Making Connections: A Survey of Special Collections' Social Media Outreach

Abstract

The increasing emphasis on attracting new users and the development of new technologies has created both opportunities and pressures for outreach within special collections. This study describes the results of a spring 2012 survey of social media outreach by repositories in the United States and Canada. The survey sought a broad understanding of social media adoption, management, content, and audiences, and looks at how effectively special collections use blogs, Facebook, and Twitter to connect with users. Survey findings indicate that social media use varies widely by platform and institution type, that a large majority of respondents believe that social media is an effective tool for outreach, and that self-reported numerical data cautiously supports that perception of success.