Affiliations: [a] Assistant Librarian, Presidency University, 86/1, College St Kolkata, West Bengal–700073, India. Email: rsgiri11@gmail.com | [b] University Librarian, Ambedkar University, Lothian Rd, Kashmere Gate, New Delhi–110006, India. Email: debal@aud.ac.in | [c] Chairman, Bibliometrics Experts Committee, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India; Member, Research Council, History of Science, Indian National Science Academy, Email: bksen1938@gmail.com
Abstract: The postings in library’s Facebook page were gleaned and analysed. Data of important metrics of Facebook post usage was taken from ‘Facebook Insight’ metrics of Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women Library's Facebook page. Alongside, library usage data was used to understand the change in behaviour of library usage. The findings provide further support to the view that social network sites (i.e., Facebook) have the potential to be a cost-effective means of engaging users effectively irrespective of the size of the academic library. It is also found that collaboration and communication through Facebook were far more effective than traditional approaches. Since only the experience of a single institution is considered, it cannot be generalized that Facebook will be effective in every institutional context. However, the result provides a basis for academic libraries to consider experimenting with Facebook and its page to understand its effectiveness. This paper provides evidence that such initiatives can provide a measurable impact of Facebook as an outreach tool with minimal efforts.
Keywords: Social networks, Facebook, Education, Library marketing, Academic libraries, India
