Just the right tweet at just the right time

Abstract

Purpose

This article looks at the function and the value of this Twitter as a form of communication within an academic library.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is anecdotal and based on the author's experience at Georgia Tech library.

Findings

In the author's opinion, there are two recipes for mediocre tweets: first, everyone in the library gets to tweet (i.e. tweet by committee), and, second, the “I only do social media because I have to” librarian tweeting on behalf of the library. Not to be overly prescriptive, but the author feels strongly that social media, and especially Twitter, just does not work well by committee.

Research limitations/implications

This is an essay based on experiential and anecdotal evidence, and not based on a thorough research study.

Practical implications

It would be practical to increase library presence on Twitter in a meaningful way.

Social implications

There should be increased engagement with library users.

Originality/value

How libraries should be organizing their social media efforts is an important and valuable question.

Citation

Doshi, A. (2012), "Just the right tweet at just the right time", Reference Services Review, Vol. 40 No. 2, pp. 221-223. https://doi.org/10.1108/00907321211228273