Twitter as a Microblogging Tool for Librarians
Using the Tweetosphere For Communication Channels
Jun 29, 2009
A microblogging technology, Twitter, lets users to send instant messages and to social network through short messages (postings are limited to 140 characters). An increasingly popular social networking tool, Twitter has been a powerful communication channel, of which the recent crackdown on Iranian demonstrations and social unrest has been very much reliant on.
Twittering Versus Blogging
As a result, the power of Twitter cannot be denied, as it differs from the conventional blogopshere. While Twittosphere allows users to what other Twitter feeds other fellow Twitterers are monitoring, the conventional blogosphere is somewhat limited in this regards (notwithstanding blogrolls, which not all blogs employ).
How Can Twittering Be Useful For Librarians?
Yet the question remains as to how this technology to librarians and information professionals. While its popularity initially originated from those who are particularly tech savvy and who may not reflect the average Web user, Twitter is increasingly used in personal, business, educational, and political domains. Many libraries are increasingly adopting Twitter as a means to not only keep up with the cutting edge of innovative technologies, but also to outreach to patrons and inform them of library services.
Strategic Microblogging in the Tweetosphere
As a result, libraries must strategically enhance their use of technologies, not as a tool to keep up to date with their patrons, but ultimately as a way to enhance their existing services and remain relevant in the twenty-first century use of mobile technology. Here are some ideas for how librarians should use Twitter to make it worthwhile and improve their professional duties:
- Staying in touch with personal friends and library colleagues
- Using private messages – sending in personal questions you may not want others to read
- Keeping up-to-date with emerging tools
- News updates – Most news organizations (such as CNN and BBC) have Twitter feeds
- Following the thought processes of emerging tech trend thinkers, allowing for a collective brain current awareness” database that one could tap at any time
- Check out a potential colleague’s twitter feed to see if you’d personally like them or not
- Personal note pad – One can send random thoughts so that he can check in the future, as all Tweets are stored in the account’s history
- Get information on conferences - librarians have Twitter feeds that will allow you to keep up with registration deadlines, speakers and accommodations without having to visit the site itself all the time
- Create a dialogue with library users and patrons – Develop a question-and-answer service with your audience
- Learn more about colleagues - Twitter allows more insight into the thoughts and experiences of colleagues
- Announce library programs - Launching a new children’s reading program or having a book sale? Let the community know about it through your Twitter feed
- Send alerts about requested materials - As more and more people are using mobile technologies and prefer to have messaging to their Twitter accounts, libraries could offer ppatrons who have a Twitter account could opt to receive notices that their materials have arrived at the library via Twitter rather than on the phone or in the mail
As Twitter becomes more popular with web users, its features and usefulness will only develop as well. As a result, librarians cannot disregard Twitter’s potential contributions to the profession, very much like email has over the past decade.
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