University libraries and digital presence: guidelines for the use of social media

ABSTRACT

This article presents guidelines of use of social media by librarians in university libraries. It argues the context of the contemporary society, strongly marked by the digital information. It reflects also on the role of the university library applying the concept of digital presence in this context. It argues the profile of librarian while actor in the process of insertion of the university library in the digital context. It presents resulted of investigation made in the universe of university libraries of college public institutions in Brazil. The methodological route was traced by an exploratory, documentary and bibliographical investigation with content analysis applied to documents found. Data were collected through bibliographic and documentary research, and survey in 40 sites of international institutions. The article concludes by presenting seven guidelines for the use of social media in university libraries in order to foster a more effective and relevant digital presence.

Keywords:
University libraries; Social media; Digital presence; Social media - usage guidelines