Poster presented at EGSS 2012 Conference. Citation: Thurlow, N., & Hank, C. (2012). There are birds in the library. Examining adoption and use of Twitter by Canadian academic libraries. Poster presented at the Education Graduate Students’ Society (EGSS) 11th Annual Conference, McGill University, Montreal, QC.

1. tweet
tweet
THERE ARE BIRDS IN THE LIBRARY
EXAMINING ADOPTION & USE OF TWITTER BY CANADIAN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES
Nina Thurlow and Carolyn Hank, School of Information Studies, McGill University
1 abstract 2 method
As academic libraries adopt Web 2.0 innovations, it’s Academic libraries were identified from the member listing of
important to understand if and how social networking tools, the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC).
such as Twitter, are used, and the resulting impact, both From the 94 colleges and universities listed, the main libraries
perceived and real. For example, when students follow a of each were identified. The libraries were then coded to
library’s Twitter feed, it may be seen to contribute to a rise assess eligibility for inclusion in the study across six factors, as
in students' awareness of the library and its services. Before presented in the results section below. For those qualifying
presuming how Twitter can help position the library of the libraries, characterized as having active Twitter accounts at
future, it is important to establish a baseline of adoption least six months old, data was collected across eleven
now. This poster presents preliminary findings from an additional categories in order to provide a profile of their
analysis of tweeting by Canadian academic libraries, tweeting activities.
including the ‘who,’ the ‘how often,’ and the ‘for how long.’
3 results
SAMPLE 100% 81% 80% 38% 33% 31%
who is tweeting?
31%
All listed colleges English language Library Library Current Account 6+
and universities institute web page Twitter tweets months old
N=94 n=76 n=75 n=36 n=31 = 29
TWEETING FOLLOWING FIRST TWEET PUBLISHING
118 25 532
demographics
= 29
(mean) 7% 2008 jan-jun mean tweets mean tweets
2009 jan-jun
per month to date
34%
{
0 range 1319
21% 2009 jul-dec January 2011
24% do not ask to
“follow them” from
library homepage
{ FOLLOWERS
544
17%
14%
2010 jan-jun
2010 jul-dec
(mean) 7% 2011 jan-jun
13 range 1817 1 range 187
4 wrap-up 5 up next
Few academic libraries have jumped on the Twitter bandwagon. Student and faculty perceptions of academic library tweets.
For those that have, they are active, with up-to-date tweets. Content analysis of academic library tweets.
It is used more as social broadcast tool (e.g., one-to-many) Differences in tweeting activities and perceptions between
than social networking tool (e.g., one-to-one or one-to-few). Canadian academic libraries and Canadian public libraries.
Interested in hearing more? Contact the authors at nina.thurlow@mail.mcgill.ca or carolyn.hank@mcgill.ca