To Facebook or Not to Facebook Your School Library

As a media specialist and an educator, I strive to get information out to my students, the parents of the students, the faculty and the community.  With technology always changing, it is becoming increasingly more important to look at what is now available.  Interactions on Facebook and twitter are now considered “the norm” in today’s society.  Many schools are turning to this forum to get the word out about school activities and daily business. So, should libraries start using these as well?  Would it benefit me and my school to have a library Facebook page?

The best way to find out the answer to any question is through research.  I spent the evening browsing through several Facebook school library pages.  I simply typed “school library” in the search bar and scrolled down through the list until I found different levels of school libraries.

Of the three pages I visited this evening, they had a decent amount of “likes.”  The Montclair High School Library page had 707 likes, 1,276 have been there, but no comments on any of their posts.  The page appears to have approximately one post per month with the exception of the summer.  It includes pictures of the library, articles, and memes about libraries.  This page didn’t seem to be used to it fullest.  It seemed to be there just to be there.  There was no interaction with parents or students, and very little information about upcoming literary events or events in the library.  As an avid Facebook user, I would probably look at it once, like it if I went to the school, but then never go back to the page. 

The second page I visited was for Brewer Community School Library.  This page has far less likes at 291 and only 36 have been there. It did include in its information a link to the book finder program that it uses in the library.  This page was very active with posts.  Every couple of weeks or so, a post is placed on the page.  These posts consisted of updates to what’s going on in the library, book award winners, and articles on young adult literature. My favorite thing about this Facebook page is that the librarian also used it to put book recommendations for her students to read during the summer.  I was very impressed with the organization of the page and how the library was using this outlet to reach people.  The down side to this page is that there were very little comments from users.

The last Facebook library page I perused was the page for Ann Richards School Library.  In the information on the left hand side, it included a link to the school library page. This page was also very active in its posts.  The librarian used it to request volunteers for the public library.  She posted a link to the school’s master calendar.  There were many literature/library based Facebook articles shared on the page along with favorite inspiration quotes.  The page shared pictures of the students recent trip to Washington D.C. Like the Brewer Community School page, this page is utilized very well to get information out to the public. 

After looking through these pages, I realize that there are advantages and disadvantages to maintaining a Facebook page for a school library.  The disadvantages are that it is one more item that will take time to maintain.  It will often have very little comments from visitors, which makes one wonder if anyone is even looking at the page.  Another disadvantage is the possibility of the page being misused by an administrator or a student.  However, I believe the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.  It is a forum to reach students and parents.  Many parents at an elementary school do not even know the librarian at their child’s school.  This will put a face to the person on campus that works hard to improve reading skills, literacy, and the love of reading into the children.  It’s another way to get the information out there to everyone about the wonderful things going on in the library, in the wonderful world of print, and events occurring on campus as well. Middle school and high schools can really connect with students who actually have a Facebook page.  The students may not pay attention during announcements or to notes that go home, but they will pay attention to things a librarian posts in the “Facebook world.”

I really enjoyed the page from Brewster Community School.  I have decided that I will start my own Facebook page for my newly appointed position.  It will be pretty plain at first, but I will add pictures of events from book fairs, Texas Bluebonnet book battles, book reviews, and of course what is going on at our campus.  Ultimately, I am a media specialist.  I will use as many forums and media that I can to reach students, parents, staff, and the community I live and work.  Reading is important.  The library is important.

Ireland Elementary School Library Facebook page