Introduction
Welcome to the second thing in 12 Things SWKLS. This month we will be learning about Facebook Pages.
The activities for this lesson are due June 30, 2016 at 11:59 pm CDT and are worth 2 credit hours. Estimated work time: 1-2 hours.
If you would rather complete an alternate topic, please go to the alternate topic page and pick one from the list. If you aren’t interested in creating or have access to an organization Facebook Page, there is a personal Facebook lesson in the alternate topics as well as a Hootsuite topic for more advanced Facebook users. (Hootsuite is a social media management tool.)
Facebook Pages are for businesses, brands and organizations to share their stories and connect with people. Like personal profiles, you can customize Pages by publishing stories, hosting events, adding apps and more. People who like your Page and their friends can get updates in News Feed.
You can create and manage a Page from your personal account. No worries, your personal Facebook account isn’t linked in any way to your library’s Facebook page other than using it login so you can update your library’s Facebook page.
Personal profiles are for non-commercial use and represent individual people. Pages look similar to personal profiles, but they offer unique tools for businesses, brands and organizations. Pages are managed by people who have personal profiles. You can like a Page to see updates in News Feed.
Keep in mind that each person who signs up for Facebook has one account with login information. Each account can have one personal profile and manage multiple Pages. (taken from https://www.facebook.com/help/www/217671661585622)
Content
Facebook Pages are a great way to share the following and more:
- Library Pictures
- Upcoming Events
- Library Closings
- Job Postings
- Surveys/Forms
- New Books
- Library Happenings
- Contact Information
- Library Hours
- Library Location
- Website Address
- Card Catalog Access
A few examples of Library Facebook Pages in Southwest Kansas:
- Jetmore Public Library
- Stevens County Library
- Cimarron City Libray
- Dodge City Public Library
- Wichita County Public Library
A few examples of other types of Facebook Pages that are well managed in SW Kansas:
- Victory Electric Cooperative
- Clark County – Sheriff
- Pioneer Electric Cooperative
- KSCB/The Legend – radio station
Exercises: (Due June 30, 2016 at 11:59 pm CDT)
Tools you’ll need:
- A Facebook account or email address
- A computer or internet enabled device
- An internet connection
- Watch 15 Ways to Improve Your Library’s Facebook Page from Techsoup
- Read Facebook For Libraries: How to Create a Quick and Appealing Post
- If you already have a Facebook page for your library or organization, skip this step.
- Create a Facebook Page for your library or an organization you work with if you haven’t already.
- Before creating it’s a good idea to search and make sure the organization doesn’t already have one.
- GCFLearn has a great tutorial on creating a Facebook Page if you need help.
- Check your page to make sure it has the following and edit them or add them if needed.
- Hours
- Location
- Contact Information
- Website Information
- Do at least 5 of these things:
- Update the profile picture on your page
- Update the cover photo on your page
- If you want to add a Summer Reading picture there are Facebook Cover Images on the cds. There’s one for the Early Lit, Childrens, Teen, and Adult section. Go to each section and look for the PPT and Facebook Folder.
- Schedule a post for a future time
- Pin a Post
- Post pictures from an event
- Add an Event
- Check out DCPL’s Facebook Page for inspiration
- Directions
- Answer a question or respond to a comment on your organization page.
- Add another administrator to your Facebook Page.
- Add a call to action button.
- Post a comment with the following:
- A link to the Facebook Page you worked on for this lesson.
- A link to one of your favorite Facebook Pages and why it’s your favorite.
- What you learned this lesson.
- Reply to one other comment below.
- Fill out this form for verification.
33 comments
Skip to comment form
Library Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Scott-County-Library-100005632588/?fref=ts
A favorite Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofLakeScott/?fref=ts
Favorite as it promotes one of my favorite places!
I learned how to pin a post and that upcoming events can not last longer than 2 weeks 🙁 thus I was unable to create an event(Summer Reading Program) for the entire month of June
Author
Millie,
I didn’t know that about the events, either! That’s kind of silly! I will see if there is some kind of a work around and let you know if there is.
Lake Scott is pretty awesome. Thank you for sharing and all of the great work you do for them.
I thought it was pretty silly, too!!!!
Visiting Lake Scott is a must for me this summer. I have joined their facebook page so I can keep up on what is going on.
Awesome, Ruby!!!! Hope to see you out there some time!!!
Beach House is open Thursday-Sunday. 10-8 on Fridays and Saturdays; 10-6ish on Thursdays and Sundays, depending on business.
What a bummer about the upcoming events! I think it would be so useful to be able to put a whole program (like Summer Reading or a Fall or Spring Program) on there.
Hopefully Janelle finds that work around 🙂
Author
I have done research on this and it sounds like this is a new thing Facebook changed. You used to be able to add events with a timeline as long as you wanted. I have looked for a solution and there doesn’t seem to be one. 🙁 I will keep my eyes open.
Your idea of mini-golfing through the library is a really cool idea! will definitely have to recommend it to my fellow co-workers!
Author
Caleb,
I think Cimarron City Library did mini-golfing, too. I am not sure if there were pictures on their Facebook page or not.
Library’s Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/LaneCoLibrary/?fref=ts
Favorite facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/thepioneerwoman/?fref=ts
I love her post and her recipe’s. She is a favorite of mine.
I learned to schedule a post and put an event on. Also I learned that getting the right size of photo to add to a post or to a cover photo is not easy. I hope next year the Summer Reading CD will address this.
Author
I love the Pioneer Woman, too! I hope to visit her new Mercantile some day. She does a great job of using Facebook to promote her brand.
There is a picture for each program on the Summer Reading CD that works well for Facebook covers. If you have the cd go to: On Your Mark Childrens and look for the PPT and Facebook Folder. There’s also one in the Early, Teen, and Adult section. I didn’t see them at first! I’ll add this to the directions to help others.
Ruby, I have had the same issue with the CD. A bit frustrating. It would be nice if we could upload the pic to facebook and then select a size like we can on our WordPress sites.
Getting the right size of photo to add to a post or cover photo can be very disturbing. It almost requires a bottle of wine. 🙂 But…if you stay with it and find your determination you can do it Ruby!!!
Also, I’m not familiar with the Pioneer Woman, (she probably doesn’t drink wine) haha. but I will check her out! Thanks for the recommendation, I always need new recipes. 🙂
Author
You’ll have to check her out Denise! She’s awesome! She also has a cooking show on Food Network. I am guessing she may also drink wine… hehe.
I agree Ruby – I struggled with the CD this year as well!
Love the Pioneer Woman..she has the best recipes and tips!!!
I also noticed the picture sizing and that the clipart on cd was too large and couldn’t be resized 🙁
Scott County Library Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Scott-County-Library-100005632588/
I wanted to put the hours the library is open on the front page instead of being listed under the “About” tab. However, you have to be a “Business” to have the hours show there. We want to leave our page as “educational”.
Some of my favorite pages to follow is Eric Litwin’s author page and his Learning Groove page: https://www.facebook.com/mrericbooks/
https://www.facebook.com/The-Learning-Groove-206590029368623/?fref=ts
There are great ideas for storytime and interaction with kids plus the latest news on his books.
Author
Stephanie,
I did not realize that about the hours. Facebook definitely has some weird things with pages.
Hamilton County Library Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hamilton-County-Library-Syracuse-492547147543077/
One of my favorite FB pages is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/925824114131502/
This is a group my best friend administers for those who choose to learn more about Young Living Essential Oils. I just started researching and trying a few things and it’s wonderful to have a little community that shares and helps each other.
I learned a lot for someone that has been using FB for the library for what seems like awhile. I am horrible about getting photos uploaded in a timely manner, horrible about having good photos for a profile or cover (still don’t). I did not know about the “schedule a post” for a future time – awesome!! And love the ideas from “15 Ways” to maybe engage our patrons more.
I have a friend in Colorado Springs who uses the Essential Oils. She speaks very highly of it.
Facebook Page http://nesscitylibrary.org/
Favorite Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/CMZoo/
I had a wonderful job there before I moved to Kansas.
Some of the things I did not do because Jean had already done them and did not want to change them. But, I was glad to learn how to Schedule a Post and Add an Event. This will help me with my own Facebook page, as well.
My FB page http://nesscitylibrary.org
Favorite FB page ttps://www.facebook.com/DebbieMacomberWorld/?fref=ts Debbie Macomber is one of my favorite authors, so I like to see what’s coming next. Feels like you know them personally when you see their families etc.
As Laurie said, since we both work on the same site, we were unable to do everything, as the other had just done that step. I was glad to learn about pinning a post. There had been several times, I wanted a post to stay at the top of our page but didn’t know how to do this. Also scheduling a post for a future date will come in handy.
Rudy I to love the Pioneer Woman and her FB page. Oil seem to be very popular, thanks for sharing that one Amy.
Author
I follow Debbie as well and love her updates.
https://www.facebook.com/Stanton-County-Public-Library-43636261259/
Better late then never, Right? I enjoy working with FB and for some reason I can wrap my old brain around most everything it does rather then what our website work does. I find it easy to work with however…the drop down arrows never occurred to me to have so many functions. So, I did learn something new from those. I also learned how to Schedule a post for the future and Pin a Post.
Oh, my favorite FB page belongs to this decorated officer: Kris Paronto, he is a former U.S. Army Ranger who fought in the September 11, 2012 Benghazi terrorist attack and author of the book 13 Hours. I had the privilege of meeting him while at the 245th Marine Birthday Celebration this year. If you haven’t read his book nor watched the newly released DVD you should.
I am going to have to watch the movie!
My Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Qs-Corner-Daylight-Donuts-1853889284838623/
Favorite Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/sanitaryumfunny/
This is a really good page because it is really good humor and you don’t have to worry about any junk.
Something I learned: Creating a Facebook page is not difficult. That the amount of posts and their content are really important when deciding what/when to post. Pictures and videos are more important than words. That pictures of people make for better cover photos than pictures of your building.
https://www.facebook.com/Hamilton-County-Library-Syracuse-492547147543077/
My favorite page is the Librarian Problems https://www.facebook.com/librarianproblemstumblr/ page because I get a good laugh out of it.
I learned how to schedule a post for the future which I thought was neat!
Author
That page always really makes me laugh, too! I can totally relate to a lot of their posts.
That page kind of reminds me of another one, Fake Library Statistics.
Our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GreeleyCoLibrary/
I learned how to pin & schedule posts. I still have some trouble with pictures, mainly because I can never find them after I download them to my computer! One of these days I’ll learn to put them where I can find them easily… right… anyway, one of my favorite pages is Kansas History Geeks, lots of interesting things pop up! I also like The Beauty of Greeley County which has photos contributed by local people. Mostly I like keeping up with my friends & relatives’ grandkids 😉
Author
Ginger,
I’ll work on adding a photo management or file management thing to the alternative thing list! The Beauty of Greeley County page sounds amazing! I will look that one up!
I schedule posts with my Hootsuite account – but I did like the call to action button. I had not done that before! I enjoyed the video and the additional material – gave me somethings to think about!