How are Libraries Using Pinterest?

May 14, 2012 by Meg Rayford

If you love books, and can’t get enough of your public library, you may be excited to learn how libraries are getting the word out about their collections and services.

And, if you love Pinterest, and enjoy seeing creative ways of using this popular social network, wait until you see how librarians are pinning to spread the love of reading.

Social network Pinterest is increasingly being adopted by businesses and nonprofits, in addition to the millions of individual users already pinning away. It seems that people just can’t get enough of the pinning, curating, and sharing activities that keep this network buzzing.

And, it turns out that the creative hub is rife with opportunities for savvy marketers who don’t mind stepping out of the box to promote their products and services. Leave it to librarians to find innovative ways to showcase their materials, events, and resources.

Here are ten ways libraries are using Pinterest to engage with their communities:

1.  Pinning Book Covers: After all, many book covers are works of art in their own right, so it makes sense that they would be pinned and shared. New books, special collections, and children’s books make great candidates for pinning, and many librarians are using the visual power of Pinterest to attract readers to books they may not
have even thought of checking out.

2.  Showcasing Historic Archives: Many libraries boast rich historic collections that deserve more attention. The San Francisco Public Library is using Pinterest to highlight historic images of the city, from photos of old libraries to WWII-era images of the bay.

3.  Organizing Reading Lists: Librarians are particularly skilled at creating reading lists to help patrons discover new authors and genres. Using Pinterest, they can make these lists even more dynamic and visually interesting. From librarian recommendations, award winners, and books made into movies, these Pinterest-powered lists are helping
readers expand their repertoire.

4.  Announcing New Acquisitions: If you are an avid reader, you may anticipate new library acquisitions with gusto. Pinterest is helping librarians get the word out about new books and media quickly and creatively. The Fullerton Public Library creates boards for new acquisitions in fiction, non-fiction, young adult, children’s, and downloadable media.

5.  Promoting Library Events: Libraries are more than books–many libraries host community events such as job fairs, craft circles, computer classes, nonprofit meetings, author visits, and more. If you want to know what’s happening at your local library, consider looking it up on Pinterest to find fliers and photos about upcoming and recent
events.

6.  Sharing Educational Infographics: Infographics offer a visually appealing way to share data and knowledge. Pinterest is the perfect place for cultivating a collection of the
most useful infographics out there. The Pinal County Library has amassed an infographic collection on Pinterest to share with its community.

7.  Organizing Learning Materials for Parents: Libraries are useful sources for homework help. Librarians are helping parents out by collecting printable materials that
parents can access directly on Pinterest. For parents who want to help their kids get into reading, some of these libraries are sharing resources to help out here as well.

8.  Finding Inspiration for Library Displays: Libraries can be imaginative place for
children, especially when librarians create reading areas, bulletin boards, and other fun nooks within the library. Since Pinterest is so handy for finding creative inspiration, librarians are stepping up their displays in fun and magical ways.

9.  Helping Patrons Start Book Clubs: Book clubs build community and encourage reading, and Pinterest is lending a hand in getting more clubs off the ground. The Fullerton Public Library supplies links to book club kits–hosted on GoodReads–that provide materials for understanding and analyzing popular books.

10.  Encouraging Young People to Read: Of course, one of the best things libraries do for our communities is encouraging kids and teens to read. Librarian Dawn Krause uses Pinterest to collect teen-friendly crafts, books, and other materials. Her latest resources focus on young adult favorites, such as The Hunger Games, and other libraries hoping to boost teen readership could benefit from checking her out.

What about your local library? Is your library using Pinterest to showcase its collections and promote its community events and resources? If so, share a link to your library’s Pinterest account in the comments section below.