Library and Information Science Commons^™

Actively Engaging With Patrons On Social Media, Kelley Cotter, Sara Baron

Library Faculty Scholarship

Using social media for outreach entails more than just creating engaging content— it also means actively engaging with patrons. In our experience, using social media well involves a heavy emphasis on two-way communication with patrons. We have built a social media presence that, above all, seeks to build relationships with our patrons. It provides a venue for building relationships with both those who already closely associate with the library and those who do not. Establishing and strengthening ties to the library makes patrons more likely to share their positive perceptions of us with friends, family, colleagues, and coworkers. Because word-ofmouth …