide to its users. I would be interested to know what your library and/or institution decide. If your institution does not have a policy regarding this, will your library develop one, should your staff be in consensus to take such a stand?
Could this be similar to the claim that Joe Rogan spreads misinformation on his Spotify podcast? Some people say that his show should be canceled. Others say, don’t subscribe to his podcast or Spotify. Our University or library has no policy on the use of social media, but I think we use the social media platform ethically so that we are not part of the problem. Is the movement to “divest assets” associated with social media platforms trending? I know there were/are movements like that in the political arena, specifically tied to where consumers spend their money (hospitality, travel, food, and retail industries). I’d like to know which one best serves the “greater good” of your library.
Coming late to the conversation … one of the aspects to consider with this sort of question is a) whether the existing social media accounts are being actively maintained; if not, then a dead account is probably worse publicity for the library than no account at all. b) If it is being actively maintained, how much staff time is spent doing that? How much patron “engagement” is that producing?
Honestly, given how social media sites gain and lose popularity, my personal preference is to keep everything in-house, as it were, and perhaps run a blog on the library or school’s website, but beware putting too much time and resources into any 3rd-party platforms.
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