April 18, 2024

No Such Thing As Too Many Cat Pictures: Q&A With Amanda Brennan | The Digital Shift 2013

Amanda Brennan

Social media is becoming a more and more important way for libraries to interact with their patrons, and one ingredient of that is passing along interesting pieces of information about the library’s many programs and activities. Another very important part, though, is posting the occasional cat picture or funny video, or other piece of viral content, commonly known as memes. At The Digital Shift: Reinventing Libraries virtual event, held by Library Journal and School Library Journal on October 16, Know Your Meme’s resident librarian, Amanda Brennan, offered her thoughts on how libraries can use memes to engage their patrons and boost their followings on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. We revisited that presentation, and picked Brennan’s brain on some other points, in a Q&A that offers some pointers for beginners looking to make their library’s Facebook page a must read.

Power to the Patron Q&A: San José Public Library’s Nate Hill on Making Use of Mobile Tech

As part of the preparation for the upcoming LJ Virtual Tech Summit on December 8, The Digital Shift has been featuring interviews with some of the panelists (including Darien Library’s Gretchen Caserotti and Brigham Young University’s Michael Whitchurch). Most recently, LJ touched base with Nate Hill, web librarian at San José Public Library, CA, to discuss mobile tech in libraries.

Power to the Patron Q&A: Darien Library’s Gretchen Caserotti on Self-Service

As part of the preparation for the upcoming LJ Virtual Tech Summit on December 8, The Digital Shift is featuring interviews with some of the panelists. LJ talked to Gretchen Caserotti, assistant director for public services at Darien Library, CT, and a 2010 LJ Mover & Shaker, about self-service at Darien Library.

Power to the Patron Q&A: BYU’s Michael Whitchurch on Mobile Trends in Libraries

As part of the preparation for the upcoming LJ Virtual Tech Summit on December 8, The Digital Shift is featuring interviews with some of the panelists. First up is Michael Whitchurch, chair of the Learning Commons Department in the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, who will take part in a panel on “Mobile Apps: What Do Users Need?” LJ asked Whitchurch a few questions about QR codes and other mobile trends in libraries.