Tales of the City Library

A couple of weeks ago I was at a conference about Social Media in Scotland, and there was a great case study presented by Liz McGettigan of City of Edinburgh Council. Liz runs the Council's Library department, and has embraced using social media such as Twitter and Facebook to keep libraries at the heart of their communities. Their Twitter account, @TalesOfOneCity keeps followers up to date with events happening in libraries all over the city, and their Facebook page does too.

It's so refreshing to see a public sector organisation embracing these new technologies. It's also great to see institutions that could be seen as 'old media' showing just how much they can use 'new media' to keep relevant. It was interesting to know that they were partly driven by the fact that they knew their website wasn't interactive enough, but that it would take a long time to get that right by going through the official channels. So they adapted channels that others are already using to give themselves the platform they needed. Obviously, it's best when your website and your social networking activity all give out a coherent message and integrate well, but I can understand why they took that route - they needed to make their social networking activity a success first, in order to make the argument for a redevelopment of the site!

I would love it if Glasgow City Council followed their lead! Know of any other Councils using social networking well?