1. Get There: How Teen Librarians can use Social Media
Librarians are constantly looking for the best way to connect with teens. How can we share what we have to offer? How can we meet them where they are? But we don’t have to be the hippest, trendiest librarian to see that teens are online, they are on social media, and we are missing an opportunity to connect. In this talk, I will discuss how and why librarians should use social media.

2. What is Social Media?
The YALSA toolkit on Social Media defines it as, “A variety of web-based tools used to connect, collaborate, and create web content and experiences.” The experiences are the main reason to focus on social media. Why do we have story times for children? Why do we have programming for teens? Aren’t we trying to build positive library experiences for our young patrons?

3. According to a 2009 Pew Internet & American Life Project study 69% of teens claim to own a computer. Just as a point of reference, social media sites won’t work on this type of computer. Probably. If you still own something that has a taupe color scheme, it’s time to upgrade.
This is a computer?

4. Librarians can’t be fuddy duddies if we want to work with teens
Librarians can’t be fuddy duddies if we want to work with teens. We need to encourage teens to stop thinking about libraries as just places that store books. Lamb and Johnson (2010) believe we need to “Explore new possibilities, consider innovative ways to synthesize ideas, and design engaging opportunities for young people to learn and express their understanding.”
Rethink

5. Yeah, Yeah, But . . .
The Pew Internet and American Life Project also found 93% of teens go online, of those 73% use one social networking site or another. If you have public access computers for teens at your library, chances are you’ve seen them chatting on Facebook, playing one of many games, or watching YouTube videos.

6. Facebook isn’t the only thing
Yes, there is more to social networking than Facebook. Many teens use Twitter, some still use Myspace, and there are plenty of other nitch sites. According to danah boyd, who has researched teens and social media extensively, Facebook is the gold standard by which all other social media sites are judged. There may be better sites, but if you are trying to reach teens, Facebook is the place to start.

7. 500,000,000 Users
As of early 2011, Facebook had reached 5 Hundred Million Users. That means 1 in every 13 people worldwide has a Facebook account. And the number is probably higher for teens as social networking usage drops off significantly for those over 30.

8. So I get a Facebook . . . No big Thing!
Using social media, and doing it well, can be time-consuming. It’s not something for everyone. However, if you are going to jump on the bandwagon, Facebook is quick, it’s simple, and it gives you the option to create your own fan page. You’d also be in good company, as libraries such as the New York Public Library use Facebook to connect with patrons.

9. Pewoski (2010) states, “Simply deciding to create a group and then doing it is not enough; the same goes for blogs, wikis, and the like. If the teens do not know you are out there, chances are they are not going to find you.” So it’s important to market your online presence to teens just as much as you would your collection and other services.
If you build it . . .

10. There is no need to jump right in
There is no need to jump right in. Social media is a good thing, it can help you, but Adams (2010) notes, “We must weigh the time and cost against the impact it will have on reaching our customers” (p. 11). She also cautions against jumping on the bandwagon of social networking just because it seems “glitzy and cool” (p. 11)

11. So let’s get started . . .
Alright, so you know the numbers. You have thought long and hard about actually using social media. Now what? Well, many of you might have an online presence, but there are still plenty of basics that people overlook in the race to get noticed by teens.

12. A scene from our drama club’s zombie movie.
Coming to YouTube later this summer
Shameless plug:
First things first, consider your teens. In fact, get them involved. If you use social media, be it Facebook, a wiki, a blog, or a Twitter account, how involved were your teens? Find out what they want. The YALSA Toolkit recommends working with teens to build your presence, develop guidelines for blogging, commenting and making friends on the sites.

13. Build your relationships
In the library
Initiate
Listen
Discuss their interests
Don’t try too hard to fit in
Don’t patronize
On social media
Read their posts
Follow their links, find out what they’re interested in
Like, Retweet or Share anything you find interesting
Don’t try too hard to fit in
Don’t patronize
Don’t treat social media like it’s the cool thing you’re doing just to fit in; treat it like you would any other service. It’s a great way to connect and build personal relationships with teen patrons and other teen librarians, similar to building relationships in real life. And don’t forget to routinely update.

14. Teens are online, they are going to continue to be online
Teens are online, they are going to continue to be online. We are now in a time where children are born digital. As information professionals, we can use social networks to help teens learn about boundaries and expectations, become more conscious of social and cultural competence, and prepare them for better, safer digital citizenry.

15. Facebook allows institutions to set up “Fan” pages, and these give you invaluable stats for what people are looking at and what they are commenting on. Look to see how many times a post of yours has been “liked.” Give them more of what they want! Also pay attention to patron complaints and suggestions, many feel more comfortable speaking their mind online than face to face.

16. Twitter has its passionate followers, and it’s a great place to network with other librarians and authors. The 140 character limit seems built for teens’ fast-paced lives. Use it to share fun tweets from authors, write stories collaboratively, or add an interesting feed to “booklists,” on a list about space.

17. Paper.li
Teens don’t even necessarily have to follow or friend you. If you are committed to consistently posting interesting links and videos, and following people who do the same, you can use sites like Paper.li to digest the day’s most interesting stuff into a sleek easy-to-read newspaper format.

18. Ok. The tech is pretty cool!
With current advances in technology, librarians don’t have to be tied to a desk to do reference work or to connect with patrons. With social media, the librarian becomes 24/7. That doesn’t mean you have to be online 24/7, it just gives teens options to contact you and vice versa.

19. Avoid the creepy treehouse!
One last note, and this is an important one Avoid the creepy treehouse. The Creepy Tree House is when an authority figure or institution forces those below them into social or quasi social situations. Tell your teens about your online presence. But don’t force them to join you on social media sites. Because that’s creepy.
Avoid the creepy treehouse!

20. To read my full paper on this topic visit my blog: http://srld
I also blog on programming ideas at
Follow me on Twitter: @scottyrader
See me on YouTube: sarader, tabhplya
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