David Lee King

social media | emerging trends | libraries

What can you do with a Facebook Page?

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My library has a Facebook Page, and I’ve been experimenting with it lately. I have loosely broken down what I’ve done into three sections – Basic Info, Facebook Functionality, and Social Stuff:

Basic Info:

  • photo of the library
  • basic library info, like our address, phone number, and hours of operation
  • shared our website’s URL

Facebook Functionality:

  • YouTube app – showing some recent YouTube videos
  • a couple fan photos of books
  • Facebook fans – 192 of em so far

Social Stuff:

  • RSS feeds – sending my website’s main RSS feed to the Facebook page via Simply RSS (doesn’t appear to be working today – drat)
  • Favorited other Topeka-area Facebook pages (local sports team, the performing arts center, a local church, etc.)
  • I make sure to thank people when they write something on our wall
  • I sent one “Update to Fans” broadcast message – no direct responses, but more people favorited us after the message went out
  • Started one discussion board topic – “What would you like to see here?” (no one has commented on it yet 🙂

I also asked my twitter friends for input – what were they doing with Facebook Pages, and what other innovative library Facebook Pages have they found. Here’s what they said:

  • bmljenny – we use the “Blog RSS Feed Reader” app to post our blog feed on our page. Seems to sync OK.
  • sharon370 – I like Purchase College Library’s space on fb – Bookshare, Events, RSS feed from lib blog, OCLC app
  • fabi_k – i like the fb page of the UoM graduate library: http://tinyurl.com/6bw87u – esp. the “ask us” and catalog search feature
  • debrouillard – student program and event advertising mostly
  • amylibrarian – I use facebook to promote the CiteMe application.
  • shelitwits – found it! do you send out event notices or just use the feed to include events? i think sending FB updates to fans helps a bit

Another person said this, via a Facebook message: “One thing I would like to see happen here, is spreading out control of the page. I wish we had someone from each department who would post events and contribute to updating fans. Like, if reference has a new database, they can send out a notice that way … or if reader’s service has a cool new recommendation they can do the same. I would like to see that happen w/ our Myspace page as well. We have WAY more friends on Myspace than FB. We have a bunch of feeds sent to FB, but that only works if our fans are coming to our page.”

Things I still need to add:

  • Library catalog search app (need to talk to my web developer about this)
  • Flickr app – so we can display our Flickr photos in Facebook

What other ideas do you have? Are you doing something cool in Facebook or on a Facebook Page that’s not listed here? Please share!

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Comments

  1. We’re doing similar things with Vancouver Public Library’s Facebook Page, and we have plans to try to drive more traffic to the page and to build community around the page. It would be great if, for example, we could move book club discussions to Facebook where we’d attract a completely different audience than the one that normally turns out for book talks.

  2. We’re doing similar things with Vancouver Public Library’s Facebook Page, and we have plans to try to drive more traffic to the page and to build community around the page. It would be great if, for example, we could move book club discussions to Facebook where we’d attract a completely different audience than the one that normally turns out for book talks.

  3. I’ve added “search worldcat” and “citeme” boxes to ours. Tied in our Flickr account, advertise we have free wifi and include links to some of our other services.

    I also experimented with a Group vs a Page for the library and went with Page.

  4. I’ve added “search worldcat” and “citeme” boxes to ours. Tied in our Flickr account, advertise we have free wifi and include links to some of our other services.

    I also experimented with a Group vs a Page for the library and went with Page.

  5. Due to Hurricane Ike (we’re in Harris County – Houston, TX), our website was down for several days. We’ve had both Facebook and MySpace pages for awhile now, but honestly haven’t done much with them.

    During the hurricane and it’s aftermath, we used both of these services – and set up a new Twitter account to keep our customers up-to-date. We did blog posts on MySpace, posted to the wall on Facebook – and sent updates, and learned to use Twitter. We included that we were using these services in all of our press releases and on our website updates. In so doing, we’ve gained a lot more friends, fans, and followers. We still have a long way to go, but it’s a start.

    We are just not working on how we’re going to continue using these services post-hurricane for both staff and customers.

  6. Due to Hurricane Ike (we’re in Harris County – Houston, TX), our website was down for several days. We’ve had both Facebook and MySpace pages for awhile now, but honestly haven’t done much with them.

    During the hurricane and it’s aftermath, we used both of these services – and set up a new Twitter account to keep our customers up-to-date. We did blog posts on MySpace, posted to the wall on Facebook – and sent updates, and learned to use Twitter. We included that we were using these services in all of our press releases and on our website updates. In so doing, we’ve gained a lot more friends, fans, and followers. We still have a long way to go, but it’s a start.

    We are just not working on how we’re going to continue using these services post-hurricane for both staff and customers.

  7. I’ve been using it to: promote select events; display (uploaded) photos and our flickr photos; provide handy links to our other web presences; give easy access to select bloglines feeds for users (the feeds collection need work); give visibility to our delicious bookmarked websites; promote new publications; give access to lectures (via a podcast app – newest addition, today in fact, a work in progress) and presentations (using Slideshare); to promote collections in a novel way (e.g. via integrating other apps – slideshare, myplaylist.biz). What I do try to do is keep it a living space, with changing content and updates. Nothing worse than a Facbook page with no sign of life, particularly for libraries. The ‘Fan’ base is increasing at a steady if not spectacular rate. Have a look! SEE http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dublin/Dublin-City-Public-Libraries/9761761153

    Some great ideas mentioned in your post and the follow up comments I have to say!
    Eddie

  8. I’ve been using it to: promote select events; display (uploaded) photos and our flickr photos; provide handy links to our other web presences; give easy access to select bloglines feeds for users (the feeds collection need work); give visibility to our delicious bookmarked websites; promote new publications; give access to lectures (via a podcast app – newest addition, today in fact, a work in progress) and presentations (using Slideshare); to promote collections in a novel way (e.g. via integrating other apps – slideshare, myplaylist.biz). What I do try to do is keep it a living space, with changing content and updates. Nothing worse than a Facbook page with no sign of life, particularly for libraries. The ‘Fan’ base is increasing at a steady if not spectacular rate. Have a look! SEE http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dublin/Dublin-City-Public-Libraries/9761761153

    Some great ideas mentioned in your post and the follow up comments I have to say!
    Eddie

  15. Thank you for your post. I’m a personal user of Facebook and I was hoping to get a page started for our library at Kirkwood Community College. I have been having problems, however, with applications not working with the “new Facebook”. Has anyone else had problems with Meebo Me and My HTML since Facebook changed? Are there alternative applications out there that will work that I just haven’t found?

  16. Thank you for your post. I’m a personal user of Facebook and I was hoping to get a page started for our library at Kirkwood Community College. I have been having problems, however, with applications not working with the “new Facebook”. Has anyone else had problems with Meebo Me and My HTML since Facebook changed? Are there alternative applications out there that will work that I just haven’t found?

  19. Manchester Libraries (UK) are on Facebook and our new favourite toy is issuu.com. It’s like Slideshare but for PDFs…but it’s much better than it sounds! Honest…and Ive added a couple to our pages here – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Manchester-United-Kingdom/Manchester-Library-Information-Service/1017471305

    At the moment our page also has a Flickr feed from our photos, a Delicious feed and our blog (manchester lit list) headlines. Like Eddie I try to get something new on most days. Tried the Meebo app but no-one used it. Got a few photo albums up too (librarian fashion thru the ages is my favourite). I dream of a catalogue search app!

    Can anyone recommend a good bookshare app for pages rather than profiles?
    Sue – Manchester Libraries

  20. Manchester Libraries (UK) are on Facebook and our new favourite toy is issuu.com. It’s like Slideshare but for PDFs…but it’s much better than it sounds! Honest…and Ive added a couple to our pages here – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Manchester-United-Kingdom/Manchester-Library-Information-Service/1017471305

    At the moment our page also has a Flickr feed from our photos, a Delicious feed and our blog (manchester lit list) headlines. Like Eddie I try to get something new on most days. Tried the Meebo app but no-one used it. Got a few photo albums up too (librarian fashion thru the ages is my favourite). I dream of a catalogue search app!

    Can anyone recommend a good bookshare app for pages rather than profiles?
    Sue – Manchester Libraries

  21. We’re raking in the fans over at (a href=”http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seattle-WA/Seattle-Public-Library-System/7511741338?ref=ts”>The Seattle Public Library Facebook page: 1,435 fans so far. Not doing too much with it, but the occassional notice goes out promoting this or that.

  22. We’re raking in the fans over at (a href=”http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seattle-WA/Seattle-Public-Library-System/7511741338?ref=ts”>The Seattle Public Library Facebook page: 1,435 fans so far. Not doing too much with it, but the occassional notice goes out promoting this or that.

  25. My favorite part of Wellesley College’s FB page is the list of subject guides I put in using the FBML application. We import our blog into the notes application, so we don’t have to fuss with any of the third-party applications. And today we got our first fan photo! We also use the WorldCat and CiteMe applications, as well as the JSTOR one, and have a search box for our catalog (which I need to update now that we’ve implemented III’s Encore.)

  26. My favorite part of Wellesley College’s FB page is the list of subject guides I put in using the FBML application. We import our blog into the notes application, so we don’t have to fuss with any of the third-party applications. And today we got our first fan photo! We also use the WorldCat and CiteMe applications, as well as the JSTOR one, and have a search box for our catalog (which I need to update now that we’ve implemented III’s Encore.)

  27. We jumped right in 11/07 so almost hitting one year but only just over 100 fans on the WPI Gordon Library page. We could promote the site more in classes perhaps and we need to get a better link/badge up on our library web site. We use for events, our mini-feed pulls from our RSS news that also posts to our web site. We add albums with photos from events in the library, new books, etc. We’ve added a few videos of students and staff. I noticed that a lot of my student friends change their profile photo a lot so I do this for our site every few weeks to keep it fresh and we have students who help us update/add events, etc. We plan to get more input from them on how to improve the page.

  28. We jumped right in 11/07 so almost hitting one year but only just over 100 fans on the WPI Gordon Library page. We could promote the site more in classes perhaps and we need to get a better link/badge up on our library web site. We use for events, our mini-feed pulls from our RSS news that also posts to our web site. We add albums with photos from events in the library, new books, etc. We’ve added a few videos of students and staff. I noticed that a lot of my student friends change their profile photo a lot so I do this for our site every few weeks to keep it fresh and we have students who help us update/add events, etc. We plan to get more input from them on how to improve the page.

  29. The other day I was looking at Facebook and it had various apps for the election. Things like keeping track of the length of lines in the polls, who had voted etc.

    It got me to thinking, although lord knows we’re busy enough, of a Facebook app that could be useful during crunch times like ones that would allow people to report how crowded a particular library was, what the lines were like, and the status of frequently used reserve materials. Instead of just trying to promote discussion, gather fans and create events wouldn’t it be nice to be able send request alerts and reserve alerts to your facebook account as well.

    Just pondering some things ;).

  30. The other day I was looking at Facebook and it had various apps for the election. Things like keeping track of the length of lines in the polls, who had voted etc.

    It got me to thinking, although lord knows we’re busy enough, of a Facebook app that could be useful during crunch times like ones that would allow people to report how crowded a particular library was, what the lines were like, and the status of frequently used reserve materials. Instead of just trying to promote discussion, gather fans and create events wouldn’t it be nice to be able send request alerts and reserve alerts to your facebook account as well.

    Just pondering some things ;).

  31. Jon – nice thoughts. Always a great idea – find out what your users want (in this case your Facebook users), then make facebook DO THAT for them.

    So… when are you going to start building it? 🙂

  32. Jon – nice thoughts. Always a great idea – find out what your users want (in this case your Facebook users), then make facebook DO THAT for them.

    So… when are you going to start building it? 🙂

  33. Let me put it this way. I would put it on my pile, but I can no longer reach it. In addition they tell me my plans to put another ladder on top of the one currently next to it violates OSHA codes.

    I’ll continue to daydream of a skunkworks forming here. (Already have a name, the LePews) I’ll tackle it then…

  34. Let me put it this way. I would put it on my pile, but I can no longer reach it. In addition they tell me my plans to put another ladder on top of the one currently next to it violates OSHA codes.

    I’ll continue to daydream of a skunkworks forming here. (Already have a name, the LePews) I’ll tackle it then…

  37. Pages are indeed great ways to attract and retain fans of your Company, Library, Non-profit, or Music group.

    You mentioned you need a Flickr app to display your photos. I developed the application “My Flickr” available at http://myflickrapp.com/facebookapp for users to display their Flickr photos on their Facebook Page or profile!

    -Kaleb

  38. Pages are indeed great ways to attract and retain fans of your Company, Library, Non-profit, or Music group.

    You mentioned you need a Flickr app to display your photos. I developed the application “My Flickr” available at http://myflickrapp.com/facebookapp for users to display their Flickr photos on their Facebook Page or profile!

    -Kaleb

  39. We set up a Facebook page last December for my library at the American University in Cairo, Egypt: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Cairo-Egypt/AUC-Main-Library/23630215857

    We have 473 fans at the latest count (just shy of 10% of our enrollment). I’d love to say it’s because of what we’re doing with the page, but the truth is that it has far more to do with how our students (mostly Egyptian, middle and upper middle class Cairenes) use Facebook. They’re excited to see anything local on Facebook, since so much of it is US-centric. American students just don’t seem as jazzed about library pages on Facebook.

  40. We set up a Facebook page last December for my library at the American University in Cairo, Egypt: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Cairo-Egypt/AUC-Main-Library/23630215857

    We have 473 fans at the latest count (just shy of 10% of our enrollment). I’d love to say it’s because of what we’re doing with the page, but the truth is that it has far more to do with how our students (mostly Egyptian, middle and upper middle class Cairenes) use Facebook. They’re excited to see anything local on Facebook, since so much of it is US-centric. American students just don’t seem as jazzed about library pages on Facebook.

  41. Facebook Pages proves that people want and need something where you can post information, pictures, and links to friends and other resources online. You know, someone should create something like that and call it something like…oh, I know: The World Wide Web.

  42. Facebook Pages proves that people want and need something where you can post information, pictures, and links to friends and other resources online. You know, someone should create something like that and call it something like…oh, I know: The World Wide Web.

  43. I think the facebook pages are just little products from facebook to sell advertising. But I just found this great plugin that let facebook users login to your blog and manage information like comments: http://www.sociable.es/

    I just make a facebook page for my blog. I just put there some good links for the community:http://www.facebook.com/pages/inerxia/37617095543

    The good thing is that every time a user become a fan, that appears in the feed of the profile of this user and the page start to get attention. Sorry for tha crap english and thanks for this post.

  44. I think the facebook pages are just little products from facebook to sell advertising. But I just found this great plugin that let facebook users login to your blog and manage information like comments: http://www.sociable.es/

    I just make a facebook page for my blog. I just put there some good links for the community:http://www.facebook.com/pages/inerxia/37617095543

    The good thing is that every time a user become a fan, that appears in the feed of the profile of this user and the page start to get attention. Sorry for tha crap english and thanks for this post.

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