The focus of this study is to discover the use, purpose, importance and problems faced by the library and information professionals in Bangladesh in marketing through social media (SM). For this study public universities (17), private universities (24) and special (5) libraries in Bangladesh were selected as a research sample. The findings of this paper showed that most of the libraries use Facebook and LinkedIn for marketing of library and information services. Most of the libraries use social media for marketing library product and services, for sharing library news and events, video conferencing, advertisement, and research purpose. An online version of the questionnaire was distributed in the respective libraries in Bangladesh. Library professionals also provided necessary suggestions and opinions about ways of enhancing library services through using social media.

Keywords:   Social media  social networking site  library marketing  Web 2.0 marketing

Social media (SM) has the possibility to help much closer relationships between library and information centres and their customers wherever users are based, and how they choose to learn about and access library services and resources. In the present time, libraries and information institutions are facing unprecedented change and challenge. This is very difficult for library professionals to manage and share their resources with others manually. For solving these problems, many technological development has been discovered and creating new forms of information, new sources of information and new ways of providing information bypassing traditional institutional like libraries. Now, the actual challenge for information professionals is not to handle the collection, staff and technology, but to turn these resources into services. The concept of services has also changed, from basic to value-added, from personnel-assisted to self-service, from in-house to outreach, from free to priced, from reactive to pro-active, and from mass customisation of individualised service¹. Libraries have always connected people with information, Social media is beginning to play an important role in marketing of information to library users and in branding the library as a community hub² where marketing is a key function of social media³.

In the recent time, Web 2.0 applications in libraries have acquired growing reputation worldwide, it appears that the library must think about marketing its services more regularly through the internet, taking advantage of Web 2.0 applications to get better access to its users and to promote information services. Social media is a powerful new form of communication⁴. These applications have been widely used for information dissemination and gathering, collaborative learning and online social and professional connections4. Use of social media is increasing rapidly. Online social networking sites (SNSs) hold great opportunities and challenges for transforming education in countries like Bangladesh⁶. ”

Social media applications help their users to acquire interconnections among the library members and remix the library services and products to brand them visible in a wider way⁷. Tools such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Blog, and Twitter are being used to erect relationships, connection and sharing knowledge with user groups, to enhance libraries and to provide information services. Social networking sites were being used by a number of academic libraries and were perceived to be helpful in promoting library services and interacting with students. However, the implementation of these sites by library staff was found to be challenged by limited time and perceived inadequacy of the staff to keep pace with the development of technology.⁸

With the manifestation of new technologies and increasing competition in the digital age, marketing within Web 2.0 is a crucial factor for survival and library professionals are aware about the concept of marketing with new technologies and tools. Most public libraries (20) are using Facebook as a platform for marketing themselves and their services and to uplift their collections. The exploration and use of social networking sites applications help to enhance library services and also support library marketing and the teaching of Social media literacy, which will help library and information professionals by giving them knowledge about these applications and how they can use them in library and their services.⁴

In a survey of ARL libraries, Mahmood & Richardson⁹ stated that 76 libraries were using some form of Web 2.0 technologies, i.e., RSS, blogs, social networking sites, wikis and instant messaging were found the most used technologies as these were used in more than 80 % of academic libraries. Kumar¹⁰ observed that majority of Sikkim University students expressed the use of the internet for SNSs and its resources and were enthusiastic in improving their skills in the use of SNSs.

Social network advertising has potential to be a cost-effective means of marketing academic libraries and library should have a Facebook page with a large number of fans that is beneficial to an academic library’s marketing effort¹¹. But the LIS professionals in Nigeria have not completely comprised these social networking sites in library and information services.¹² Khan & Bhatti¹³ reported that the respondent’s behavior towards the use of social media for marketing of library resources, services was positive and suggested that libraries should be connected with the internet services and develop their web page and social media page.

A social networking site linked to a university library’s web page is to enable users’ have a live conversation with a library personnel on issues relating to the use of the library and also allow the libraries to market their programs and operations¹⁴. Libraries can publish in their Facebook pages, such as new additions to their collections, library news and events, links to articles, videos, user information, the soliciting of feedback and responses to people¹⁵. But libraries are lacking in their promotional activities. Library websites are not totally used by LIS professionals as a marketing toolkit and an enabler to spread out to the community for advertising of information services and collections. Social media in marketing of library and information services will help to encourage exchanges across worldwide¹⁶.

The objectives of the study are to:

(a) Investigate the present status of using social media for marketing of library resources and services in Bangladesh;

(b) Assess the problems faced by library professionals in utilizing Social media in libraries; and

(c) Provide the opinions of library professionals to improve marketing of library services and information products through social media.

The study sampled library professionals working in the universities approved by the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh and some selected special libraries. The total numbers of library professionals (55) were considered as the research population. An online version of the questionnaire was distributed in the respective libraries. The data collection for this study began in October 2014 and continued through December 2014. Out of these 55 questionnaires, 46 were returned with complete details.

Library professionals were asked to evaluate each questionnaire item from 1–‘lowest’ to 5–‘highest’, corresponding to a five-point Likert scale.

The data collected by various methods were analysed and interpreted and presented here in tables.

Total 46 library professionals took part in this study. Based on the demographics and other personal background information obtained, a majority of the respondents were male 30 (65.22 %) and only 16 (34.78 %) were female. Out of 46 library professionals, the majority were tenured either as a Library officer (15, 32.61 %); Assistant librarian (14, 30.43 %); or Deputy librarian (10, 21.74 %). Most of the library professionals were working in private university libraries 24 (52.17 %) and other library professional were working in public university libraries 17 (36.96 %) and special libraries 5 (10.87 %). Most of them were from age group both of 25-30 years and 31-35 years (23.91 %). Private university libraries are developing day by day comparatively other libraries in Bangladesh.

Social media is used for marketing of libraries is the way of advertising library, its product and services via various modern technologies. Table 1 shows that out of the 46 public, private universities and special libraries, 44 (95.66 %) libraries are using social media for marketing their library product and services and only 2 (4.34 %) are not using Social media. Though they are not aware about these Social media but they are interested to use these media as marketing tools for the development of their library and information centers.

Studies in recent years have placed Twitter and Facebook as the most used Social media tools in academic libraries, but in Bangladesh the evidence from the results showed Table 2 that, the majority of the respondents (out of 46) was frequently using Facebook with (44, 95.75 %) and LinkedIn with (40, 86.95 %) in their libraries. This finding supports the results of the study conducted by Hussain & Ahmad¹⁷, Gul & Islam¹⁸ and Perveen¹⁹. As a social networking tool, Facebook is most popular in Bangladesh than other tools.

In developing countries like Bangladesh, libraries are gradually using latest trends to market their services. Out of 46 respondents 36 (78.26 %) agreed that social media usage trends in Bangladesh have expanded 8 (17.39 %) recommended that in Bangladesh Social media usage are growing slowly followed by 2 (4.35 %) responded agreed as stay low. Khan & Bhatti¹³ claimed that due to the meager resources of libraries, their poor fiscal condition, insufficient awareness and training opportunities in Pakistan, respondents believe that use of social media in libraries will grow slowly.

Most of the libraries in Bangladesh are using Social media for advertising their activities. Table 3 shows the mean and standard deviation (SD) of library professionals’ perceptions on importance of Social media in marketing of library resources and services on a five-point scale. It suggests professionals are overwhelmingly agreed with the importance of Social media as all ratings are above four except the statement on ‘it helps libraries in building collaborative networks with the users’. Another study revealed that Social media permits user to create, converse and share information and help library and information centers to get closer to the users, helps distance learning and knowledge sharing13.

The respondents were asked to reveal the purpose of using Social media in their libraries. Table 4 reveals the mean and SD of library professionals’ opinion for purposes of using Social media in libraries. It suggests professionals are awesomely agreed with the purposes of using of Social media in libraries as all ratings are above four except the opinion on ‘research work’.

Though Social media usage trends are growing rapidly all over the world, there have been a lot of problems regarding using these media in Bangladesh. Table 5 shows the mean and SD of library professionals’ views on problems in using Social media in libraries. It suggests professionals are overwhelmingly agreed with the problems in using Social media in libraries as most ratings are above three except the statement on ‘website is difficult to understand and use’. It supports the findings of Khan & Bhatti¹³ that in Pakistan, voltage problem is the greatest problem in Social media for marketing library and information services.

Social media applications help the library professionals to possess interconnections among the library members and remix the library services and resources to market them visible in a broader way. Table 6 shows the mean and SD of library professionals’ views on Social media practice for marketing of library resources and services on a five-point scale. It suggests professionals are overwhelmingly agreed with the Social media practice for library marketing as all ratings are above three.

Out of the 46 libraries, 44 libraries are using Social media in Bangladesh. The majority of the respondents (36) agreed that Social media usage trends in libraries have expanded quickly. It was also found that, the majority of the libraries uses Facebook (44), LinkedIn (40) and SlideShare (36) for marketing their activities. Respondents agreed that Social media is important to market library resources and services; it helps students, faculty and researchers to use the library. Moreover, they also agreed that, Social media also helpful for knowledge sharing. Most of the libraries use Social media for marketing library product and services, for sharing library news and events, video conferencing, advertisement and research work. It was also shown that, respondents were faced problem while using Social media for electrical failure, for security and privacy, for lacking of advanced IT skills personnel and for the slow speed of internet. Moreover, it was also observed that, respondents were not agreed that they faced problems such as, website is difficult to understand and use. Respondent’s behavior towards the use of Social media for marketing library services and resources was positive. Though a number of libraries in Bangladesh, which have not been using Social media tools, but they indicated positive impressions towards Social media and plan to adopt them. Libraries should have solved their problem and library staff should be trained and educated regarding Social media use for marketing library resources and services in the developing countries like Bangladesh.

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Md. Maidul Islam is working as a Lecturer in the Department of Information Science and Library Management, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. He has doen BA, MA from the Department of Information Science and Library Management, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. His research interests include: LIS education, social media, digital library, information literacy, knowledge management and some other align areas.

Ms Umme Habiba is working as a Lecturer at Khwaja Yunus Ali University, Enayetpur, Bangladesh. She completed her BA (Hons.) and MA in Information Science and Library Management at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Her research interests are: Digital library, electronic resources, content management system, social media, information literacy and knowledge management.