A nitty-gritty guide to social media

CHICAGO — The vast array of social media options present a challenge: it’s tough to keep current, let alone formulate a plan for using these tools effectively.

Laura Solomon, a librarian with extensive experience in Web development, design and technology, cuts to the chase with “The Librarian's Nitty-Gritty Guide to Social Media,” published by ALA Editions. Her invaluable guide lays out a straightforward and pragmatic approach to using social media in any kind of library. Broadening her best-selling ALA Editions Special Report on the topic, she:

• Presents an overview of the social media world, providing context for services like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and analyzes how adults’ and teens’ use of social media impacts the library;
• Offers advice on easy ways to use these tools on a daily basis, with planning strategies for posting and scheduling;
• Addresses the fine points of Facebook, comparing the various types of profiles and accounts;
• Guides readers in the basics of crafting eye-catching status updates and other social media best practices;
• Shows how to manage and monitor accounts, including pointers on dealing with negative feedback.

Solomon is library services manager for the Ohio Public Information Network and former Web applications supervisor for the Cleveland Public Library. She has been doing web development and design and conducting classes in public libraries and as an independent consultant for more than a decade. In 2009, the Ohio Library Council recognized her for her role in saving more than $147 million of public library funding by utilizing her expertise in social media tools. She was tapped as one of Library Journal’s Movers & Shakers for 2010. She earned her MLS from Kent State and was awarded her MCIW (Master Certified Internet Webmaster) in 2004. She blogs at www.meanlaura.com.

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Related Links

"The Librarian's Nitty-Gritty Guide to Social Media"

"Doing Social Media So It Matters: A Librarian's Guide"

"Strategic Planning for Social Media in Libraries (THE TECH SET® #15)"