A unique Twitter use for reference services

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate that the personal use of Twitter for tracking reference questions has potential for marketing and promotion of reference work in libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a brief overview of how Twitter is currently being used in libraries and how it is being used personally by library staff as it relates to reference work. The paper provides an example of how Koerner library at Several University of British Columbia (UBC) is using their institutional Twitter account to “tweet” reference questions asked during public service shifts.

Findings

Twitter accounts for libraries have the potential to market reference service by bringing attention to how the reference desks are used by the community but also, more broadly, the account can highlight reference as an important role in librarianship.

Originality/value

The paper offers insight into a non‐traditional form of Twitter use, on an institutional level, in reference work.

Citation

Fields, E. (2010), "A unique Twitter use for reference services", Library Hi Tech News, Vol. 27 No. 6/7, pp. 14-15. https://doi.org/10.1108/07419051011095863