scholarly journals Use of Twitter by a Public Library During the Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinesh Rathi
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Shared Information ◽  
The Western Region ◽  
Share Information

Social media such as Twitter and Facebook are used by organizations including public libraries to disseminate a variety of information to community members. This research aims to identify key areas in which Twitter was used to share information with users during the initial pandemic phase by a large public library operating in the Western region of Canada. The findings resulting from the analysis of 150 tweets revealed that the library shared information primarily in the following areas: Programs and Services, Library Operations, Health and Hygiene, Resources, and Other.

A Normative Framework for Sharing Information Online

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Sullivan ◽  
Mark Alfano
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Normative Framework ◽  
Current State ◽  
Shared Information ◽  
Technological Developments ◽  
State Of Affairs ◽  
Share Information

People have always shared information through chains and networks of testimony. It is arguably part of what makes us human and enables us to live in cooperative communities with populations greater than 150 or so. The invention of the internet and the rise of social media have turbocharged our ability to share information. This chapter develops a normative epistemic framework for sharing information online. This framework takes into account both ethical and epistemic considerations that are intertwined in typical cases of online testimony. The authors argue that, while the current state of affairs is not entirely novel, recent technological developments call for a rethinking of the norms of testimony, as well as the articulation of a set of virtuous dispositions that people would do well to cultivate in their capacity as conduits (not just sources or receivers) of information.

scholarly journals Public Library: A Place for the Digital Community Archive

2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Copeland
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Information Management ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Community Archives ◽  
The Past ◽  
Digital Community ◽  
Current Events ◽  
Community Archive

Abstract This article explores the possibility that public libraries can be repositories for digital community archives. The overarching goal is to establish a case for public libraries’ developing digital community archives that are participatory and which emphasize born-digital items rather than digitized physical items. This discussion follows my own research and experience in this area to include personal information management, social media and the personal archive, and the accidental community archive, and demonstrates that public libraries can focus on communities’ current events and people rather than solely on those from the past.

Twitter Content Categorisation: A Public Library Perspective

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (04) ◽  
pp. 1350035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Shiri ◽  
Dinesh Rathi
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Information Services ◽  
Library System ◽  
Knowledge Management Practices

With the rise of social media, many library and information services have begun to incorporate a wide variety of social media and social networking applications into their systems and services. Among the mainstream social networking applications, micro-blogging, in general, and Twitter, in particular, have gained increasing popularity. This paper reports the results of an exploratory study of the application of Twitter in the context of a large public library system. Specifically, this study has sampled, content analysed and categorised a select number of tweets created by a public library system in order to identify and document the ways in which Twitter can be used for various information services and knowledge management practices in public libraries. One of the main outcomes of this study is a tweet categorisation scheme that has a specific focus on the information services offered by public libraries.

scholarly journals Can Public Libraries Be Leveraged to Expand Access to Telehealth? Exploration of a Strategy to Mitigate Rural Health Disparities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela B. DeGuzman ◽  
Neha Jain
Keyword(s):  
Health Disparities ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Broadband Internet ◽  
Insight Into

In the U.S., those who lack broadband internet have limited ability to connect to care providers over a telemedicine video visit (VV). During the coronavirus disease pandemic, VVs have become increasingly common, but are not equitably accessible, which may exacerbate existing health disparities. Widening health disparities are of particular concern in the rural U.S. where broadband is lacking. We term this inequity in healthcare access due to limited internet access the "digital health divide." Because public libraries typically offer free use of broadband internet to patrons, they can help bridge the digital health divide and assist patrons with VVs. However, no guidelines currently exist for care providers and libraries to implement this needed, but potentially complex undertaking. Individual programs in which community members have used public libraries as a place from which to connect to a VV may offer insight into guidance needed. Thus, we conducted a scoping review to explore interventions reporting use of public libraries for community members to connect to a healthcare provider via telemedicine. One article was found describing the use of a public library for community members to connect to a telemedicine VV. The use of public libraries as spaces from which patrons can participate in VVs with providers is promising, but research is urgently needed to guide implementation.

Users' needs and expectations on information services provided in libraries: case of four public university libraries from the western region of Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Nyakweba ◽  
Joyce Muwanguzi Bukirwa ◽  
Eunice Sendikadiwa ◽  
Felicitas Ciabere Ratanya
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Information Services ◽  
Narrative Form ◽  
Western Region ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Start Up ◽  
The Western Region ◽  
Information Materials

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to assess the users' needs and expectations on information services provided in libraries, in four public universities from the western region of Kenya. The study explores the extent to which the libraries address users' needs and expectations examining the challenges being encountered, remedies and best practices put in place to mitigate the challenges. The level of users satisfaction towards the information services provided is also examined.Design/methodology/approachStructured questionnaires were distributed among undergraduates (384) and lecturers (86), where 342 were successfully filled and returned, giving a response rate of 73%. The study interviewed ten library staff revealing their views in addressing users' needs and expectations in respective libraries. Collected data were analysed descriptively using statistical methods and presented in figures and tables. Qualitative data were analysed in narrative form.FindingsMajority of users had a positive perception towards the library, while others indicated that their needs were yet to be meet. The study noted the poor state of affair with inadequacies in information materials infrastructure, dwindling budget, facilities and unskilled personnel. The study recommended the need for additional library budget to facilitate acquisition of additional and up-to-date information resources and facilities.Originality/valueThe concept of user needs and expectations has been widely discussed in developed countries. Identifying and understanding users’ requirements in the context of public libraries in developing countries would start up constructive trends towards building useable collections.

Understanding public libraries’ challenges, motivators, and perceptions toward the use of social media for marketing

2018 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Namjoo Choi ◽  
Soohyung Joo
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Library Marketing

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify challenges and motivators to social media adoption for marketing purposes in public libraries and to investigate how these libraries perceive the importance of social media marketing. Design/methodology/approach A nation-wide online survey on public libraries in the USA was conducted to carry out this study, and a total number of 470 responses were used for data analysis. Findings This study determined a range of challenges and motivators to implementing social media for marketing in public libraries. The results also showed that public libraries perceive social media as an important tool for their library marketing and intend to increase their use. Practical implications The findings from this study can serve as a guideline for public libraries when employing social media for marketing purposes in their libraries. Originality/value This study assessed the current state of social media use for marketing in the public library context, a context that has been under-researched in the literature, from three perspectives: challenges, motivators, and perceptions.

The Use of Web 2.0 Services by Urban Public Libraries in Poland: Changes over the Years 2011–2013

Libri ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Wójcik
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Web 2.0 ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Use Of Social Media

AbstractThis paper discusses the possibilities for using social media in promoting public library services and describes the changes that occurred between 2011 and 2013. The results of an analysis of a group of Polish urban public libraries for the occurrence of Web 2.0 elements and social media references are presented. Quantitative analysis included the number of Web 2.0 elements in pages, the number of references to social networking sites and the number of users of various types of Web 2.0 library profiles. Qualitative analysis concerned the extent and type of information shared through social media. This article presents the scope of changes that have occurred in the use of Web 2.0 elements by Polish urban public libraries in recent years, as well as prospects for the further use of social media. It also shows the dynamics of change in terms of how public libraries use Web 2.0 services. This comparative study shows that over the 2 years studied the number of libraries using social media increased, as did the variety of tools and the frequency of their use. The study was conducted using a specific sample of public libraries in urban areas in one Polish province. The study is not representative of all public libraries in Poland. However, the author believes that the study shows certain trends that may be characteristic not only of libraries in the studied region, but also across the whole country, and the results could be widely used in practice to improve social media activity.

Reading the city via the public central library in the sociocultural context: A comparative study between the Hong Kong Central Library, Shanghai Library and Taipei Public Library

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 458-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Lo ◽  
Kevin K.W. Ho ◽  
Bradley Allard ◽  
Shih-Chang Horng ◽  
Yan Liu
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Sociocultural Context ◽  
Community Members ◽  
The Public ◽  
The World ◽  
Community Spaces ◽  
The City

Public libraries across the world are well-known for the promotion of literacy and lifelong learning. However, at the same time, they are important social and community spaces in which community members can engage with each other. With this in mind, this study looks at the ways in which public libraries in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong fulfil these roles in their respective communities. The public libraries chosen for this study were namely: Shanghai Library, Taipei Public Library and Hong Kong Central Library. A total number of 788 responses were collected from all three libraries. Results from the surveys indicated that public libraries in these communities were seen as being important for providing cost-free materials, entertainment, and, especially, contributing to the overall culture of the community at large. Results indicated that the public libraries chosen for this study have social and cultural values alongside its function as an information centre. These findings will be important in understanding the sociocultural roles of public libraries in East Asia.

Public library Twitter use during the early period of the COVID-19 lockdown in the United States

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Youngok Choi ◽  
Sung Un Kim
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Early Period ◽  
Public Library ◽  
The United States ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Analysis Scheme ◽  
Community Information

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the Twitter use of public libraries during the early period of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic to evaluate the focus of Twitter communication. Design/methodology/approach A total of 57 active, public library Twitter accounts were used for data collection and analysis. The tweets examined were a combination of original tweets (n = 1,465) and retweets (n = 516) posted from other Twitter accounts on the public libraries’ Twitter feeds. A content analysis scheme was developed to analyse topical aspects of the tweets. Findings The most frequent tweets were about library events, programmes and activities. However, there was a relatively low focus on sharing community information and addressing information related to the pandemic. The study suggests that public libraries could use Twitter to provide library resources and services to their patrons, whilst also acting as a virtual community centre safely keeping patrons engaged in the face of a global pandemic. By doing so, Twitter could be used as an integral part of promoting the mission of public libraries. Research limitations/implications The study examined a limited number of public libraries’ Twitter posts. Whilst the study carried out a random sampling of 10% of public libraries from the five states that had the highest COVID-19 cases in the month of April 2020, the study only examined tweets of 57 public libraries being active in posting. Thus, the findings of the study are not for generalizing. Practical implications The content scheme includes content types regarding library services and community information. The content category scheme is general to reflect themes of content during a normal time and any emergency. Thus, this framework could be helpful for the content development of public libraries in planning social media use. Originality/value The study used a new content analysis framework to examine both original tweets and retweets for information sharing of library services and community information. The approach of content analysis is distinctive to examine libraries’ communication trends on social media not only in normal times but also in times of crisis as well. The study also incorporated additional measures to assess Twitter practices including hashtags.

Analysis of content topics, user engagement and library factors in public library social media based on text mining

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 258-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soohyung Joo ◽  
Kun Lu ◽  
Taehun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Text Mining ◽  
Topic Model ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Linear Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Summer Reading ◽  
Use Of Social Media

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore topics of Facebook posts created by public libraries using the bi-term topic model, and examine the relationships between types of topics and user engagement. The authors further investigated the effects of three library factors, namely, staff size, budget and urbanization degrees, on Facebook content and user engagement based on multilevel generalized linear modeling. Design/methodology/approach This study suggested a novel method, a combination of the bi-term topic modeling and MGLM, to enhance the understanding of social media in the context of public libraries. Findings The findings revealed that posts related to community events, awards and photos were likely to receive more likes and shares, whereas posts about summer reading programs received relatively more comments. In addition, the authors found that a larger staff size and the inclusion of multimedia had positive impacts on user engagement. Originality/value This study analyzed the content of public library-generated social media based on text mining. Then, the authors examined the effects of contextual library-level factors on social media practice in public libraries. Based on empirical findings, the study suggested a range of practical implications for effective use of social media in public libraries.

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