A Pin Paints A Thousand Words: A Reflection on Pinterest

October- a time to jump in brightly coloured leaves, break out the pumpkin carving knives, and hide under the covers while watching The Exorcist. While it's usually a good month for most folks, I spent most of it re-reading my textbooks, reflecting on all the ways I could possibly botch my mid-terms. Ahh, the wonderful life of a college student. It can be some spooky stuff all right:  

Getting back to the point, libraries are ever-changing like the leaves on a maple tree. With all the technological progress, they seem to be adapting to the times quite well. Most libraries have joined and still commit to social-networking giants like Facebook, Youtube, or Twitter. And who can blame them? These three are most patrons' social networking bread and butters. 

However, libraries shouldn't ignore other social networking sites like LinkedIn, Google Plus, and Pinterest. 

While they might not necessarily garner massive recognition like Facebook does, these sites have tremendous potential in promoting library services and their usage among the public is growing at alarming rates. 

For simplicity's sake, today I will be focusing on how some libraries use Pinterest to benefit themselves and their patrons. 

While adventuring in the mystical land known as the Internet, I stumbled upon the Toronto Public Library's (or TPL's) Pinterest. 

I discovered that they not only marketed their branches through the use of photo sharing, but there were also boards dedicated to the library's children's programming and activities. TPL also promoted their reference library and digital archives by showing off their special collections. I even saw a board dedicated to their Bram & Bluma Appel Salon;located on the second floor of the Toronto Reference Library, this place can hold everything from your standard business meetings to weddings.

As you can see, TPL has done a tremendous job promoting themselves though the use of Pinterest. Without it, I would've never known that LEGO clubs for children existed, or that the library hosted a digital collection of Audubon's Birds of America.

Collections and services that patrons might not readily know about are shown through many pictures on Pinterest boards. Thus, Pinterest and other social networking sites make the public more aware of what is offered at libraries in an engaging way. 

The only thing I wish TPL did more with their Pinterest is perhaps promote more of their adult-orientated services, but I still think that what they've done with their boards is excellent. If you want, you can take a look for yourself through this URL: https://www.pinterest.com/torontolibrary/

For now I'll be busy sipping on a good cup of chicken soup, trying to recover from the stress of mid-terms. I hope to enjoy autumn while it lasts.

Apps Ain't Crappy: Why Libraries Should Use Apps More Often

Apps have changed so much over the past 20+ years. Remember the good ol' days when you could only install apps on your computer through discs, with said apps taking super long to download? Ahh, sweet memories, I tell ya. It's amazing how far we've come: you can now simply tap on your phone or tablet to download an app. And oh my, how the downloading speed is drastically faster. Woo-hoo!

At this point, you might be wondering, "Erin, how are apps useful in libraries? Do librarians download games like Angry Birds and just sit on their butts playing them?"

While it would be nice if we could do that (I mean, I wouldn't reject to having to beat my Tetris high score now and again), in reality libraries are collecting and using apps in a wide variety of ways.

For example, some apps can act as educational tools, and more and more school and public libraries are introducing them. 

For instance, is little Jimmy or Sally curious about endangered animals and wants to learn about different species? Simple, download the WWF Together app created by the World Wildlife Fund so they can be educated on the topic in a fun, engaging way. There are many educational apps out there, ranging from math games to learning about art history. It might take some digging around on the iPad, but these apps offer great benefits.

In addition, apps can also be useful in a professional setting. They can help boost productivity and organization in the work world.

Think about it, with the rise of cloud storage, apps such as Dropbox allow library staff to share files between your phone and computer wherever the app is installed. Apps can even be used for group presentations, with Keynote giving users animated charts and other features for more professional presenting. There are many other apps out there that can help library staff become more organized and productive.

And of course, libraries can also create their own apps to promote their services to the public, among other things. 

Winnipeg Public Library's WPL to Go allows users to search the catalogue, check their accounts, and allow access to OverDrive for downloadable audio-books and e-books. That's right, all of these features are in one pretty little square. It's pretty nice to use library services in one mere button touch.

Speaking of which, an app that I use quite frequently is Mango Mobile. It's a handy little app that helps you learn languages by providing you with word pronunciations from native speakers. It's a great way to brush up on my French now and again, and works wonderfully for non-English speakers. In fact, Toronto Public Library now allows access to Mango Mobile, so long as you sign in with your library card and create a profile. It's available for both Androids and iPhones/iPads/iPod Touches, which is nice. I also think that this app could also be useful in school libraries for teaching ESL courses, as non-English students would have a way to learn English on-the-go.

Au revoir for now, readers. I'm off to use Mango and the many other apps installed on my phone.

There Be Wikis In These Parts: How Libraries Use Wikis To Communicate More Effectively

When you think of wikis, what pops into your nice, cute noggin? For me and many others, the first one that comes to mind is the famous (or infamous, depending on your point of view) Wikipedia. Despite controversy over its lack of expertise and consistency, it's still one of the most visited reference websites on the Internet. According to Wikipedia, 374 million visitors browses its pages monthly. Although I don't rely on Wikipedia for academic use, I find myself using it and other wikis if I want look up general information, like Lady Gaga's discography.

What's interesting, however, is the fact that more and more libraries are relying on wikis to communicate with patrons and staff.

As a reminder, wikis are websites that are collaborative in nature. The content can be created and edited by any group or anyone, including your friendly, neighbourhood monster. That's right, I believe monsters should be able to contribute their ideas too; they have needs just like us. Unless if they try to destroy computers like good ol' Frankenstein's monster here, then we might have a problem: 

"But why are libraries doing this?" you might ask. 

"Wouldn't it be easier if staff members just sent out an email or two?"

While libraries still use email frequently, problems arise if there's a need for coordinating and organizing group input. For example, instead of you and others going back and forth through email , generate a wiki so that everyone in the group can contribute ideas in one space no matter where they are. 

Libraries can use wikis to communicate with more flexibility, whether through using an internal (or private) wiki or an external (or public) wiki. 

For instance, staff can use internal wikis to spread the word about updated staff policies. Internal wikis can be used for setting up helpful, informative links, and posting meeting minutes. I also think that internal wikis can also have potential for setting up staff parties and the like. Meanwhile, external wikis can act as a research guide for patrons. As you can see, wikis can be used for a variety of things. 

In my personal opinion, I believe all types of libraries can benefit from creating a wiki. In particular, larger libraries can greatly improve communication though the use of wikis. This may be due to larger staff sizes, where emailing everyone isn't always the most effective option.

Of course, smaller groups can also profit from setting up their own wikis. The Daring Librarian has an excellent one; it was created for Murray Hill Middle School teachers. It's very user friendly, with a table of contents and a search bar if you need to look up something specific. It's attractive-looking as well, with many graphics to treat your eyes: http://thedaringlibrarian.wikispaces.com

With all that said, now it's time for me to look up information on Game of Thrones, through wikis of course. 

My Sincerest Apologies To You, Twitter: Why More and More Libraries Are Using Twitter

To the most-beloved Twitter,

Oh, how I hated you in the past. I created an account on you not too long ago, hoping that I could keep track on my friends' lives. I desperately wanted to like you, as you seemed so attractive and clean in appearance. I also wanted to learn how to use hashtags properly, and not in a mocking way. 

But alas dear Twitter, it was just not meant to be. I was simply too verbose and long-winded for you; I couldn't become comfortable using 140-character limits. My friends thought so too. They ditched their accounts two weeks after creating them. And so, with nothing else to look forward to, I abandoned you. My once lively account was now (and sadly still is) in a comatose state. 

Well, I'm here to tell you that I'm sorry I misunderstood you. It went over my head that you are a librarian's dream come true.

You are more than just some silly website to pass time with. 

You were (and still are) a very useful tool to look up various types of information, even if it's just a quote from a D-list celebrity. 

You single-handedly put microblogging on the map. 

You have helped libraries around the world get in touch with patrons more easily and effectively. You have helped to create more pro-library communities.

Libraries are surprisingly popular on you, sweet Twitter; the New York Public Library has around 605,000 followers. Of course, libraries don't need to get that many followers to be successful. 

Smart library staff aren't just using you and other forms of microblogging to share info about recommended books, updated policies, etc. They also use accounts to relate to patrons and help them explore the big, beautiful world around them.

The Winnipeg Public Library, for example, released a tweet yesterday stating about James Dean's death, and linked relevant info on how he impacted our culture. I think that's a clever way to re-introduce classic actors and other important figures to unfamiliar users.

Libraries can also use Twitter and microblogging to inform the public about community events. Everything ranging from free concerts to knitting classes is posted on many library Twitter accounts. Twitter is also an effective tool to create discussions with, engaging with patrons to think critically and voice their opinions more easily. 

It's amazing how many interesting things a library can pack into you, my little Twitter.

I'll admit, it may take me a while to boot up my account again. But at least I now have a better understanding of you. Where I once despised you, I have now grown to at least admire you from afar.

Sincerely,

Erin.

P.S- I found some accounts that I really like a lot. I hope that they may never falter on you:

1. Vancouver Public Library: https://twitter.com/VPL
2. Winnipeg Public Library: https://twitter.com/wpglibrary?ref_src=twsrc%5egoogle%7ctwcamp%5eserp%7ctwgr%5eauthor
3. Scottish Poetry Library: https://twitter.com/ByLeavesWeLive