Library Marketing with Social Networking

Marketing can have untapped potential for the library, but mix that with social networking and you can reach a whole new demographic.  Facebook is about to hit 1 billion users, Twitter is in the 500 million range, and there are over 164 million blogs.  Libraries can use this trend to get the word out about the resources it possesses and can provide for its patrons.  With a tech savvy librarian at the helm, daily posts can inform followers about new books, new programs, new periodicals, new classes--the potential is limitless.  Even the Library of Congress has jumped on the social networking band wagon.  They have a Facebook accout, a Twitter account and several blogs.  Recently, the Library of Congress advertised on all three and then hosted a book festival where 200,000 book lovers heard from and met their favorite authors and went home with arms full of books.  One of the bloggers was courteous enough to post a photo of a lost Hello Kitty, looking for the owner.  This is a great example of how, if used correctly, social networking can not only bring back the library's current patrons, but find new ones that can enjoy and utilize the library resources they might not have known was there.