Definition

These are sites primarily designed for uploading and sharing digital media content. They often have a large amount of passive use, but do include social networking aspects such as connecting users and commenting/discussions.

Examples:

• Flickr (photos)
• YouTube (video)
• Odeo (podcasts, mp3s)

How can libraries use social media sites?

Promotion
Raising the profile of the library and bringing users back to us from these sites through links, discussions, comments:

• Tagging and geotagging features (eg on Flickr) so that content from Oxford libraries can be found when people are searching for relevant tags
• Groups (Flickr has both an Oxford group and a Libraries and Librarians group), which include discussion boards.
• Virtual tours, for example Michigan State University on Flickr.
• Promoting collections, particularly image collections, for example the Library of Congress and North Carolina State University on Flickr. In January 2008, Flickr launched The Commons, an initiative with various institutions (such as the Library of Congress and Smithsonian) to make publicly-held photography collections more widely available.

Hosting
Place to host media (eg podcasts and videos) for promotion, user education and current awareness.

• Example: City of Casa Grande Public Library in Arizona, using Odeo for podcasts

Examples from Oxford
YouTube channels:
Social Science Library entertaining video tour
St Anne's College including a 'talking head' introduction from the librarian
Saïd Business School