Libraries-To Facebook or Not to Facebook?

   

Facebook main page:  http://www.facebook.com

      Facebook splashed into our lives in February of 2004 and nothing has been the same since.  We all remember MySpace and AOL instant messenger but neither of those made as big of an impact as Facebook has.  Facebook is a social media website that allows people to connect with friends and family.  Your brother, aunt, or second cousin half removed that all live hundreds of miles away are now at the ends of your fingertips.  Yes, we could always call them before or write a letter but Facebook has given us the ability to send a quick message in seconds.  Facebook gives us the ability to share our thoughts, feelings, pictures, videos, and life changing news to masses with the click of a button.  As Facebook continues to merge into our everyday social lives, we are beginning to see Facebook being used to conduct and promote business. This brings me to my question of the day, "Libraries- To Facebook or Not to Facebook?"

   I began my search for answers by browsing through a few public school library Facebook pages.  I wanted to see exactly what they were using Facebook for.  My first school was Avon Middle High School Library in Avon, Massachusetts.  As you scroll through their page you see numerous photos highlighting students around the school and in the library.  You also see posts that remind students of upcoming events and questions of the day.  They highlight authors and spotlight recommendations for new books.  For those that are tech savvy they post links to new apps that are educational.  They even give out homework tips.  This facebook page seemed very well put together and updated quite frequently.  By the number of likes on the posts and even comments it is evident that Avon Middle High School puts their Facebook page to good use. 

I then ventured into the Facebook page of Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park, Illinois.  There page was simple and honestly, did not impress me much.  It seems that the majority of their page was for posting the link to their on-line newsletter.  There were some photos and mentions of events happening around the community but the overall use of the Facebook page was very limited.  I wish I could meet the librarian and discuss what her initial goal of creating the page was.

The final page I browsed through was truly impressive.  The Thomas Downey High School Library in Modesto, California Facebook page is a fabulous example of how Facebook can enhance a library.  There are masses of photos from students to new books displays to the dust jackets on recommended books.  They have links to all kinds of apps, reminders of news not just from the library but the entire school, and links to articles about new book news.  What made me smile the most was seeing a post for the Dewey # of the week.  This post featured a Dewey Call number and what students could find under that number.  Students had commented on this post with a book they had read that came from that section.  This Facebook page is by far superior to the others.

With all of this being said and done Facebook can really bring an added advantage or benefit to a public school library.  Yes, there are logistics with creating a Facebook page for your library, Who is going to be responsible for keeping it updated? How will you handle students that don't use the page respectfully? but all in all those are issues that can be resolved with an organized plan. Facebook, simply put, is a direct and FREE (who doesn't like free!) way to connect and communicate with the school and outside community.  Facebook lets you be where your students are and isn't that one of the most important facets to reaching our youth of today?