The bodleian libraries cilip social media talk

The Bodleian Libraries and social media

Adam KoszaryCommunications and Social Media Officer

@adamkoszaryadam.koszary@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

• The largest university library system in the UK

• 30 libraries in total

• Includes the principal University library, the Bodleian Library

• A working library since 1602

• A museum, kind of.

We are

Collections

• 12 million printed books

• Over 80,000 e-journals

• 8,519,034 items held at the Book Storage Facility

Special Collections• Rare books • Manuscripts• Classical papyri• Maps• Music• Art• Printed ephemera

Digital• Centre for Digital

Scholarship• BDLSS• Digital.Bodleian• Constant rotation of

digital projects• Communications team

includes a Digital team

Why are we on social media?

• To build our brand• Discoverability of

collections• To have conversations• To help our readers• To open up the Libraries• To sell events• To crash websites

Our platforms

Primary accounts:TwitterFacebookInstagramTumblr

Secondary accounts:LinkedInGoogle+Pinterest

With a little help from our friends

...and my boss

Strategy• Commits us to an

agreed level of activity• Makes method of

madness• Aligns our aims with

those of the wider Bodleian Libraries and the University of Oxford

Aim 1

Use social media to encourage strong association with and affection for the Bodleian Libraries brand

Aim 2

Tell the Bodleian Libraries’ stories more effectively

Aim 3

Ensure that social media channels are being used optimally both strategically and tactically to maximise reach, engagement and impact

Statistics!• Statistics on all platforms collected monthly and reported to

Communications Team and Executive.

• Lessons from each month are summarised and applied to the next month’s activity.

• Engagement is more valuable to us than reach.

• Dips in statistics are not failures if they can be explained.

• Statistics justify my job.

Keeping an eye on the competition

Aim 4

• Increase audience size and participationOR• The catch-all

Aim 5

Make Oxford University more of a social business• Facebook group to discuss ideas• Advocacy within the Libraries• Regular training of staff and graduate trainees

Creating content

• Heavily reliant on digitized collections

• Very often my own photography

• A lot of Photoshop• Bodleian blogs and

events

Challenges

• Resources• Getting the tone right• Copyright…• Crisis management

Our social media essentials

• Always link to the catalogue• Seek out or create original content• Learn Copyright law• Add value• Be opportunistic• Take risks• Have fun

Questions?

Twitter: @bodleianlibsFacebook: /bodleianlibrariesInstagram: @bodleianlibsTumblr: @bodleianlibs

@adamkoszaryadam.koszary@bodleian.ox.ac.uk