Today we are 7 – Christchurch City Libraries celebrates seven years of being social online.
We launched our blog on 22 May 2007.
Why are we social? Librarians and libraries are naturally sociable critters. We love information to be free, and freely available. Social media gives us an online platform to share our stuff, ask and answer questions, inform people about events and resources, and have conversations with customers.
Here is a look back on our social history.
Our social media timeline
2007
22 May: Christchurch City Libraries blog is launched, with the first posts from the 2007 Auckland Writers and Readers Festival. Here is our first post.
7 June: Bibliofile blog is launched, with the first posts coming from a conference in the United Kingdom on joint school/public libraries.
2008
August: Christchurch City Libraries joins Flickr.
2010
12 April: Christchurch kids blog is launched. Read the first post.
15 September: Christchurch City Libraries joins Twitter as @ChristchurchLib.
2011
January: BiblioCommons catalogue is launched. Users can rate items, make lists, and share opinions by using this social catalogue.
March: Christchurch City Libraries establishes a Facebook presence.
2013
1 September
Ahead of WW100 commemorations, we established a Twitter account 100chch. Read the first tweet.
2 September
Our Flickr site passes one and a half million (1,500,000) page views.
Where we’re at today
A little light statistics, as at 21 May 2014:
- Flickr 2,839,975 views
- Facebook 3806 likes
- Twitter 2983 followers
Analysis
Articles on how we use social media, and analysis of our statistics.
- This is how we do it: Social media at Christchurch City Libraries
- Spread the word: Using social media to promote community programmes and events
- Top of the web regular posts looking at our statistics
- Top of the web 2013
Most shared
- Blog post: Christchurch: words can not explain 19 March 2011
- Photograph on Flickr: Flooded Avon River on Oxford Terrace Wednesday 5 March 2014
- Tweet: May 2013 Shand’s Emporium
- Facebook post: Avon River flooding in town, Wednesday 5 March 2014
Join in
We’d love you all to join in the conversation online – here’s where it is happening:
- Library blog
- Christchurch kids blog for 8 to 12–year–olds
- Bibliofile blog our professional space for sharing conference reports
- Catalogue – You can comment and share what you are reading, listening to, or watching. Find out more: How to use our social catalogue
- Flickr photostream
- 100chch Twitter
Christchurch City Libraries Bibliofile 
Yay! Happy Birthday to everyone, virtual and real! Wish the cake wasn’t virtual though!