Once again, we return to venture through the landscape of social media to come upon the infamous capital of Facebook. In a previous blog post, we talked about how social media can be used to promote conversation and awareness about issues facing your local neighbourhood library. Today’s topic is going to be the other side of that coin – the formula librarians and libraries as corporations can use to have a successful media campaign. Instead of a post from the Marigold library system, we have stumbled onto a photo captured by one of our very own blog masters; Heather! This post was published by the one and only Calgary Reads, an independent special library not affiliated with Calgary’s public library system.
Typically, a successful social media post will have several distinct components. Something that evokes an emotional response, a short message which includes a call to action, and a redirection to a place for more information. Most commonly, a picture of something is used to get the emotional response. In the example we are looking at today (featured below), the picture is of a stack of new or like new baby board books. The call to action is a plea for donations of new, like new, or gently used baby books. This is an effective post because it is short but powerful. It hits home showing people baby board books, reminding them that not every child has books to call their own, and to be read and loved. It asks for donations specially of board books, a category of book that is often overlooked. And it reminds people that not only can they donate books, but they can also come experience the space.
The featured picture is meant to help in highlighting their outreach programs to the general public and to encourage higher volumes of people. This objective seems to have already been met in some capacity by the time we had encountered it, even just based off of the amounts of “likes”, comments and “shares” that it has received. Nowadays the everyday citizen can go on to the internet, go to any of the top media platforms, and there are high chances that you can find the account or profile for a library near you. Libraries today don’t have to be bound to a physical institution; the libraries that are changing with the times are realizing the value of using technology to become a larger part of peoples’ day to day lives. Some food for thought; would you be more inclined to visit and participate in events that your local library hosts if you see them on your newsfeed when you end up checking your apps throughout the week?
LIBR 251 - Heather S. & Kelly 
Yes, I would be more likely to participate in a library event if I saw advertisements for it ahead of time. I like that if you donate 50 or more books they will come pick them up- I think this is particularity encouraging as not everyone will have the time to drop off books. One critique I have is that I think it would encourage people to donate even more if the ad specifically said how the books were going to help. I.e. donated books will be given to children of lower income families.
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That is a really good point. Calgary Reads definitely works to make sure that every child has access to books – especially to those furthest from opportunity. You are absolutely correct though…nowhere in our blog post, or in that Calgary Reads post is it acknowledged that the baby board books are going to those who need them most. Calgary Reads works hard to not only have a beautiful Children’s Reading Place in Inglewood, but to also try and be in lots of places in the community. This allows everyone has access to free, quality books, regardless of sociological or economical barriers.
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Hey,
I love how you talk about the emotional responses to media and how events or companies use that to their advantage. That directly relates to the type of stuff we learnt in our media course during this term. I feel like i would be more inclined to attend events if i saw them regularly on my social media and if the event applied to me. For myself personally, i do not feel very much emotional connection to babies, but if the event used something else to tug at my emotions i would defiantly be more eager to learn and attend the events.
Thanks!
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