In the age of technology a school librarian has many choices of how they will communicate with their patrons. Some of the most quick and current ways to communicate are using social media applications. There are several popular and readily available social media applications like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Choosing the application which best suits your needs is very important.
Facebook
Facebook is how Bette Perot Elementary School's Library promotes live announcements done by students. They also used Facebook to promote their Scholastic Book Fair, Reading Bingo Blackout Program, and the Kids' Mobile through KISD. Irma Mash Middle School Library shared pictures of 6th grade ELA students looking at student products from recent lessons, pictures of students who started a speed cube club, and a link to CommonLit.org to search for readings and activities related to snow. Roan Forest Elementary School Library used to remind students to return their books at the end of the school year and patrons of NEISD can combine their Sora account to San Antonio Public Library's Sora Collection. The ease of posting and following people or groups on Facebook seem pretty easy to navigate. The content can seem stale on your feed if no one posts any new content or you do not follow other people or groups. To be perfectly fair, I have used Facebook long enough to navigate easily. It is easy to end up in a worm hole and pull your way out later, but the feed can seem stale and repetitive.
Following feeds of The American Library Association, American Association of School Librarians, Colby Sharp, and Paul W. Hankins on Twitter provides a current and insightful look into librarianship. ALA_booklist proveds a book review of the day , while Paul W. Hankins posted a book inspired by a teacher and crayons in a less formal style. Library Love Fest offers a look at staff suggestions for a August Library reads list. Twitter provides an ability to follow many groups or people, as well as continue to provide current posts even with suggested feeds to follow. You can find information on the person or group you've followed, as well as click on other links which have been tagged . Twitter provides a quick and easy way to locate who you'd like to follow, seeing the most current posts, and it has a lively and eye catching format.
Follow my professional Twitter at @SummerLibrarian.
Instagram is another social network librarians may use to communicate with their patrons. The ease of using a hashtag can send posts to those people and groups you may tag. It also allows quick videos and pictures. As a librarian you can update your information and make it available to patrons immediately. Librarians and teachers can also use Instragram to share art work, projects, and pictures of student activities with parents. There are a variety of projects students can create and share which allows some autonomy. As with any other social network it easy to be overcome with content and get sent away on long "field trips" when clicking on users links and other offered content.
Follow my professional Instagram at brandi.mayhall.
Overall, I'd say it is valuable for a school librarian to have a social network platform (or more than one) to communicate and share with parents. Parents and patrons can sign up for notifications anytime they'd wish. The other great aspect of using a social network to promote a school library is that everything is archived and patrons and the librarian can go back into and check information whenever they'd like. Some advice to librarians when setting up a socail media account for their school library is to ensure to use the program regulary and keep it relevant to reading and all of the students.
