A Reflection On: Use of Social Networking Sites by Karnatakites for Finding Information regarding COVID-19 - an Investigation.

Patil, Somanagouda S., and Vysakh C. "Use of Social Networking Sites by Karnatakites for Finding Information regarding COVID-19 - an Investigation." Library Philosophy and Practice, 2020, pp. 1-17. ProQuest, http://nclive.org/cgi-bin/nclsm?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/2447004760?accountid=10299

I am by no means equating COVID-19 information with Storytime updates and Read-a-Like information, but this article does support the need for libraries to be using social media during this time of in-person closures. 

According to the study cited, Facebook has (not surprisingly) reported record use during the pandemic. More people are on social media, and on social media for longer. Why wouldn't libraries take advantage of this? Literally there is a captive audience. Libraries who have taken advantage of this are going to thrive after, libraries who haven't are going to rot on the vine. 

95% of the respondents were in the age range 19-35. If you follow trends of American library usage before the pandemic, that is the exact age bracket. So in theory, the same people who are using the library are using social media. Making not too a large jump, it would be safe to say libraries using social media would help their cause rather than hurt it. 

Studies about the systemic problems of diss information (Mirbabaie, M., Bunker, D., Stieglitz, S., Marx, J., & Ehnis, C. 2020) don't apply here as much because libraries are not posting refuteble or all that controversial information. Nor are the stakes terribly high for the content we are producing. Local history is fun to debate, but not one is going to lose a house due to a hurricane or not wear a mask because of a library's post about an ancient house two blocks over. 

As I have written before, libraries need to be reaching out as much as possible for the sake of their patrons, their survival, and the betterment of all libraries.