Back In Circulation 2026

In a time where social media is used more by libraries as an advertising tool, it’s imperative that we use these platforms to get the word out about events, services, and items available for checkout. Over the past year, the Michigan Tech Library has been exploring how to make more relatable and engaging posts so that both students and community members are more informed about what is available for them, as well as what is happening in and around our library.
In this presentation, I will share some key ways to game the algorithms (specifically for Instagram and Facebook) so that your posts will be seen by more people. I will also highlight some ways that you can experiment with finding what resonates with your audiences, such as hopping on current trends, highlighting historical information, collaborating with peers both in and out of the library, and utilizing Stories and Reels to reach a wider audience. We will also do a group exercise where we come up with ways to make a ‘boring’ post more captivating.
By making entertaining, relatable, and attention-grabbing posts, your library can benefit from increased collaboration, visits, and overall visibility.