[Photo]-Opportunities for Engagement Kassy, 2013 Using Instagram to Promote Student Library Use ACRL National Library Marketing & Outreach Interest Group-Greater NYC Area Nora Almeida and Junior Tidal, New York City College of Technology, CUNY
Outline Introduction Background Instagram Contest Banned Books Week Exhibit Future Improvements
Introduction This documents the Ursula C. Schwerin Library effort in building a social media presence using Instagram - @citytechlibrary. Instagram uses photographs to document and share library events and happenings. Photos are taken with a mobile device such as a Smartphone/tablet. Instagram encourages on/offline interaction with the goal of students eventually using library services.
Background City Tech Urban commuter campus ~17,000 FTE Dearth of common space Incoming Students Unfamiliar with support services Little experience with academic research Underutilization of library Use of space = use of resources or services
Benefits of early library exposure First-year undergraduate students who use the library have a higher GPA for their ● first semester and higher retention from fall to spring than non-library users. (Soria, Fransen, & Nackerud, 2013) 2015 ACRL study found…. Library instruction contributes to retention and persistence, particularly for ● students in first-year experience courses and programs. Students who receive library instruction achieve higher grades and demonstrate ● better information literacy competencies than students who do not receive course-related library instruction. A library’s research and study space fosters social and academic community ● among students.
Instagram Contest Contest ran from August-September, 2015 to coincide with New Student Orientation. Incentivized with prize. New students received flyers announcing the contest in orientation packets. Flyers to promote the contest also posted around campus and shared via library social media. Library commissioned Ursula the Owl to encourage student participation, which was on display during an Orientation Information Fair. Student tagged @citytechlibrary or used #citytechlibrary #citytechorientation.
Instagram Contest Goals Get new students into the library ● Encourage students to follow library social media ● accounts and learn more about library services Promote our online library orientation ● Results Owl cutout was a hit at the Orientation information fair but overall, contest participation level wasn’t as high as we hoped.
Banned Books Week Created a BBW exhibit using book covers to obscure the cover of a banned book from the collection. Descriptions of the banning were written on covers, ex. “Banned for offensive language and violence.” Photo of the exhibit placed on Instagram.
Banned Books Week The display went up on September 25th. This is the display at the end of BBW on October 1st. Most of the books were loaned out to students. Some loans were returned with the BBW jacket.
Future Improvements Repeat BBW exhibit and post more pictures of pieces on Instagram. Use hashtags connecting the exhibit with other BBW efforts. Encourage students and faculty to post BBW on their Instagram. Try Instagram Contest again but aim for face-time at Orientation to promote. Use library Instagram (and other social media) accounts to promote library events & happenings.
Questions? Nora Almeida Find the City Tech Library on Instagram! nalmeida@citytech.cuny.edu @citytechlibrary Twitter: @nora_almeida #citytechlibrary Junior Tidal jtidal@citytech.cuny.edu Twitter: @juniortidal
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