Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Striking A Balance: Effective Use Of Facebook In An Academic Library, Dianna Sachs, Edward J. Eckel, Kathleen Langan

University Libraries Faculty & Staff Publications

As one of the fastest growing social networking sites, Facebook presents librarians with a prime opportunity to engage academic library patrons. A survey of 136 users at Western Michigan University measured the effectiveness of Facebook as a marketing, reference, and instruction tool. It also measured user comfort and satisfaction with a library’s presence on Facebook. The majority of respondents found Facebook to be a useful and engaging medium to learn about library resources and services. The study shows that an effective library Facebook page must maintain a balance between providing pertinent and useful information, and preserving patron privacy.