Using Pinterest in the Unisa
Library
Presented by Khuliso Matsheka
Matshdk@unisa.ac.za
at
LIASA conference
11 October 2013
Introduction
Libraries have long realized that they have to
follow their users to wherever they are
What is Pinterest?
• Social media tool that uses electronic pinboard
style
• A great combination between social media and
bookmark
• Users collect pictures from the web, organize,
categorize and may even describe them.
• Platform that gives account holders a chance to
curate their own showroom of ideas
Global usage Statistics
What is Pinterest’s value for
libraries?
• Pinterest has better penetration capabilities
• Libraries are an oasis of knowledge, with lots of
information to share
• Libraries can now present their resources in a
visually appealing way
• Libraries are able to integrate different resources
to enhance user experience
• A great way for librarians to present their true
personas and expose their creativity and
innovation
Background of University of South
Africa (Unisa)
• Unisa follows an open distance learning (ODL) model
of teaching
• 388 000 students registered
• The Library services Unisa's students with 13
branches spread across South Africa and abroad
Unisa Library’s experiences with
Pinterest
• The Library has embraced social media and has
recently started exploring with Pinterest
• Unisa chose to adopt Pinterest because of its
far-reaching capacities and ability to mash social
media and bookmarking
• http://www.pinterest.com/unisalibrary/
Creative ways the Library is using Pinterest
• Sharing and collaborating
with other information
professionals
• Showcasing library collections
and expertise in ways not
possible before
• Enhancing research support
• Sharing library development
stories and campaigns in a
positive way
• Promoting information
literacy
Digitally curate archival material
• The Library houses the archival collection that is
not available digitally, and may only be consulted
in the physical Library
• Pinterest has become a gateway to showcase
the Library’s unique archival collection
Adding value to physical displays by
linking more resources
Link to
books in
the
catalogue
Link to
videos
Physical
display
Link to
websites
Link to eresources
Research support tool
• Librarians are using Pinterest:
– To share research skills with their students
– To create topical boards with book covers, eresources and databases related to the topic
and to link back to the library catalogue
– To create a board of available library apps
that could be used for research support
Research support boards
Commemorate special events by
creating related boards
• A board on Nelson Mandela and resources
available in the Library
• Board created during Nelson Mandela Month
Promote Information literacy
• Visual ways of sharing information encourage
engagement of users
• Pinterest could bridge the gap between the
library’s traditional teaching methods and the
visual learner
• Same principles, but innovative ways of
communication and teaching
Use Pinterest to attract new users
• Patrons may discover more than they knew by
seeing more information related to a specific
collection on a pinboard
• Attractive pin boards may entice patrons to read
further
• Users may not know what they are looking for,
but may discover that just by looking at the
pictures
Challenges of Pinterest
• Copyright issues
– Pinterest makes copies of images
– This constitutes reproduction, which is
infringement of copyright
• The pins on your board are not permanent
• It is possible for the account to disappear without
warning
Lessons learned from using
Pinterest
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Divide your boards according to topics
Use keywords effectively for easy discovery
Add your comments and acknowledgements
Add your own images where possible
Pin more often to retain users
Start by creating private boards, for safety
Pinterest widget on library website is a good
marketing tool
• Back up your pins
Conclusion
• Pinterest is a free social media and fresh
• It is like a library at the touch of a button as it
refers patrons from Pinterest to the shelf
• Libraries can convert followers into active
Library users
References
• Thornton, E. 2012. Is Your Academic
Library Pinning? Academic Libraries and
Pinterest. Journal of Web Librarianship,
6:3, 164-175.
• Dunn, J. 2012. 20 ways Libraries are using
Pinterest Right now.
http://www.edudemic.com/20-wayslibraries-are-using-pinterest-right-now/