Libraries increasingly turning to social media to promote their services, according to Internet Librarian International

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Libraries and information centres are increasingly using social networking methods to promote awareness of their services and add value to them, according to speakers at Internet Librarian International – the innovation and technology conference for information professionals, which takes place in London next month.

Touted as the next big thing, mobile marketing is just one of the topics under discussion at Internet Librarian International. Generally acknowledged as one of the best ways to reach Gen Y's and Z's, speaker Nancy Dowd reports on the latest trends in mobile marketing and examines how affordable this new medium can be for organisations looking to expand membership, raise awareness, or raise money.

In the same session, Karen Wallace describes how her library uses twitter to capitalise on the potential of social networking, and how they've adopted new social technologies to customise information, reference bookmarks, and encourage other departments to link to their services.

Hazel Hall, one of the conference keynote speakers and a firm advocate of social media, discusses the relevance of social tools for the information profession as a whole and, in her session entitled Getting Real about Social Media, demonstrates how to exploit social media for personal professional development, knowledge management, research and other business practice.

But, measuring the value and effectiveness of this new breed of communication tool remains elusive for some. In a session on Social Research, Karen Blakeman explores where, when and how to use social networking research and provides some useful real-world insight into its authenticity, trust and information overload.

Internet Librarian International and its popular Sponsor Showcase takes place at Novotel London West on 14 & 15 October, with a range of half-day workshops preceding the event on Wednesday 13 October. The full event programme is available at www.internet-librarian.com

Internet Librarian International’s 6-track programme promises coverage for every type of information environment and is especially useful for information managers and users seeking to improve not just the performance of their departments, but also their own professional value within their organisations. Under the topical strapline, Get Real. Stay Relevant, the conference provides in-depth focus on:

• Relating value to price and budget – how to justify departmental performance
• Monitoring and maximising organisational impact – measuring the success of professional initiatives and activities
• Social and mobile tools – how to adopt and customise
• Hot topics in innovation – what’s trending, and what isn’t
• Induction, instruction issues – introducing users to information services
• Digital services for customer satisfaction – monitoring and improving the impact of digital services

Some 50 speakers from around the world will present nearly 30 sessions at this year’s Internet Librarian International, representing a variety of industry sectors, including government, health, education, business and law. If recent attendance patterns are repeated, they are expected to address delegates from over 30 countries.

Once again, the event is supported by a range of professional associations and media, and alongside the usual ‘early bird’ registration, generous discounts are also being offered for colleagues to attend. See more at: www.internet-librarian.com

Editor’s Notes

Internet Librarian International 2010
14 & 15 October
Workshops 13 October
Novotel London West, London, UK
www.internet-librarian.com

• Press passes for Internet Librarian International are strictly limited. Apply early at: www.internet-librarian.com/2010/PressZone.php or contact [e-mail]
• Now in its 12^th year, Internet Librarian International helps information professionals to understand and embrace the impact of technological change in their environments, leveraging and exploiting the value of the internet.
• Internet Librarian International is supported by a parallel Sponsor Showcase; an informal exhibition of products and services by the event’s sponsors – global information product and service vendors.
• The event is co-located with the Streaming Media EXPO, an exhibition of leading digital media tools and resources. Internet Librarian International attendees enjoy unlimited free access to the EXPO when they register.
• Internet Librarian International is produced by Information Today, a leading global provider of digital, print and events resources for information users at all levels. www.infotoday.com