Online Presence

Online presence has become a key focal point for nearly any organization that is trying to make an impact. This is no exception for the OSU Library. Using different methods, the OSU Library is able to give students, faculty, staff, alumni and any other parties connected to the Library the information they need to know to be successful at OSU and beyond.

The Library provides valuable information to its patrons across multiple channels: there may be an announcement on Twitter telling students about new technology that is available in the library, a preview of the week’s event calendar in an Instagram story, or a 360 tour of Library spaces on Facebook.

One of the most essential online resources the Library maintains is its website. This site hosts all of the Library’s online resources, information about its offerings and how to access them, and helpful tools such as maps, events, hours and so much more.

The Library site also helps students alleviate the need to make physical trips to the Edmon Low Library or one of the other branches. The site gives them access to databases as well as the ability to reserve a study room, talk to a librarian and renew material they have checked out. All of these make the Libraries’ resources more accessible while also saving them an unimaginable amount of time.

These are all valuable tools, but they are useless if nobody knows that they exist. That’s where the Library’s social media accounts help. The Library uses Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram to provide students with information and news stories concerning the Library and resources on offer.

In addition to new features, the Library also highlights useful resources that not everyone knows about. Students who keep up with these accounts are able to make sure they are taking full advantage of all the Library has to offer. For example, there are so many items available to check out in the Edmon Low Creative Studios that a student may have missed it before or forgotten about it.

The Library doesn’t just tell students these items exist, it also shows them how to use them. Step-by-step tutorials on how to use certain software and tools can be found on the Library’s Instagram and YouTube. They also provide students with ideas on how to best use these resources if they are interested in them but don’t really know what to do with them.

The Library also uses its channels to direct students to events they may be interested in. The Library hosts dozens of events featuring a wide variety of topics every semester, allowing students with various interests to find what speaks to them. Just this semester, the Library has hosted an International Games Week, Orchestra Ensemble Concerts, Software Carpentries, Science Cafes and so much more.

The Library has constantly been pursuing ways to keep the students informed on everything they can gain by using the Library for their events and resources. What is the way you most commonly find Library news, and what ways would you like to see it promoted in the future?

Posted by Jacob Hinchey, Emerging Technology Intern

User-Generated Content: Your Questions, Answered

It's no secret that social media is a much more significant marketing tool now than it was five years ago. Whether it be Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat or some combination, companies and brands worldwide are expanding their reach by establishing social media accounts in order to remain relevant in today's progressive tech world. This new era of business has produced a marketing element we see every day but may not recognize: user-generated content or UGC.

So what exactly is user-generated content? According to social media management service Sprout Social, UGC is a "source of content crafted by a consumer, social media follower, fan or influencer that lives under your brand’s properties."

UGC is a efficient and authentic way of publicizing a brand through a third party. Thanks to retweets, likes and shares, ordinary people all over the world are able to connect both with each other and the brands they care about. Below are a few of the ways I work with and have seen the benefits of Library-centered UGC.

Location: Library Lawn

On Instagram, users can tag their posts at certain locations. Library Lawn is a popular location option on campus with significant post traffic from all sorts of people on campus. For example, during homecoming week students and alumni alike posted awesome pictures of themselves with friends and family who were celebrating America's Greatest Homecoming. My favorite type of post on Library Lawn usually comes from prospective or future students who are visiting for a tour or recruiting day! The Library Lawn Instagram location is a wonderful collection of posts from all types of OSU fans making memories at the heart of campus.

Hashtags: #EdmonLow and #OkStateLibrary

Hashtags are also useful tools on social media for people interested in viewing categorized content. Some useful hashtags that I search are #EdmonLow and #OkStateLibrary. By searching these hashtags, I am able to view any posts having to do with OSU Libraries that are tagged with them. From there I can sift through what people are talking about and pick out a funny tweet or photo to feature on digital signage. From impromptu workout videos on the third floor of Edmon Low to words of encouragement during finals week, hashtags are a great way to see what people are doing at the Library.

Mentions: "Edmon Low"

This form of UGC is any text that is typed and posted, no specific hashtag or location needed. In addition to mentioning the library, people may also tag the Library account in the post. Both of these types of UGC are considered mentions. As far as Library coverage, I can search anything from "Edmon Low" to "finals," depending on the time of year, to see what OSU students are doing at the Library. Mentions are very useful because they streamline a form of feedback that Library management may be unaware of otherwise. Complaints and suggestions about Wi-Fi, uncomfortable temperatures and disruptions in Edmon Low are often tweeted about. Once I see such tweets, I can direct the content to facilities management or other necessary staff member to be addressed.

My time as the Electronic Communication Intern at the Library has taught me how crucial UGC is to connecting with the target audience on social media. UGC opens up the door for brands such as OSU Libraries to interact with their audience and foster a personal connection. If someone tweets about the Wi-Fi not working, the Library will typically respond to the tweet to collect more information and assure them that the issue is being addressed. Even small acts such as this can create a relationship between brand and consumer that can have a lasting, beneficial effect.

 Posted by Tatum Wallace, Electronic Communications Intern for OSU Library Communications

Rooms of Purpose: MLSC

The Library is home to countless resources designed to help students achieve their full learning potential. Located inside Edmon Low, the Mathematics Learning Success Center in no exception. The MLSC supports the Library's mission to be a hub for learning and innovation. Our educational reach spans far beyond checking out books. The Library is a one stop shop for all types of scholastic resources, from 3D printing to mathematics tutoring. There are hardly any limitations to what a student can achieve inside the Edmon Low Library.

Established in 1985, the math facility fosters a learning environment for students looking to complete class assignments and advance their mathematics skills. The MLSC was built as part of the Success in Undergraduate Mathematics initiative, an OSU program dedicated to the enhancement of student learning and success in undergraduate mathematics. All undergraduate students looking to complete a degree are required to earn a math credit, meaning that student success in mathematics is not only encouraged but also necessary at OSU. The need for mathematics spans far beyond majors pertaining to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Other majors, including strategic communications and graphic design, require mathematics as part of the degree plan.

The MLSC has been housed in the Library since the center's relocation in 2013. The MLSC's new home is an 8,000 square-foot area on the fifth floor of Edmon Low. The center is composed of small study rooms, one large study room and a massive computer room that is stocked with 126 laptops. The MLSC has 15 laptops separate from the lab that students may check out to use in other areas of the facility as well. Lastly, the MLSC has calculators and mathematics textbooks for students to borrow while they work.

Prior to the move, the MLSC was located in Classroom Building. The small area where the center was housed was no match for the demand from students needing mathematics tutoring. There was often a 45 minutes wait just for students to enter the MLSC. Luckily, the insufficient resources and lack of space were both addressed when the tutoring center moved to a spacious portion of the Library's fifth floor.

The Library was eager to open its doors to the MLSC, knowing that the center would motivate students to enter Edmon Low and travel through the building. Many freshman take classes that require tutoring hours at the MLSC, which means that new OSU students must enter into the Library in order to complete their course assignments. The MLSC's location inside Edmon Low is mutually beneficial for both the mathematics department and the Library. The MLSC prompts students to enter the Library and witness all that the building has to offer while the Library provides the MLSC with enough space to handle the large influx of students who need mathematics tutoring.

The MLSC has a diverse tutoring system for a wide range of class levels. Services are offered for classes such as College Algebra, Calculus III and Differential Equations. There is also a designated schedule when instructors will come tutor at the MLSC in specific courses. The instructor tutoring schedule is on the MLSC website so students can look up their desired course, find the specific professor and attend the tutoring session at the designated date and time. MLSC tutoring is a way for students to get help in a personalized and focused setting.

Public review sessions are also held on a weekly basis at the MLSC. There are about 10 to 15 sessions available each week, with more sessions during test weeks. Exam reviews are livestreamed to the MLSC Youtube channel for students unable to attend the sessions in person.

From the laptops and calculators to the extensive tutoring and review schedule, the MLSC equips students with the resources to succeed. The influence of the MLSC spans farther than meets the eye, past the initial success of completing a challenging homework assignment or acing an intimidating exam. It's a way for students to interact with their peers and fellow classmates, as well as with professors and faculty.

There are also over 30 student employee opportunities at the MLSC, including desk jobs and tutoring positions. On-campus jobs are an excellent way for students to learn how to balance multiple responsibilities, function in a professional environment and sharpen communication skills. The partnership with the MLSC is a testament to the Library's dedication to student success and academic excellence, both in the classroom and in the workplace.

Posted by Tatum Wallace, Electronic Communications Intern for OSU Library Communications

Let's Get Social!

It may come as a surprise to some that the OSU Library, as well as other university libraries, are on social media. You may ask “What could a library tweet/post/share that is interesting to followers?”

The answer is more complex than you’d think. Because the young people of today would rather search for information online than approach a help desk, it is essential for institutions of higher education to maintain a helpful and informative online presence.

OSU Library implements social media in its everyday communications by producing content and engaging with followers on multiple platforms, including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Let's discuss how other university libraries are doing the same.

Harvard University Library works splendidly as an ambassador for other university accounts. Retweets and shares on social platforms, like Twitter, show endorsement of others and provide the author and sharer with a public partnership. This is a way to create long-term supporters within the university community. OSU Library is regularly endorsed by Oklahoma State University, the OSU Alumni Association and Pete’s Pet Posse, which provides opportunities for library content to reach social media users beyond its own followers.

The University of Illinois Library is swift with student engagement, responding to #AskALibrarian inquiries with answers and suggestions as well as requesting student opinion through online polls. This gives users a way to reach out to knowledgeable library staff for information they may not know how to find. OSU Library also works to respond to questions swiftly to provide students with necessary information and suggestions for finding resources in the future.

Kansas University Library regularly uses YouTube to share helpful videos with its followers. These mainly include coverage of events and how-tos, which use motion and info graphics to apply knowledge more quickly than traditional means. This is vital when publishing for a young audience who is less likely to spend time watching a video. Studies on viewership show that 20% of viewers will click away after just 10 seconds, and 45% will be long gone by the one minute mark. Therefore, short, informative clips are most effective for gaining and holding attention. OSU Library uses this tactic when publishing content geared toward students.

In keeping with the digital age, OSU Library strives to reach, interest and engage the students of OSU through the means discussed as well as others. By answering student inquiries, posting about library services and promoting events on multiple platforms, OSU Library is working to attract followers to the building as well as create brand ambassadors for the future.

See how OSU library is using social media to reach our audience. Find us through the links above or search for our accounts listed below:

Facebook: Edmon Low Library
Twitter: @OkstateLibrary
Instagram: @OkstateLibrary
YouTube: @OkstateLibrary

Post by Jennifer Barnett, E-Communications intern for OSU Library Communications