Internet Memes as an Information Dissemination Tool for Libraries: The Ateneo De Manila University Experience

Abstract

An increasing popularity of Internet memes can be observed particularly among college students. Websites such as 9gag, Reddit, and 4chan provide a venue for these memes to be visited by the general public. Having observed this trend, the Rizal Library of the Ateneo de Manila University embarked on a strategy to use Internet memes as an information dissemination tool. The initial phase involved creating social media accounts for the Rizal Library to serve as the initial source of information. After which, various marketing strategies were implemented to amplify the followership of the aforementioned accounts, therefore increasing the figures of the targeted audience. The final phase involved creation of the memes and the evaluation of results. After the completion of the project, statistics reflected an exponential growth in the reach of the advertisements posted by the Rizal Library, with the audience themselves contributing to the information dissemination process. This can be supported by the enhanced usage of the services and collections which were promoted using memes.