Webinar - Instagram for Public Libraries: Good Practices for Social Media

Introduction

In this section, Crystal introduces the webinar and provides some announcements.

• The webinar is about Instagram for Public Libraries: Good Practices for Social Media.

• TechSoup Global is hosting the webinar to connect libraries and nonprofits to technology, resources, and support.

• Ray DeLara from Burlingame Public Library and Amanda Zuccarelli from Cherry Hill Public Library are the guests who will share their experiences with creating engaging Instagram accounts.

• Participants can use the chat in the lower left corner to send questions and comments to the presenters.

Announcements

In this section, Crystal shares some important announcements related to the webinar.

• Questions can be asked through chat during the designated Q&A section at the end of the webinar.

• Chat comments will only come to presenters but if there are any ideas or comments that need sharing, they will be forwarded back out to everyone.

• Technical issues can be addressed by sending a chat message.

• The webinar is being recorded and archived on TechSoup's website.

• If participants get disconnected during the webinar, they can reconnect using the same link in their confirmation email.

• The conference audio should be heard through computer speakers but if it's unclear, participants can dial a phone number provided in their confirmation email.

• Participants will receive an archive email within 24 hours that includes a link to recording, PowerPoint slides, and additional links or resources shared during session.

• If tweeting about this event, use hashtag #ts4libs.

About TechSoup

In this section, Crystal talks about TechSoup Global's mission and programs.

• TechSoup Global was founded in 1987 with a global network of partners dedicated to serving nonprofit organizations and libraries.

• They connect libraries and nonprofits to technology, resources, and support so that they can operate at their full potential more effectively deliver programs and services, and better achieve their mission.

• TechSoup is currently running its 2016 Storymakers program where participants can submit their digital story for a chance to win great prizes for their library.

• Training resources and webinars are available on TechSoup.org/Storymakers.

Introduction of Guests

In this section, Crystal introduces the two guests who will share their experiences with creating engaging Instagram accounts.

• Ray DeLara from Burlingame Public Library has worked there for the past 17 years as the Library Aide Supervisor. He serves on the Web Team and manages the Library's Instagram account.

• Amanda Zuccarelli is a Reference and Adult Services Librarian at Cherry Hill Public Library in Cherry Hill New Jersey. She helps manage the library's social media accounts including Instagram.

Host Introduction

In this section, Crystal introduces herself as the host of the webinar along with Ginny Mies and Becky Wiegand from TechSoup team who will assist with chat and Twitter.

• Participants can send questions using chat throughout the webinar which will be addressed during Q&A section.

• The webinar is being recorded and all slides, resources, and materials will be included in archive of webinar which participants should receive within 24 to 48 hours.

Conclusion

In this section, Crystal shares some final announcements before handing over to Ray DeLara and Amanda Zuccarelli.

• All resources shared during session will be included in archive so participants don't have to write them down.

• Participants are encouraged to ask questions through chat as they arise.

• If any questions cannot be answered during webinar, responses will be sent via email later.

• The webinar is being recorded and all materials will be included in archive which participants should receive within 24 to 48 hours.

Introduction

In this section, the speaker introduces herself and shares some resources that will be useful for the webinar. She also asks participants if they have an Instagram account and what they hope to achieve through it.

Resources for the Webinar

• The speaker recommends a course on Lynda.com.

• She shares articles highlighting great things libraries are doing on Instagram.

• The Storymakers resources at TechSoup are shared by Becky in the chat.

Poll: Does Your Library Have an Instagram Account?

• Participants are asked if their library has an Instagram account already.

• They can select their response by clicking the radio button and then click Submit to see the responses of everybody coming in.

Poll: What Do You Hope to Achieve Through Your Library’s Instagram Account?

• Participants are asked what they hope to achieve through their library's Instagram account.

• They can check as many of these responses as apply to their situation.

Cherry Hill Public Library

In this section, Amanda from Cherry Hill Public Library talks about her library and what they have been doing on Instagram.

About Cherry Hill Public Library

• Cherry Hill Public Library is a stand-alone library serving a community of about 70,000 people located 20 minutes away from Philadelphia.

What They Have Been Doing on Instagram

• Amanda shares some examples of what they have been doing on Instagram, such as promoting events and programs, showcasing new books, and featuring staff members.

Social Media Committee Tasks

In this section, the speaker talks about the tasks of the library's social media committee. The committee is made up of 8 people who focus on 6 tasks, but they are not limited to these tasks.

Tasks of the Social Media Committee

• The committee focuses on six tasks, which include Bookface pictures, DVDs and TV shows, Junior Chef program, end pages and book covers, upcoming events in the library and pop culture.

• Bookface pictures are a popular trend on Instagram and very popular with libraries. It is a way to celebrate libraries in general.

• The Junior Chef program is very popular. Two members of the Social Media Committee do all the posts for all Youth Services events.

• End pages and book covers make fantastic pictures. There are a lot of beautiful book covers out there.

• Posting upcoming events is a good way to let your patrons know about programs and even people who possibly aren’t patrons who live nearby when you post your events.

• Pop culture-related posts like #catsofInstagram and Caturday are things that we like to post.

Quality Pictures for Instagram

In this section, the speaker talks about what kind of pictures should be posted on Instagram.

What Kind of Pictures Should Be Posted?

• Blurry photos should be blurry on purpose. Avoid posting blurry photos that look unprofessional or cut off important parts.

• Bookface Friday is very popular. It's okay if your hands and fingers show in the picture.

• Use examples from other libraries to learn from them. Don't be afraid to have fun with your posts, but make sure they are pleasing pictures.

Editing Apps for Instagram

In this section, the speaker talks about editing apps that can be used to improve photos for Instagram. The apps are free and easy to use.

Editing Apps

• The speaker recommends using editing apps to improve photos for Instagram.

• The recommended apps are free and easy to use.

• To promote posts, the speaker suggests using hashtags and tagging authors or celebrities in the post.

• The speaker recommends following and supporting other libraries on Instagram.

Bookface Friday Hashtag

In this section, the speaker talks about Bookface Friday hashtag and how it can be used to find great libraries on Instagram.

Bookface Friday Hashtag

• Most libraries are doing Bookface pictures which can be found by searching through the Bookface Friday hashtag.

• Using this hashtag is a good way of finding great pictures and discovering new libraries.

Posting Ideas for Libraries on Instagram

In this section, the speaker provides an overview of different types of posts that can be made on Instagram to promote libraries, books, reading, etc.

Posting Ideas

• The speaker provides an overview of different types of posts that can be made on Instagram such as promoting books using authors or celebrities.

• One post per day is recommended but it depends on the week. Typically 4 to 6 posts in a week are done.

• It's important not to do too many posts if something else happens. Wait until later or another time to post.

• If two posts are done in a day, one is posted in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Instagram Algorithm and Posting Pictures of Patrons

In this section, the speaker talks about Instagram's algorithm and posting pictures of patrons on library's Instagram account.

Instagram Algorithm and Posting Pictures of Patrons

• The speaker mentions that Instagram's algorithm is changing but it's not clear how it will affect what people see.

• A question was asked about posting pictures of patrons. The speaker did not provide an answer to this question.

Handling Photo Release Forms

In this section, Amanda shares how she handles photo release forms for her library's Instagram account.

Amanda's Approach

• Amanda is aware of which patrons have signed the photo release form and will do a quick verbal agreement if she is unsure.

• Some patrons ask to be in pictures, especially kids and teens with their own Instagram accounts.

• Amanda takes pictures in a way that doesn't show the entire face of the child if she is unsure whether or not they have signed the release or would be uncomfortable with being posted.

Introduction to Burlingame Public Library's Instagram Account

Ray introduces Burlingame Public Library's Instagram account and provides tips on getting started.

Getting Started with an Instagram Account

• Pick a clear and concise username and create a strong description for your account.

• Have a game plan before starting your account. Determine who your intended audience is, what kind of content you plan to share, and how you will manage your account.

• Answer questions such as: Are you trying to reach out to existing patrons or new ones? What kind of content do you want to share? How will you manage your account?

• Designate people for each social media outlet. For example, Ray is in charge of Instagram while others are responsible for Twitter.

Creating Content

• Share pictures of events, new additions to collections, and videos.

• Use hashtags relevant to your library or event.

• Engage with followers by responding to comments and direct messages.

Marketing an Instagram Account

In this section, the speaker discusses various ways to market an Instagram account.

Ways to Market an Instagram Account

• Use email newsletters, program flyers, website and social media bookmarks to announce the account.

• Pass out bookmarks at author events and put social media badges on email signatures.

• Link most of the IG posts to Facebook so that both outlets are posting at the same time.

• Tell friends, family, coworkers to follow and follow other libraries as well.

Engaging with Community

In this section, the speaker talks about engaging with the community through hashtags and location-based searches.

Engaging with Community

• Search hashtags related to your library's location and like/comment on user-generated content.

• Create your own hashtag campaigns such as #burlingameofthrones or participate in existing ones like The 100 Day Project.

• Get out of the library and post pictures outside of it to engage with people in the community.

Creating Your Own Hashtag Campaign

In this section, the speaker provides examples of creating a successful hashtag campaign.

Creating Your Own Hashtag Campaign

• Burlingame Library created a throne out of books for Halloween called "Burlingame of Thrones" and encouraged patrons to take pictures sitting on it using #burlingameofthrones which helped them find out who in their community was using Instagram.

• Participated in The 100 Day Project by posting something creative for 100 days straight.

Building Staff Support and Community Engagement

In this section, the speaker discusses how to build staff support for Instagram accounts and engage with the community.

Building Staff Support

• The speaker suggests involving coworkers in managing Instagram accounts to handle the workload.

• Using hashtags is important to get your content shared. Examples of popular library hashtags include #bookfacefriday and #libraryinmyhand.

• Following other library accounts on Instagram can provide inspiration for content creation. The speaker also recommends attending or hosting Insta-meets to collaborate with other libraries.

Engaging with the Community

• Collaborating with fellow libraries on Instagram can help showcase how libraries are changing and developing new ways of reaching their communities.

• Content creation only requires a smartphone, but additional equipment such as cameras, tripods, and laptops may be used for editing.

Challenges and Successes

In this section, Ray talks about the challenges they faced while managing their Instagram account and some of the successes they achieved.

Challenges

• The city developed a social media policy that applied to content created, comments, followers, and who to follow. Double-check if your city or library has a social media policy.

• Getting the word out to the community is important. Keep content fresh and avoid overloading all social media outlets with the same thing. Coordination between teams is necessary.

• Finding time to create content and manage accounts can be challenging.

Successes

• Their account was recognized as one of the Top 10 Best Book Related Instagram Accounts by New York Times for their Bookfaces. They were also recognized at ALA for promoting collections through Bookfaces.

• Participating in Instagram challenges helped them gain recognition. They won Instagram's Weekend Hashtag Project on Halloween.

• Utilizing coworkers in your library is important.

Hashtags and Pop Culture Trends

In this section, Ray talks about using hashtags effectively on Instagram and identifying pop culture trends that you can use in your posts.

Using Hashtags Effectively

• Use consistent hashtags that apply to each post along with other relevant ones depending on what you are posting.

• There is a point where too many hashtags can be overwhelming. For example, they use 5 or 6 consistent hashtags for each post.

Identifying Pop Culture Trends

• Look for pop culture trends that you can use in your posts.

• Create specific hashtags for programs or events to make it easier for people to find and participate.

Final Thoughts

In this section, Ray shares some final thoughts on managing an Instagram account for a library.

• Have fun with it because it will translate into your account and attract followers.

• Passion is important, but the account would not be successful without the willingness of coworkers to help out.

• Crystal encourages viewers to go back through the slides for more tips.

Finding Trends on Instagram

In this section, the speakers discuss how to find trending content on Instagram and how public libraries can use it to their advantage.

Using the Explore Page

• The Explore page is a great place to find trending content on Instagram.

Dealing with Inappropriate Comments

In this section, the speakers discuss how to handle inappropriate comments on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Handling Negative Comments

• Amanda and Ray share their experiences with handling negative comments.

• Amanda shares that they have not had any problems with inappropriate comments on Instagram but have had some issues on Facebook. They were handled directly by their director who addressed them, answered their questions, and then blocked them if necessary.

• Ray shares that his library has adopted a social media policy for dealing with inappropriate comments. If a comment is deemed inappropriate or offensive, they delete it straight away. If it continues to happen, they block the user.

Updating Social Media Policies

• Crystal suggests updating social media policies around inappropriate comments if it's an issue faced by your library.

Q&A Wrap-Up

In this section, the speakers wrap up the Q&A session by addressing unanswered questions and sharing what types of content get the most engagement from users.

Unanswered Questions

• Crystal assures viewers that unanswered questions will be addressed via email.

Most Engaging Content

• Amanda and Ray share what types of content get the most engagement from users.

• Amanda says that the success of their Instagram posts varies and depends on the quality of the picture and timing.

• Ray shares that Bookface Friday posts are the most popular on their account, followed by stop motion videos and pictures of their community.

Final Remarks

• Crystal thanks Amanda and Ray for sharing their experiences and reminds viewers to stay on the line.

Upcoming Library Webinars

In this section, the speaker mentions two upcoming library webinars.

Details of the Webinars

• One webinar is on Outcome Measurement for Small Libraries and will be held on May 4.

• The other webinar is on Teaching Digital Skills to Older Adults in Libraries and will be held on May 18.