Session Number
P122
Keywords
Facebook, academic libraries, web 2.0, content analysis
Description
In recent years, social networking sites have become mainstream in the cyberspace, and people interact and communicate in a virtual way. Institutions such as libraries and other non-profit organizations are jumping on the bandwagon of Web 2.0. Among related social networking services, Facebook is by far one of the most popular. Academic libraries embraced this new technology and used it as a flexible channel to communicate with faculty, staff, and students; however, little has been known about the nature of information shared and how it circulated. This study aimed to investigate how Facebook is used by academic libraries to communicate with users, and vice versa through leaving posts, comments, like, and others. Content analysis was conducted to survey 10 Facebook profiles of academic libraries in Taiwan. Detailed analysis included how profiles were managed and maintained, what types of information were provided and shared, what behavior users demonstrated on the profiles, how users interacted with posts through commenting. It is hoped that this study can provide insights for making informed decisions in adopting Facebook as a part of library services, and in evaluating the value and role of social networking sites from both librarians and users’ perspectives.
P122 Presentations
Virtualizing Library Processes and Interactions: A Content Analysis of Library Facebook Profiles
In recent years, social networking sites have become mainstream in the cyberspace, and people interact and communicate in a virtual way. Institutions such as libraries and other non-profit organizations are jumping on the bandwagon of Web 2.0. Among related social networking services, Facebook is by far one of the most popular. Academic libraries embraced this new technology and used it as a flexible channel to communicate with faculty, staff, and students; however, little has been known about the nature of information shared and how it circulated. This study aimed to investigate how Facebook is used by academic libraries to communicate with users, and vice versa through leaving posts, comments, like, and others. Content analysis was conducted to survey 10 Facebook profiles of academic libraries in Taiwan. Detailed analysis included how profiles were managed and maintained, what types of information were provided and shared, what behavior users demonstrated on the profiles, how users interacted with posts through commenting. It is hoped that this study can provide insights for making informed decisions in adopting Facebook as a part of library services, and in evaluating the value and role of social networking sites from both librarians and users’ perspectives.