Welcome to the Twitterverse:

Getting started and making the most of

your library’s Twitter presence

Pic:
Bjarne P Tveskov

Valerie Forrestal, Stevens Institute of Technology

Handheld Librarian Redux – Yale, December 2009
 The Basics
• http://delicious.com/vforrestal/WhatisTwitter?
• The ultimate guide to everything Twitter
• @replies
• @mentions
• # hashtags (see below)
• URL shorteners (bit.ly, TinyURL,
icanhaz.com, is.gd, tr.im)

For more info on hashtags, see:

http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/12/23/making-the-
most-of-hashtags/

For hashtag directories, or to register a tag, see:

http://hashtags.org/
http://tagal.us/
http://www.hashdictionary.com/
 Why Tweet?
http://delicious.com/vforrestal/WhyTweet?

It’s not just about pushing

information, it’s about:

• Conversation
• Interaction
• Fostering community/advocacy
 Step 1: Strategy!
Start with a plan.

What will be the purpose of your

Twitter presence?
• Community-based information?
• Market-based info?
• Interaction with users?

Pick your screen name and

icon/photo carefully.
 Strategy, part 2: What to Tweet
• Library events
• Links to articles, videos, etc.
• Solicit feedback
• New additions to your collection
• Marketing
• Answer questions
(List from Andy Burkhardt)
http://www.kellyd.com/2009/07/29/how-you
r-library-may-not-be-using-twitter-but-shoul
d/

http://philbradley.typepad.com/phil_bradleys
_weblog/2009/01/using-twitter-in-libraries.h
tml

http://andyburkhardt.com/2009/07/27/six-thi
ngs-libraries-should-tweet/
 Step 2: Following
Make sure you have a bio, and post a little first, so users know what you’re all about.
Then try searching:
• Directories like Twellow, WeFollow, Twibes
• Compiled lists (http://delicious.com/vforrestal/Tweeple)
• Other users- if you like them,
you will probably like the
people they follow
• Conversations- Who are the
people you like talking to?

New! Lists:
http://twitter.com/mlibrarianus/libraryland
http://twitter.com/MLx/libr
http://twitter.com/val_forrestal/librarians
-or-
Search for lists @ http://listorious.com/
 Step 3: Tools
• http://delicious.com/vforrestal/TwitterTools
• Tweetdeck/Seesmic/Twhirl (desktop
clients)
• Tweetdeck/Tweetie/Twitterfon/
Birdfeed/Twitterberry
(mobile clients)
• Echofon (Firefox add-on, fka
Twitterfox)
• Troy’s Twitter script (GreaseMonkey
script for FF)
• Digsby (integrates
chat/facebook/LinkedIn/MySpace)
• Ping.fm (update multiple statuses
from one site
• Tweet Sync (updates facebook
status w/Twitter feed)
 Tips
• http://delicious.com/vforrestal/TwitterTips
• Twitter is a network, so don’t follow people you’re not willing to have a
conversation with
• Create an rss feed to monitor who is talking about you/your org. (you can also set
this to email you if you don’t use a feed-reader)
• Don’t be afraid to respond to people/start conversations. Just jump in!
• Use hashtags whenever you can to expand conversations beyond your network
• Track who’s clicking your links by creating a
bit.ly or icanhaz account
• Don’t just push your own agenda, act as an
amplifier for voices in your community
• Publish your feed on your homepage and/or
blog to reach those not using the service
(realize that many people still don’t have an
account, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use
it to get info out to them!)
 Resources/further reading
• http://delicious.com/vforrestal/Twitter
• http://mashable.com/tag/twitter/
• http://icanhaz.com/TwitterGuide
• http://icanhaz.com/Twitter4Libraries
• http://icanhaz.com/SocialMediaSnobbery (shameless self-promotion!)

• Feel free to say hello on Twitter! (val_forrestal or scwLibrary)

• Presentation available @ http://www.slideshare.net/val_forrestal

• My website/contact info: http://vforrestal.info

Note: because of conversion/viewing problems that sometimes occur in

slideshare,
all links mentioned in this presentation are listed on the last slide (in the order in
which they were mentioned)
• http://delicious.com/vforrestal/WhatisTwitter%3F
• http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/03/the-ultimate-guide-for-everything-twitter/
• http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/12/23/making-the-most-of-hashtags/
• http://hashtags.org/
• http://tagal.us/
• http://www.hashdictionary.com/
• http://delicious.com/vforrestal/WhyTweet%3F
• http://www.kellyd.com/2009/07/29/how-your-library-may-not-be-using-twitter-but-should/
• http://philbradley.typepad.com/phil_bradleys_weblog/2009/01/using-twitter-in-libraries.html
• http://andyburkhardt.com/2009/07/27/six-things-libraries-should-tweet/
• http://delicious.com/vforrestal/Tweeple
• http://twitter.com/mlibrarianus/libraryland
• http://twitter.com/MLx/libr
• http://twitter.com/val_forrestal/librarians
• http://listorious.com/
• http://delicious.com/vforrestal/TwitterTools
• http://delicious.com/vforrestal/TwitterTips
• http://delicious.com/vforrestal/Twitter
• http://mashable.com/tag/twitter/
• http://icanhaz.com/Twitter4Libraries
• http://icanhaz.com/SocialMediaSnobbery
• http://www.slideshare.net/val_forrestal
• http://vforrestal.info