Welcome to the Twitterverse:

Valerie Forrestal, Stevens Institute of Technology

Handheld Librarian Redux – Yale, December 2009

Getting started and making the most of your library’s Twitter

presence

Pic: Bjarne P Tveskov

The Basics• http://delicious.com/vforrestal/Whatis

Twitter?• The ultimate guide to everything Twit

ter• @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

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/

• Library events• Links to articles, videos, etc. • Solicit feedback • New additions to your collection • Marketing• Answer questions (List from Andy Burkhardt)

Step 2: FollowingMake 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/librarylandhttp://twitter.com/MLx/librhttp://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-everyth

ing-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-twitt

er-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