ERIC Number: EJ896820
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 5
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1041-7915
EISSN: N/A
Facebook vs. Twitter: Battle of the Social Network Stars
Tagtmeier, Curt
Computers in Libraries, v30 n7 p6-10 Sep 2010
Twitter. Facebook. These names stir up feelings, opinions, and experiences in just about everyone. As these services rise in popularity, libraries have begun to use them to reach out to patrons. Some libraries use Twitter but not Facebook. Some use Facebook but not Twitter. Some use both Facebook and Twitter, while others use neither. Yes, the popularity of these social networking services does warrant implementation as a way to reach patrons. But, as the author had always preferred using Facebook, was there room for Twitter at the table? As he struggled with this issue, many questions occupied his thoughts when discussing libraries and social networking. Should a library choose one over the other? What are the major differences, if any? Does one service have greater value or return on your investment? Was there an easy way to do both? In May 2010, Illinois' Fremont Public Library, where author Curt Tagtmeier is a reference librarian, began a project that started a Facebook page and a Twitter profile to take advantage of the popularity of social networking. This article will seek to answer the question of whether a library should choose Facebook or Twitter in a battle of the social network stars.
Descriptors: Public Libraries, Social Networks, Network Analysis, Reference Services, Computer Software Reviews, Computer Software Selection, Library Automation, Library Development, Technology Uses in Education, Program Implementation, Information Technology
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Illinois
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A