Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Foursquare in Libraries

Courtesy of http://33.media.tumblr.com/ffaf0075be879b3ab0b87f0b8bcc6814/tumblr_inline_n965bkOymr1qzxhga.png


        Foursquare is a social media web and mobile application created in 2009.  Users search for local places to check – in at, to comment on the places they have been, the application recommends places in the user’s vicinity, and the application suggests things for what the user likes.  Every time a user checks in at a place the user earns points.  If the user is trying to check in at a location that is not in Foursquare the user can add it.  Also, if a user visits the location and checks in the most they become the “mayor” of that place.  According to Michael Porter and David Lee King in “Foursquare for Libraries”, “Add your library as a place, or edit the entry if someone else has already added it… Add tags relevant to the library… Add tips and to – do lists… Add your big events… Shout – outs” (p. 23 – 24).  Shout – outs are similar to status updates that can be shared with Twitter and Facebook.  The New York Public Library’s Foursquare account has information about their telephone number, Twitter account, Facebook account, hours of operation, Wi – Fi status, that they have outdoor seating, and over 400 tips and reviews.  Users have left a tip or review within the last month.  This shows that the library is promoting their Foursquare account.  

Porter, M., & King, D. L. (2010). Foursquare for libraries. Public Libraries, 49(2), 22-24.