Applications of social networking tools in libraries

Abstract

This is an exploratory study investigating on the use of social networking tools in academic libraries. The major areas examined include reasons for using or not using social networking tools, length of usage and perceived benefits and costs of using these tools. One hundred and forty universities were selected to complete a survey. Twenty-seven responses were received and the response rate reached 19.3%. Twenty-one (77.8%) used social networking tools for work, one (3.7%) was a potential user who planned to use these tools and 5 (18.5%) did not plan to use at all. Facebook and Twitter are the most commonly adopted tools in university libraries. Despite the fact that costs are incurred in managing social networking profiles, current users found that the benefits outweigh the costs. This study offers insights for academic librarians to make informed decisions in applying social networking tools. Academic libraries should not miss out on the potential of social networking tools in promoting their services.