Sample Social Media Guidance for Libraries 

Draft PaLA Social Media Policy

This draft policy utilizes the ALA library social media policy template and is tailored to PaLA’s context. It details all current accounts and provides guidance for using the accounts including creating and removing content. This document is meant to be a draft and will benefit from additional insight from the board and the PR & Marketing committee, and any other relevant stakeholders. 

Best Practices Guide for Social Media

This guide gives all libraries an overview to get started with or improve their social media practices. We provide a list of questions to consider about your social media presence, top 10 best practices, and a guide to social media platforms and social media management tools. 

Academic Library Social Media Policy Template

This template is based on the ALA library social media policy template as well as other policy documents from academic libraries. It provides academic libraries with the major components of a social media policy with questions for them to consider in each category as they draft their own policy. 

Public Library Social Media Policy Template

This template is based on the ALA library social media policy template. It provides public libraries with the major components of a social media policy with questions for them to consider in each category as they draft their own policy. 

The group also hosted a webinar in spring 2019 to explain the documents further and to engage Association members in their project. That webinar can be accessed at https://youtu.be/AjkKwldosVA. 

The map is an effective advocacy tool because it gives legislators a snapshot of how the libraries in their districts are moving PA Forward. It can be updated over time and our team hopes that all libraries will eventually be represented so that everyone may see the innovative programs that take place in Pennsylvania libraries.

To create the map, our team developed and sent out a survey to public and academic libraries throughout Pennsylvania asking them to share information about their programs and how they relate to the five literacies identified by PA Forward. There were close to 150 responses, representing 89 House and 40 Senate districts. Once the information was compiled in Google Docs, an ArcGIS mapping program was used to create an interactive map.  Every library that responded is represented by a "pin" on the map.  Clicking on a "pin" opens up a dialog box with the name of the library along with a list of literacies and a link to more information.

Click here to check out the map!

This group, along with the other PALS 3013 groups, will present their completed projects in a Poster Session scheduled for 5:00 PM on Tuesday during the 2014 PaLA Annual Conference.

Project Participants

• Ryan Ake - Pennsylvania State College
• Therese Barry - Green County Library System
• Cathy Bittle - Ridley Township Public Library
• Regina Braidotti - West Chester University
• Carrie Sturgill - Radnor Memorial Library

We've created a brief, entertaining video that provides laypersons with an updated perspective on the roles and services that 21st century public libraries provide in Pennsylvania.

Please spread the word, and share the video, so everyone across the state sees that libraries today are far more than books!

The video is available at http://tinyurl.com/PALS2014Video.

Project Participants

• Diane Demko
• Beverly Lawler
• Kaitlyn Lyons
• Tracy Powell
• Chrissy Sirianni
• Lauren Smyth

What is the PaLA Speakers BureauBlog?

I am a Speaker!  How Do I Register?

• It is important that all presentations be informative, engaging, and well-presented
• Content should be relevant to Pennsylvania libraries. No presentation should conflict with the mission and vision of the Pennsylvania Library Association.
• Presenters must provide evaluative feedback to the PaLA on presentations made as a result of being listed as a resource with the Speakers Bureau.
• Presenters are expected to display expertise in their topical area and present effectively. 

Project Participants

• Audrey Young
• Charity Leonette
• Leslie Christianson
• Lori Lysiak
• Mary Ann Lewis

Customer Service is the practice of providing library customers with the resources they want in the most professional, efficient, and courteous manner possible.

What Can We Share?

Our group has compiled resources in the following areas of customer service:

• communication
• physical space
• staffing

We encourage you to check it out on our 2012 PALS Customer Service site on Google.

Project Participants

• Laura Ax-FultzBarb Eshbach
• Beth Gwin
• Evonne Loomis
• Richard Miller
• Paula Glibert, Mentor

Are you interested in building your career through presenting and/or publishing?

We've got the perfect place for you to get started!

As part of the 2012 PaLA Academy of Leadership Studies, our group project focused on compiling information and resources on publishing and presenting for professionals in the library world.

Our project can be found on the PaLA website!

Check it out, then comment on here to tell us what you think! We will also be at the 2013 PaLA Annual Conference to share more information with you. Look for us there!

Project Participants:

• Amy Deuink
• Dana Barber
• William Fee
• Katie Nicholson
• Melissa Szafran