Social media and libraries: effective strategies for promotion and community building

In this digital age, libraries have transformed from their conventional roles to dynamic hubs of learning, interaction, and community development. Social media platforms present spectacular opportunities for libraries to market services, disseminate resources, and create dynamic communities. This research reviews the strategies employed by academic and public libraries in utilizing social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, TikTok, and YouTube to increase visibility and user interaction. Drawing on statistical information, case studies, and analytical findings, this research presents successful strategies in terms of content creation, platform selection, and community interaction. The research identifies that libraries implementing strategic social media models with supporting staff achieve significantly improved levels of user interaction (65% improvement) and service use (58% improvement). The research confirms that multimedia content, in the form of short-form video, produces 2.5 times higher interaction when compared to text-only posts. This research presents data-driven recommendations for libraries desiring to expand their social media presence, including platform-based strategies, content strategies, and measurement techniques. Through the implementation of these strategies, libraries can enhance their digital outreach activities and cement their position as online anchors in increasingly online communities.