Using Twitter to Build Communities

Reviews / Votes

Forrestal (web svcs. librarian, City Univ. of New York) and Vella (lib. manager, City Univ. of New York) argue that Twitter can best be leveraged by libraries, museums, and archives as a tool for building community and networking rather than simply broadcasting news and events indiscriminately. As such, this work is designed to prepare both novices and regular users to employ social media to demonstrate their institution's value to constituents. Some sections are generalized and platform agnostic, such as developing a social media policy, learning how to understand community needs, and evaluating social media options. Others are Twitter centric or focused on current apps and devices (including detailed, step-by-step, menu-by-menu instructions in some instances). This resource will work well for those interested in learning how to build a following, use automation tools, create and curate content, harness hashtags, and publish across platforms. Appended examples of University of Central Florida Libraries' social media guide and San Mateo County Libraries' social media procedures will further give beginners a starting point. VERDICT Recommended for those interested in developing a more robust social media program geared toward community engagement.-Evan M. Anderson, Kirkendall P.L., Ankeny, IA * Library Journal * Each chapter offers well-researched, expert advice presented in easy-to-read sections and supplemented by examples, anecdotes, screenshots, and a list of sources for further reading. The appendices include outstanding examples of institutional social media guides from an academic and public library system. While written primarily for librarians, Using Twitter to Build Communities is an indispensable guide for anyone who has an interest in creating communities for themselves or their organizations through Twitter. * Online Searcher * This book gives Twitter users the tools to successfully begin, based upon case studies used in a variety of institutions. It also offers an excellent array of ways to think about using Twitter differently for those who feel like they've learned all there is to know about it. Use this for yourself, and use it as a means of forging a dialog within your institution for strengthening your Twitter game in order to make your voice one that your patrons turn to again and again -- Kelly Jensen, associate editor and community manager, Book Riot, author of Feminism for the Real World Forrestal and Vella provide a no-nonsense, practical guide to all aspects of using the social media platform for outreach. Suitable for all levels of experience, the reader will get specific and useful advice for using Twitter in all kinds of libraries. Twitter noobs will appreciate Forrestal and Vella's plain language explanations of essential concepts and techniques, and veterans will learn new methods and tools for using the platform.. -- Jason Puckett, author of Zotero: a Guide for Librarians, Researchers and Educators and Modern Pathfinders: Creating Better Research Guides (ACRL) For casual or beginner users of Twitter, Forrestal and Vella provide a deep dive into the tools, techniques, and possibilities of the platform. More advanced users will find robust software reviews and nuanced engagement strategies. This book gives readers the skills to start shifting their Twitter strategies from simply sharing content to creating meaningful conversation between library and archives users and their communities. -- Maggie Schreiner, Archivist, Brooklyn Historical Society This handy guide, written by innovative, real-life, academic librarians, explains all the nuts and bolts, how to make great connections, and why and how Twitter can benefit you and your institution. Chapters cover how to create a social media strategy and policy, how to curate content, how to gain followers, and how to use cross-platform strategies. This reader-friendly book is easy to beginners and useful to those experts already familiar with social media platforms. A highly recommended and must-read! -- Mimi Lee, Chair, 2017-2018, Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT), American Library Association (ALA)