Instagram and local studies - a project from Reading UK by @Reading_21

This shows a recent student project which has local studies elements.  You can read the aim below.

Hey everyone, I've designed a 21 day challenge to help connect and celebrate Reading whilst boosting my social media skills. It starts on march the 1st and it would be great to see some of you get involved! You can find more info at the link in my bio! #RDG21 #challenge #photo #reading #socialmedia #instagram #rdguk

A post shared by Gracie Price (@reading_21) on Feb 22, 2018 at 7:46am PST

This has great prompts for local studies. You can read more about it here. The following image show the statistics for participation.

Finally got around to creating the final stats for #RDG21 - I would like to thank everyone who got involved or even just kept up to date on the challenge, I hope you learnt something new about Reading! https://t.co/mlbYIvNlox

A post shared by Gracie Price (@reading_21) on Mar 27, 2018 at 4:29am PDT

Have a look on twitter and instagram for the hashtag #rdg21 and you will see some lovely local studies images.  As you can see from the image below, similar things have been done elsewhere, but it is still something few libraries have tried. It would be interesting to see if you could turn up new photographs to collect as a result of something like this.

We're launching a new Instagram Photo Challenge and we want you to participate! Get out and explore your community in April. Show us your favorite local places and what makes Orlando unique using the hashtag #oclslovesorlando. We'll repost some of our photo favorite submissions during the month. Now get out there and start sharing! #orlando #ocfl #whyorlando #downtownorlando #obrag #localloveorlando #loveocls #orlandodoesntsuck #orlandolife #alocalthing #libraries #library #librariestransform #librariesofinstagram

A post shared by Orange County Library System (@ocls) on Apr 1, 2017 at 11:25am PDT

an example on Instagram from Phoenix Public Library

This repost on Instagram from Phoenix Public Library

LOVE. OF. BOOKS. ❤️ #Repost @hereweeread ・・・ "There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all." –Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis #quoteoftheday #quotesofinstagram #quotestoliveby #blackgirlmagic

A post shared by Phoenix Public Library (@phoenixpubliclibrary) on Aug 23, 2017 at 9:40am PDT

is a lovely promotion of reading widely.  There is a mosaic of titles to explore, and it is a great photograph for readers' advisory.

Have at look at your library Instagram feed - does it reflect the diversity of your community?  If not what steps are you taking to make sure that it does?

Instagram potential for local studies by @oclslibrary

The library staff at Orange County Library System do many amazing things.  Recently on Instagram they announced an #oclslovesorlando instagram challenge. Each day through April there is a different theme.  This is a great way to see how your community sees their environment.  As part of this there is the potential to collect these images for locals studies as a great way of recording what 2017 (for example) looks like.  This is a very exciting project.  Other libraries have done similar things.

I would be very interested to know if libraries are collecting this kind of material for local studies, as collecting recent/current content is really important.

Great work by OCLS, and great hashtag.

We're launching a new Instagram Photo Challenge and we want you to participate! Get out and explore your community in April. Show us your favorite local places and what makes Orlando unique using the hashtag #oclslovesorlando. We'll repost some of our photo favorite submissions during the month. Now get out there and start sharing! #orlando #ocfl #whyorlando #downtownorlando #obrag #localloveorlando #loveocls #orlandodoesntsuck #orlandolife #alocalthing #libraries #library #librariestransform #librariesofinstagram

A post shared by Orange County Library System (@ocls) on Apr 1, 2017 at 11:25am PDT

Toronto Public Library and #blogjune

Check out the new KidsStop early interactive literary centre at the new #Scarborough civic centre branch. It has an environmental theme and is packed with lots of fun activities for little ones. Have a great weekend! #scarbTO

A photo posted by Toronto Public Library (@torontolibrary) on May 22, 2015 at 12:28pm PDT

I like the joyfulness which seems to come through this account.

#blogjune and Milwaukee Public Library

Do you have big plans for the long weekend? It's a great weekend to grill out, so why not check out some of our grilling books! We've got books for basically every style of grilling and pretty much every type of grill or outdoor oven! I'm counting down the hours until I'm grilling fruits and veggies. YUM. #grilling #longweekend #memorialday #braai #kamado #milwaukeepubliclibrary #mkepubliclibrary #cookbooks #bookstagram

A photo posted by Milwaukee Public Library (@milwaukeepublib) on May 22, 2015 at 1:21pm PDT

This library runs impressive and timely promotion on instagram.

Taronga Zoo for #blogjune

Taronga Zoo makes very interesting use of instagram.  They have some amazing photographs, but they also have a really interesting statement

"Taronga is working to secure a shared future for wildlife and people. Tag @tarongazoo or #ForTheWild to give us permission to repost your photos?"  which makes reuse potential clear.

Hang in there, it's almost the weekend! @tiger.in.teapot spotted our tree-hugging Koala doing what they do best - sleeping for up to 20 hours a day! Did you know, Koalas have two thumbs on their front paws to help them climb, hold onto the tree and to grip their food?

A photo posted by Taronga Zoo (@tarongazoo) on May 15, 2015 at 12:31am PDT

#blogjune Daland Library

I really like how Daland Library uses their instagram account.

Storytime Sensory Bin! Garden Time🌷🌹🌻

A photo posted by Daland Library (@dalandlibrary) on Apr 23, 2015 at 8:25am PDT

instameet and museums

Have a look at this photograph. (the embed option kept timing out, hence the link not the embed).

You can read about other instameet events like:

• Boston drinkingaboutmuseums
• at a Trash museum
• at Vancouver
• street photography
• Crocker Art Museum

This also seems to tie in with the ideas of  Invasioni Digitali / Digital Invasions – Co-Creation of Cultural Value (from #mwf2014).  Also see #invasionidigitali and on Pinterest.

There are other instameet options like:

• Logan City Council nature walk
• Adelaide City Council
• ABC Open
• Atherton Tablelands
• San Francisco public library

This seems a great way of engaging with the community and sharing the collections and stories as well as seeing how your admirers see your collections and spaces.

National Portrait Gallery on Instagram

 I have only just discovered this lovely Instagram account. I really like the way they are seeking conversation.

Interesting use of Instagram by the artist Alasdair Thomson

An article called Airy Dresses Carved From Marble by Alasdair Thomson highlights the interesting sculpture being done by this artist.
A link in the article takes you to his Instagram account which shows some behind the scenes photographs. This is an interesting way of exploring the art, and something to consider for people being featured at your library - if they have Instagram or Flickr accounts.  The Flickr account of Beastman shows how a different artist is recording his work