Digital Stories for Community Engagement

Imagine providing book recommendations to hundreds of people at once. Picture little reels that capture the fun and exciting programs and events at the library. Envision interviewing authors, community leaders, and experts with just the click of a button. These are just some of the latest concepts that you can do with digital storytelling. No longer do you need fancy equipment or software. With readily available social media apps and smart phone devices, libraries can share powerful digital stories with their communities. Using accessible and simple technology, you can:

• Livestream interviews and tutorials
• Share important announcements and updates
• Advertise and drum up excitement for library services
• Promote library material, resources, and programs

In this beginner-level course, participants will:

• Develop an engagement action plan for utilizing digital stories
• Create and upload digital stories on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok
• Design and personalize their digital stories to make them stand out
• Incorporate these digital stories into your library’s social media and marketing plans

The skills developed in this course can help build stronger relationships with the community, market the library’s important services and resources, and lead to new relationships and conversations with community stakeholders.

Course Description: This two-week course will include one interactive online session:

• Thursday, January 20 at 10:30 am PT

Please make every effort to ensure that you are able to attend this meeting before enrolling in the course. If this is not possible, an archived recording will be made available.

In addition to the scheduled session, the instructor will provide interactive assignments, curated resources, best practices, and useful tips and techniques help you weave digital stories into your library’s marketing and engagement opportunities.

Course Outline: When you log in to the Infopeople online learning site, you will see weekly modules with these topics:

• Week 1: Facebook and Instagram Stories
  • Create and upload digital stories to Facebook
  • Create and upload digital stories to Instagram
  • Incorporate these digital stories into your library’s social media and marketing plans
• Week 2: TikTok Videos and Action Plan
  • Create and upload short videos to TikTok
  • Design and personalize their digital stories to make them stand out
  • Develop an engagement action plan for utilizing digital stories

Pre-course Assignment: None.

Time Required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend 2 1/2 hours per week, for a total of five course hours. Each week's module contains various options for assignments, discussions, or online meetings. You can choose the options most relevant to your work and interests. Although you can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night, it is recommended that you complete each week's work within that week to stay in sync with other learners.

Who Should Take This Course: Library staff who are interested in building community relationships by creating captivating digital content. It may be particularly useful for those involved in marketing/publicity or outreach.

Online Learning Details and System Requirements may be found at: infopeople.org/training/online_learning_details.

Are you a member of ARSL? If so, you may be able to sign up for a free seat in this course. Limit is four free seats per course. Make your request here and if a free seat is available you will be notified.

Keywords: community engagement, digital storytelling