Saturday, June 27, 2015
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Social Media Collaboration in School Library Science
Photo Credit: 972 Creative
Social Media as a Career Advancement Tool in School Library Science
Social media, in terms of school library science, is the communication of information via online services that takes place in real time (Frederick, 2014). This information can take the form of actual lessons, such as a YouTube video on how to properly cite sources in a research paper, or can be as simple as an informal Tweet about new books available to students in the library. Online communities are being created on social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Goodreads by school librarians to communicate, as well as collaborate, with different populations within the field of education. These people include, but are not limited to, students, parents, educators, and other school librarians.According to a study of school librarians, ninety-eight percent use some form of Internet technology in their library for educating students, teachers, and parents (Barack, 2013). School librarians are increasingly using social media tools to supplement subscription-based databases and other fee-based technology tools for teaching as school library programs budgets continue to shrink. Another benefit to these free and popular social media tools is that they are already popular among students and other educators. It is essential as school librarians to stay abreast of new trends in order to stay current with our students, as well as to attract users both physically and online to school libraries. As school librarian Travis Jonker is quoted as saying, “It is up to us, the tryers, to share valuable information and insights,” (Jonker, 2014).
An additional advantage to using popular social media tools is that school librarians can share the responsibility of creating an online presence for the school library with students. Harnessing the assistance of students can allow school librarians to do more while creating excitement in students that find a new home in their school’s library. Even the youngest students are becoming adept at using tablets and computers. Channeling this youthful energy can make a school librarian’s career not only more diverse and timely, but also more secure. For instance, a school librarian in Chicago supervised her students using YouTube and Twitter in order to communicate school news (Dar, 2014). Not only did the students learn about using iPads, but they also gained useful writing skills. The school librarian was then given a media course to teach, as well as winning a technology award for the school. Another way students can help in the school library is to make their own book trailers using Animoto (Foote, 2013). Reluctant readers might take a peer’s suggestion over an adult’s and enjoy an animated book trailer versus searching among the stacks of library books.
As school librarians, teaching students to be savvy online is not only our responsibility, but essential if they are to take their place in the business world someday (Frederick, 2013). Colleges and businesses have been known to search for prospective applicants online to learn more about them. Publicly lewd Tweets and racy Facebook photos have led to more than one employee being fired or a potential college student being rejected. With the guidance of a school librarian, students can discuss things that have been posted on social media that have led to the professional or educational downfall of others and how to avoid the same fate. In her article on ways a school librarian can use social media to help students with their post-graduate futures, Frederick even suggests hosting local business leaders to discuss ways students can use social media to their advantage, such as posting resumes on LinkedIn (Frederick, 2013).
In conclusion, social media can enhance the school librarian’s career in many ways. Online collaboration and communication with students, parents, educators, and other librarians allows school libraries to remain relevant in an age where technology is integrated into every facet of life. School librarians must integrate every social media tool available to remain relevant to students as the job evolves from stamping books to being the “technology leader in their schools” (Barack, 2013).
School Libraries Matter: The Changing Role of the School Librarian
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