The Librarian's Nitty-Gritty Guide to Social Media

May 15, 2013

Many libraries have ventured--some by dipping their toes, others by plunging headfirst--into the world of social media; in too many cases, however, they didn't do so in a strategic manner and aren't seeing a positive return on their investment. Solomon (library services mgr., Ohio Public Information Network) presents a how-to guide that is equally helpful to those first starting out and to those who have been posting for a while but are still finding themselves treading water. Similar to Ned Potter's The Library Marketing Toolkit, this title provides case studies of libraries that have excelled with their marketing efforts. Solomon's in-depth analysis of what success is and how to measure it to gain support from stakeholders will be useful to those who must constantly prove that their social media efforts are a justified use of staff time. Especially helpful are the detailed sample postings that not only give suggestions for libraries to model but also examine unsuccessful posts and explain what makes them less than desirable. VERDICT The Librarian's Nitty-Gritty Guide to Social Media provides successful formulas for modeling social media goals, strategies, and content calendars.--Kendra Auberry, Martin Cty. Lib. Syst., Stuart, FL

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2014

Folktales are an integral part of children's literature and are the basis for many classic books librarians use daily in their work. These much loved tales are also the backbone of the art of storytelling. Unlike reading aloud and singing rhymes and finger plays in a storytime, storytelling is a way to engage and captivate your audience on another level. Del Negro leads novice tellers through the nuances of successful storytelling. She discusses how to best select tales that are appropriate for particular age groups, and how to turn simple words on a page into an engaging presentation that will capture your audience's attention and imagination. While storytelling may feel intimidating for many, Del Negro's assurances will impart confidence that those new to this practice may seek. The author provides more than 15 popular folktales that she has adapted and retold. These tales are captioned as Storycoaching and Del Negro does just that; coach readers on how to verbally interpret the tale in a way that they feel comfortable. Each chapter is broken out by age group. Advice is offered in a very practical way on how to approach this group and suggestions are made as to how to grab and hold their interest with pacing, movement and suspense. If you have even a passing interest in the art of storytelling, this guide is not to be missed.-Allison Santos, Princeton Public Library, NJ

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.