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Social Media and User Engagement @BU Digital Collections

Social Media and User Engagement @BU Digital Collections. Eric S. Ames Curator of Digital Collections Baylor University www.facebook.com/BaylorDigitalCollections. Who Are We?. The Baylor University Libraries Digital Collections

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Social Media and User Engagement @BU Digital Collections

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  1. Social Media and User Engagement @BU Digital Collections Eric S. Ames Curator of Digital Collections Baylor University www.facebook.com/BaylorDigitalCollections

  2. Who Are We? • The Baylor University Libraries Digital Collections • 55 collections drawn from on-campus special libraries and other holding institutions • Largest single-source collection in Texas • Four full-time staff, 4 graduate assistants, 8 undergrad students

  3. Our Challenges No physical visitors (obviously!) Painting with a broad brush If people crave the “real stuff,” how do we give it to them in pixels?

  4. Who Uses Our Collections? • Campus community • Faculty • Students • Researchers around the world • Genealogists • Local historians

  5. What We Considered When Choosing Social Media Outlets Pros Challenges Success means time Uncontrollable variables Finding good content Knowing where to start • People love library and archival materials • Social media is flexible and adaptable • Build an audience of advocates

  6. What We Chose … Facebook Blog (WordPress via EduBlogs) Flickr (Pro account) Podcast (Audacity and Garage Band) HistoryPin

  7. … And Why Facebook: Entry point to collections, other outreach Blog: In-depth, context, professional musings Flickr: Enhanced or otherwise altered versions of items from digital collections Podcast: Interviews, item readings, performances HistoryPin: Like Pinterest but history-related

  8. Social Media Successes • The Blog • “So,We Can Throw These Out Now, Right?” was posted on 8/23/12 • Picked up by GovDocs listserv, went “viral” • 3,265 views in 28 days (a record)

  9. Social Media Successes • Blog posts as researcher outreach • War of the Rebellion Atlas • US Marine Corps • Middle Tennessee State U. researcher • Browning Letters • Dutch rhetoric graduate student • Scholars in UK • Spencer Sheet Music Collection • Professor studying race in 19th c. sheet music • “I’m A Little Teapot” and a British non-profit

  10. The Brownings, Love and the Associated Press • Launch of Browning Letters Project, Feb. 14, 2012 • AP exclusive through Boston area office • Picked up around the world • Led to 1M+ views of collection in 3 days

  11. What We Don’t Use(For Now, at Least) • Pinterest • Doesn’t play well with our digital asset management software • YouTube • Time intensive, most materials are archival • Exception: promotional video, tour of Riley Center • Twitter • Not a “breaking news” kind of shop • Exception: George W. Truett Sermons (@GWTruettSermons)

  12. What We’ve Learned About Social Media • It can be very random • It takes time • Building an audience is tough when you’re all virtual • You never REALLY know what people will like • Spell checking is super important

  13. Also: People Love Civil War Materials

  14. Join Us, Won’t You? http://digitalcollections.baylor.edu www.facebook.com/BaylorDigitalCollections www.flickr.com/BaylorDigitalCollections http://blogs.baylor.edu/digitalcollections eric_ames@baylor.edu

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