Picture Perfect Transforming the Library Tour

with Instagram

Elizabeth Marcus, Undergraduate Experience Librarian, Western Carolina University, emarcus@email.wcu.edu

What Type of Library Do You Work At?

Which Social Media Platforms Does Your

Library Use?

The Challen

geTraditional library tours did not engage first-year students at the point-of-need.

The Idea• Colleague shared

information from ACRL conference.

• Lauren Wallis, author of Do-It-Yourself Library Instruction blog.

Online Adults, ages 18-29

Use Instagram

(Pew Research Center, 2015)

The Data

The Activity

1. Divide class into small groups.

2. Assign each group a task(s) (e.g., find the best study spot).

3. Provide 10-15 minutes for exploration.

4. Return to instruction space to review photos. Librarian may add new information at this time.

Activity Tasks

• A poster about the library’s classification system

• A room you can reserve to practice group presentations

• A book in the general collection about careers in tourism

• A DVD you would like to check out.• A book in the reference collection about

Africa• Something you would not expect to see

in a library

• Meet a library staff member and ask what they do. Instagram an item related to their job duties. (Do not take their picture unless they volunteer.)

• A gigantic children’s book• A charging station• Where to print in the library• A sign with Hunter Library’s operating

hours• A very large world map

Lessons LearnedSecurity settings on students’ personal Instagram accounts often prevent photo viewing.

Fix: Use library’s Instagram account.

Lessons LearnedStudents are hesitant to log

out of their Instagram account.

Fix: Ask instructor to prepare students before

library visit.

Lessons LearnedActivity is challenging with

small classes.

Fix: Confirm number of students and willing smartphone users

Lessons LearnedVague tasks are confusing (e.g., find something fun).

Fix: Ask students to find a specific object, person, or location in most cases.

AssessmentFormal vs. Informal

Assessment

Student Feedback 148 Total Responses

How Could The Activity Be Improved?

Top 4 Responses

1. Increase number of tasks for each group

2. Allow more time to explore the library

3. Add greater variety of tasks4. Make tasks more

challenging

Assessment

In Your Library• Ideal Activity for Teen

Library Programs• Teaching Moment for Other

Demographic Groups• Apply for Technology Grants

Thank You!

Visit Hunter Library’s Instagram Page at

http://www.instagram.com/hunterlibrary

Questions?Contact Information

Elizabeth Marcus Email: emarcus@email.wcu.edu

Phone: 828-227-3398

Photo Credits1. Library Tour Group- http://userscontent2.emaze.com/images/9ab8ce47-e9c3-4d3d-

aca0-e7d491bbd3d8/79cc19f5-c445-43a3-a3de-55bad27a11a0image6.jpeg

2. Laptop Typing- https://parincblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/laptop-hands2.jpg

3. Instagram Phone- http://s3.amazonaws.com/digitaltrends-uploads-prod/2014/12/Instagram-header.jpg

4. All other photos in this presentation are from Hunter Library’s Instagram page- http://www.instagram.com/hunterlibrary.

Works CitedDuggan, Maeve. “Mobile Messaging and Social Media – 2015.” Pew

Research Center. August 2015. Available at: http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/08/19/mobile-messaging- and-social-media-2015/.Lenhart, Amanda. “Teen, Social Media and Technology Overview 2015.” Pew Research Center. April 2015. Available at: http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/09/teens-social-media-technology-2015/.Wallis, Lauren. “#selfiesinthestacks: Library Instruction with Instagram.” The Innovative Library Classroom. Radford, VA. May 13, 2014. Conference Presentation. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/lmwallis/library-instruction-with-instagram?related=1