Teaching Tweeting: Recommendations for Teaching Social Media Work in LIS and MSIS Programs

• Published in: Journal of education for library and information science 2016-01, Vol.57 (1), p.21-30
• Main Authors: Simons, Rachel N., Ocepek, Melissa G., Barker, Lecia J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advertising; Communication; Computer Mediated Communication; Core curriculum; Education; Handheld Devices; III. Research Papers; Information Dissemination; Information professionals; Information Science Education; Job Skills; Librarians; Libraries; Library Education; Library Science; Marketing; Masters Programs; Professional Personnel; Public relations; Research Methodology; Social Media; Social networks; Social research; Surveys; Technological Literacy; Technology Integration; Telecommunications; User behavior
• ISSN: 0748-5786; 2328-2967; 2328-2967
• DOI: 10.12783/issn.2328-2967/57/1/2

A combination of public relations, marketing, advertising, and information and communication technologies, social media work is an increasingly important part of information professionals’ jobs. This paper reports on a survey-based study of 49 information professionals who routinely use social media in their work. Respondents provided information about their most-used social media tools and platforms, described their specific social media tasks, and shared how they learned to use social media. They also gave advice on the possible integration of social media into an MLIS or MSIS curriculum. While considering technical skills and the knowledge of specific platforms to be important, respondents also recommend that professionals be able to multi-task, work and update their knowledge independently, and adopt new technologies. Above all, respondents emphasized the high standards for social media communication and encouraged strong written communications skills, thus suggesting that MLIS and MSIS coursework should actively develop such skills.