David Lee King

This issue of Library Technology Reports (vol. 58, no. 1), “Library Engagement Platforms,” introduces library engagement platforms, explains what types of interactions take place while using them, and illustrates why libraries need to utilize them to connect with their customers. These interactions take place using a variety of communication channels, including e-mail, text messages, and mobile phone notifications. The end goal of a library engagement platform isn’t the messaging; it’s engaging with that customer and moving them to respond and interact, or engage, with the library.

Technology has changed the face of libraries and is continuing to change how we work and how we deliver services to our library customers. This issue of Library Technology Reports focuses on personal strategies you can follow to keep up with emerging technology trends and provides suggestions for how you can incorporate these trends into your library.

The best reason to use social media is simple: it’s potentially a direct connection with your customer. But as disappointing as it may sound, your library’s social media activities might be a waste of time. The only way to know for sure is to take a proactive role in managing your social media, from setting specific goals to using analytics to measure effectiveness. In this issue of Library Technology Reports social media expert King shows the way, offering guidance on choosing the right social media channels for your library and managing your library’s outreach efforts. He providesSummaries of Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and 10 other social media networks with advice on how they can fit typical library goals, citing specific examples from several different librariesSix key steps to take you from startup through an ongoing feedback loopWays to use social media to extend traditional services such as answering questions, conversing with customers, promoting events, and performing outreachTips for creating content that’s engaging and in tune with the channelDetails of major platforms’ built-in analytics and the metrics to watchA model for creating teams to effectively divide the workload

Maintaining a library website is as important as its initial development. In this issue of Library Technology Reports King draws from his team’s four-year experience running the acclaimed digital branch of the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library (TSCPL). From website tweaks to staffing issues, King outlines recommended strategies and workflow plans for continually meeting library users’ needs and effectively highlighting library programs and services, including Ways to engage library users in conversations about books, movies, and other materials A detailed listing of what data TSCPL tracks and the tools they use for the website, blogs, and social media platforms such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and FourSquare Their team’s approach to efficiently maintaining 24 blogs and six social media accounts Tips for using rotating banner ads to draw attention to website content, a technique which brought in 3,000+ page views for a post about the new library catalog Reasons behind the decision to migrate to the WordPress content management system (CMS) How gathering customer feedback led to more effective location for their My Account link The lessons learned by King and his team at TSCPL can help any library sharpen their presence on the Web while efficiently maintaining library website operations. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the Author David Lee King is the digital branch and services manager at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, where he plans for, implements, and experiments with emerging technology trends. He speaks internationally about emerging trends, website usability and management, digital experience planning, and managing tech staff. A Library Journal ""Mover and Shaker"" for 2008, David writes the American Libraries column “Outside/In” with Michael Porter and maintains a blog at www.davidleeking.com.

In today's fast-paced, multimedia-enriched world, video is everywhere. In this issue of Library Technology Reports (vol. 54, no. 7), David Lee King explores how libraries can leverage videos' popularity to share information and enhance their marketing efforts. He explains why libraries should make and post videos and strategies for creating video content. Throughout this report, King covers varying aspects of making and sharing videos—from best practices to video content creation, including the types of equipment, tools, and staff resources you'll need to start incorporating video into your library outreach and marketing.