This document discusses using Facebook for professional networking and services. It begins by asking attendees about their Facebook use and professional use. It then outlines how Facebook can be used for networking, sharing resources, promoting skills, learning about other libraries, and discussing ideas in the field. It discusses caveats like mixing personal and professional accounts and privacy settings. Examples are given of professional associations using Facebook pages successfully, including a division of the Special Libraries Association that saw a 250% increase in engagement after creating a Facebook page. The document encourages sharing useful information, promoting events, and showcasing members on such pages. Maintaining and varying Facebook content is discussed.

1. Using Facebook for
Professional Networking and
Professional Service
Elaine M. Lasda Bergman
Presentation for
Professional Activities Committee
December 11, 2012

2. “Taking Your Temperature”
1 How many of you have a
Facebook account?
2 How often do you use it?
3 Do you use it for
professional purposes?
4 Do you use it to reach out
and connect with students
and faculty?

3. What we’re going to cover
• Networking and service – why?
• Professional Uses for personal FB pages
• Caveats
• FB Organizational Pages for Professional
Associations
• Caveats

4. Why do we join
Professional Associations?

5. What benefit is there to sharing
info on FB with other librarians?

6. Share Resources

7. Promote Your Skill Set

8. What’s going on
at other Libraries?

9. Find Speakers for Programming

10. Discuss the
“big ideas” in
our field

11. Stuff to Talk About IRL

12. Be Acknowledged By Peers

13. Caveats
• Mixing personal and professional can be
tricky
• Understand FB privacy settings and use
them
• Consider separate accounts if you’re
squirrelly

14. A Quick Primer on Privacy

15. All the Privacy Options!

16. Custom Visibility
May wish to have
this unchecked (can
set to approve if
others tag you and
have this checked)

17. Blocking People and Apps

18. Help With Privacy Settings

19. Many use FB to
move professional
friendships into
the personal
realm.

20. Facebook for Professional
Service Organizations

21. SLA DSOC
Communication Committee
Survey of Members:
• 66% in EasternTime Zone
• 55.3% unaware of FB page
• 60.7% check FB at least once a week (39.4%
each day)
• Also looked at Twitter, LinkedIn, Web Page
Survey created and executed by Brandy King, Owner of KnowledgeLinking in
Boston, MA. (DSOC Chair, 2012).

22. SLA DSOC
Communication Committee
Created Communications Plan
• Outlined Priorities
– (main target is existing members)
• Strategies for each social network based
on survey responses

23. Facebook Section
• Purpose: To promote blog entries and other SLA- and division-related
news, events and resources by appearing in the social media stream of our
members.
• Writing style: Informal
• Length: 1-2 sentences and a link, photo, video or question
• Update Schedule: 2x/week between 6pm and 10pm EST
• Person responsible for upkeep: Facebook coordinator (in 2012, Chair is
responsible)
• Communications Committee support: Suggesting non-blog content to
link to, suggesting pages to follow, inviting other DSOC and SLA members
to follow the page, commenting on and sharing posted content when
possible.

24. Results for Facebook
Oct 2011: Total Likes 88, Engaged Users 10, Total Impressions 223
Oct 2012: Total Likes 112, Engaged Users 23, Total Impressions 695
250%
200% Likes
150%
Engaged
100% Users
Total
50%
Impressions
0%
% increase
• Social Media Referrals to DSOC website: 53% from FB

25. What is Posted
on DSOC FB?

26. Drive Traffic To Blog

27. Useful Info from Other Groups

28. Organizational Business

29. Resources

30. Feature/Promote Events

31. Showcase Members

32. Also: Invitations for Events

33. Caveats
• Constant maintenance
• Turnover of leadership
• Variety
• Set goals

34. Is It Worth The Trouble?

35. Questions?