Are you on Facebook? Do you know of all of the library Facebook Groups that you can join and instantly connect with hundreds, in some cases thousands (and in one particular group over 10,000) other librarians?
No? Well, have no fear! The 5 Minute Librarian has compiled some of the top groups in many different areas of public librarianship. This list is no where complete (it is really hard to find these groups without knowing someone who is in them), so please post in the comments any additional groups to be included on this list!
Also note that I did not include any regional groups since they would only apply to a small number of readers, but local groups are out there! Look up your colleagues and see what groups they are part of - that may be the easiest way to find them.
American Library Association's Group dedicated to Graphic Novels & Comic Books! Also find us on ALA Connect:
Librarians and library workers! Social media's space for them! We #makeithappen and #partyhard TOGETHER! We>Me
DISCLAIMER: WHILE we love the American Library Association, we are IN NO WAY affiliated with them.
This group came out of an ALA 2013 presentation on NextGen library leadership. We decided more needs to be done for NextGen library managers. This will be a closed group, but keep staff privacy issues in mind. Post your management successes and troubles so we all can learn!
This group is dedicated to informing librarians with reference and research specialties in all aspects of business and finance of new developments and trends in business librarianship. We welcome business librarians (academic, public, corporate, etc), adjunct members like vendors of business-related research materials, and librarians of all sorts who just want to learn a little more about business research.
This site is for all to share your ideas for crafts, programs, and activities that are a success at your libraries. Please share.
A lab for digital librarian developers—a place where new tech products and services for libraries and communities, media and publishing, are created and innovated—and a space for discussion. PLEASE NOTE: We must be able to verify you are a librarian and/or library-affiliated from your FB profile to approve your request to join. This is also our informal pool of librarian developer contractors we will go to when we need to hire for short-term, freelance, mostly virtual contract work.
This is a group for anyone who is interested in developing e-learning for library purposes. We will share ideas and engage in discussion about e-learning. Public, academic, school, and special library staff are all encouraged to join. E-learning can include screencasts, tutorials, videos, and any other training delivered in an online format, and may be for library staff or patrons.
Welcome to Flannel Friday's Facebook page! FF is a non-profit* international group of librarians and educators working together to share quality beyond-the-book experiences for children.
Welcome! This is an open forum for discussion about anything that falls (or might fall) under the banner of library programs and services for adults. Questions can be submitted anonymously.
The Section for Library Services to People with Special Needs provides an international forum for the discussion of ideas, sharing of experiences and development of tools designed to promote and improve the effectiveness of library and information services to special needs groups, and the promotion of national and international cooperation at all levels.
This is a place where you can post anything related to the libraries' resource sharing activities.
Intellectual Freedom Fighters
https://www.facebook.com/groups/456760254514041/
The Intellectual Freedom Fighters (IFF) want to get Intellectual Freedom issues on the minds, hearts, and tongues of the wider library community. We want to inform you about these issues and provoke tough conversations. We intend to create change in the wider library world. The IFF is an outgrowth of the ever-vigilant ALA Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT), which has been protecting your freedoms since 1973. [...] The IFF Group is here to get the whole library community thinking about Intellectual Freedom questions. We all face difficult issues and scary situations sometime, let's face them together. Comments are eagerly solicited, although uncivil or off topic posts may be deleted.
383 members
International Public Library Think Tank
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1954456498104274/
This is a think tank created especially for library staff in public libraries. Library ideas, concepts and trends will be discussed in a professional, respectful manner with an emphasis on advancing public librarianship.
62 members
League of Librarian Gamers - for Librarians who Play
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LeagueOfLibrarianGamers/
A group for librarians who play games of all kinds - board games, card games, RPGs, video games, tabletop games, Magic: the Gathering, miniatures, dice games, classic games. If you're a Librarian, and you play games, join this group!
2,376 members
Librarian Memes
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1709521932616653/
NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH LIBERTARIAN MEMES This is a group for sharing all your library, school, and learning memes! Invite your friends!
4,610 members
Librarians in the Northwest
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LibrariansNW/
A virtual meeting ground for librarians and library professionals in the Pacific Northwest interested in talking about how to #makeithappen in their library spaces.
1,444 members
Libraries & Information Technology: Making FarmVille Work Better
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1411955635742429/
A place for those who work in public & academic library IT departments to network & share advice. This is a closed group, so feel free to be candid.
213 members
Libraries and the Opioid Crisis
https://www.facebook.com/groups/librariesopioidcrisis/about/
As library staff see the opioid crisis impacting patrons and communities, this group provides a way to share research, news, and strategies to respond.
295 members
Librarians For Social Justice
https://www.facebook.com/groups/libs.social.justice/about/
Our Mission Statement: Through volunteering and fundraising projects, Librarians for Social Justice works toward creating a more equitable and just society. We actively engage with our community, on a local and global scale, in order to turn information into action.
99 members
Libraries & Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LibrarySocial/
This is a group for anyone working professionally in social media for their library, or those curious about what it's like.
8,561 members
Libraries Step Up (in times of crisis)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/libcrisis
Our mission is to kick ass and save the day, library-style. We're a centralized location for collecting and disseminating information about urgent political or natural disasters' effects on libraries and library services.
1,051 members
Library Cons and Fests
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LibraryConsAndFests/
A group for libraries and librarians to share information related to holding conventions and festivals of all kinds, from book fairs to comic cons.
701 members
Library Coffee Shop Talk
https://www.facebook.com/groups/188470881170938/
Enjoy your hot beverage and enjoy a light virtual conversation with other library minded folks.
795 members
Library Employee Support Network
https://www.facebook.com/groups/toxic.libraries
A place where librarians can gather and talk about abusive workplaces anonymously and safely and also get support and advice from colleagues. Email LESN.share and admin will post your comments anonymously.
*OR
* You can post from our anonymous Facebook account (ask one of the admins for the password).
5,563 members
Library Entrepreneurship & Maker Services
https://www.facebook.com/groups/startup.library/
More and more, libraries are becoming places of active, connected learning. We have also stepped up to the plate to help the jobless and career-changers in our communities rejoin the workforce. This group is where we will be discussing new ways that libraries can support makers, job hunters, the business-curious, freelancers, career changers, builders, startups, entrepreneurs, and existing businesses. Let's make business and maker support as visible as storytime. Library Entrepreneurship & Maker Services is an official Member Interest Group of the American Library Association:
http://www.ala.org/groups/mcoms/migs Visual resources are being collected here:
http://www.pinterest.com/libent/
1,652 members
Library Marketing and Communications Conference (LMCC Discussion Group)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LMCC.Discussion.Group/
Library Marketing and Communications Conference Group - join in the conversation about issues related to library marketing and communications. The Library Marketing and Communications Conference connects marketing, public relations, special events, fundraising, outreach, and program development professionals for public and academic libraries.
967 members
Library Marketing and Outreach
https://www.facebook.com/groups/740944219278343/
Library Marketing and Outreach is an Interest Group of the Association of College & Research Libraries, a division of the American Library Association. Please share ideas and events from your libraries! This group is for:
- Sharing ideas, resources, websites, software, etc. to help us market our libraries and their services. Emphasis on FREE or low cost resources!
- Show off the work you do: your success stories and your failures, ask for help from others, and plan for local meet ups in your state to exchange ideas!
3,874 members
Library Management Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1524906657799350/
This group is for topics related to library management- supervising, programming, budgets, advocacy, outreach, etc. Feel free to ask for advice, start a conversation, or rant. Though this is intended to be a safe environment, please be careful when discussing sensitive personnel matters. No sales pitches, advertising, bullying, harassment, or any other obnoxious behaviors will be tolerated.
3,376 members
Library Pokémon GO Support #PokeLibrary
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pokelibrary/
Support for libraries who are experimenting with Pokémon GO programming and outreach. What to share here: your program ideas, your publicity samples, your event photos, news and commentary, funny memes appropriate for use on social media, research and analysis, trends you notice,and anything else you think might be helpful.
878 members
Library and Information Professionals
https://www.facebook.com/groups/457656001020762/
A forum for sharing ideas and information around the future of libraries around the world.
3,092 members
Library Related People
https://www.facebook.com/groups/libraryrelatedpeeps/
This is a Facebook group that welcomes all library related people. If you work in any library related capacity, intend to do so, or are plain interested we want you!
3,235 members
LibraryAware Lab
https://www.facebook.com/groups/lalab/
Let's talk and share the library advocacy and marketing challenges and successes. Here we can ask each other questions and get a little more information so we can get to better solutions. LibraryAware Lab is a place to discuss, share, collaborate, and learn about what works and what doesn't work.
1,257 members
MakerSpaces and the Participatory Library
https://www.facebook.com/groups/librarymaker
An open space for collaboration and sharing about MakerSpaces, digital media labs, and participatory/community spaces in libraries. Let's share ideas, failures, successes, and resources!
4,663 members
Millennial Programming Ideas
https://www.facebook.com/groups/millennialprogramming/
Share ideas on programs you have created for 18-30 somethings or ask if you have any questions!
441 members
Minecraft in Libraries
https://www.facebook.com/groups/minecraftinlibraries/
The purpose of this group is to share thoughts, ideas and tips about hosting a Minecraft server in a public library setting. One of the biggest tricks is to have a great group of administrators who are dedicated to making sure that the server remains a positive community that is welcoming to one and all.
636 members
Museums + Libraries
https://www.facebook.com/groups/878024828888385/
A forum for library & museum professionals to exchange ideas & be all up in each other's business. John Cotton Dana is our mascot. Cross-pollination is our jam.
740 members
Music Librarians
https://www.facebook.com/groups/157147244323011/
569 members
Outside the Lines
https://www.facebook.com/groups/getoutsidethelines/
Outside the Lines is a weeklong celebration – Sept. 13-19, 2015 – demonstrating the creativity and innovation happening in libraries. Participating in Outside the Lines? This is a place to share ideas for events, campaigns and guerrilla marketing tactics for this fall's celebration of libraries. Inspiration, suggestions and questions welcome! Find out more at
http://getoutsidethelines.org/
1,200 members
Paging America: Advocate for Your Public Library!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/113676302125880/
How do you support your public library? Let us count the ways! Share your advocacy tips, tools and genius ideas with library advocates and patrons around the world.
568 members
Programming Librarian Interest Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/698178656926704
To bring together all types of librarians interested in public programming for their patrons. Programming is an intrinsically essential library service. The Programming Librarian Interest Group helps librarians advocate for programming at their own institutions, share program ideas and successful strategies, and provides a space for professional development by librarians who do programming officially and unofficially as part of their job duties. The group is also be a vehicle for ALA members to connect more dynamically with ALA’s Public Programming Office.
9,286 members
R-Squared Risktakers
https://www.facebook.com/groups/rsquaredconf/
The R-Squared Risktakers group is a place to share how you've put your ideas from #rsq12 into practice. Share risks, challenges, triumphs and creative ideas. Whether you were at the conference or just love disrupting conventions, this is a place for free exchange.
302 members
RDA Cafe
https://www.facebook.com/groups/RDACafe/
RDA Cafe is a group for library and information science students, and professional librarians and catalogers, as well as, anyone interested in and working with Resource Description and Access (RDA). It’s a place to discuss RDA and topics of current interest pertaining to cataloging and description of bibliographic data, as well as, to share resources, and get the latest news. This is an unofficial group, and it is not owned by JSC for Development of RDA.
1,799 members
Readers' Advisory for Library Staff
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ReadersAdvisory/
For when someone asks you about a book they can't remember the title of, you're trying to find a read-a-like of something of which you've never heard, or you just want a recommendation for what to read next. Questions about other forms of media are also welcome!
1,029 members
REFORMA Think Tank
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Reformathinktank/
Welcome to the REFORMA Think Tank. REFORMA is the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking. In this space, librarians, community members, and activists who serve the Latino and Spanish speaking communities in the United States and beyond will be able to share ideas, recommendations, and benchmarks to support each other in providing better services to our communities.
665 members
The Shareable Clique
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ShareableClique
A Facebook Group for libraries and book lovers to share their viral content that can be reshared on other Facebook accounts. What works well at your library that may work well at other libraries? Share your successes, increase your outreach, and help other libraries build their audiences!
2,515 members
Solo Librarians Network
https://www.facebook.com/groups/739055509526456/
Solo librarians (and librarians who work in small libraries) can come here to share ideas and engage in discussion. Librarians in any sort of institution (public, academic, school, corporate) are welcome!
503 members
STEM in Libraries
https://www.facebook.com/groups/STEMinLibraries/
For library professionals interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programming in libraries; a place to connect and share ideas.
1,690 members
Storytime Underground
https://www.facebook.com/groups/storytimeunderground/
Storytime Underground is a collective of youth services librarians and professionals who firmly believe literacy is not a luxury. Our mission is threefold: We support each other; we promote each other; and we train each other.
10,526 members
Storytimes And More on the Go
https://www.facebook.com/groups/storytimesandmoreonthego/
A place for Children's librarians and staff who conduct outreach to come together and share ideas. Outreach is and has become so much more than just storytime for many libraries. Reaching out into our communities and letting them know what's available to them is such a valuable tool for all libraries. We are on Pinterest ~
http://pinterest.com/storytimesa/ ~ and on Twitter ~
https://twitter.com/StorytimesToGo ~ Please follow us!
1,724 members
Tattooed Librarians
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2431775521/
For librarians with tattoos!
1,891 members
Technology Training and Libraries
https://www.facebook.com/groups/215892381802232/
A resource for technology training for staff and the public. This is a place where ideas and resources can be shared.
2,770 members
Teen Librarians
https://www.facebook.com/groups/618059348208569
Welcome! This is a space for library workers to share ideas about serving the teens in their community.
3,018 members
Teen Services Underground
https://www.facebook.com/groups/407834692712782/
Our mission is to support, promote, advocate, and build a community space to highlight the importance of teen services in minding the gap. We know how hard teen services can be and we want to help!
4,285 members
Teen Think Tank
https://www.facebook.com/groups/192137410961794
Teen Think Tank all started with three teen librarians who like to collaborate. Rikki Unterbrink (Amos Memorial Library), Erin Gillespie (Findlay-Hancock County Public Library), and Steve Moser (Dayton Metro Library) would share ideas and help brainstorm on a regular basis. One day we realized that it would be great to get even more people sharing ideas and helping to brainstorm when needed. Teen Think Tank is what became of that conversation.
1,079 members
Tiny Library Think Tank
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1547323442210920/
Welcome to the Tiny Library Think Tank!... Please feel free to ask questions about anything related to issues that affect those of us working in very small library systems - collection development, programming, policy creation, community outreach, retroactive automation, book repair, building maintenance, and more. Members of this group understand that tiny libraries do not often have HR departments, retained lawyers, multiple MLS-degreed librarians, or many other resources that are available to employees of larger library systems, even systems that may technically be considered "small" or "rural".
242 members
Troublesome Catalogers and Magical Metadata Fairies
https://www.facebook.com/groups/161813927168408/
A place for catalogers, metadata librarians, and those who admire them. Grab your wands and raise some Hell. ;c)
4,233 members
WordPress and Librarians
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wordpress.librarians/
This group is for librarians using WordPress.
1,475 members
Zine Librarians
https://www.facebook.com/groups/zinelibrarians/
A group to talk about zine librarianship! How to build a collection, how to catalogue zines, how to organize zine events, and more! All zine librarians and archivists are welcome: academic, digital, DIY, public, school, volunteer, etc.
444 members
Special thanks to Patrick Sweeney, Laura Hollister, and Austin Stroud for their help in compiling the original list! Additional groups have been added as we find them. (There was also a repost of this article in MakingItHappen.)
Note: Member numbers have been updated to February 16, 2018. Please check back later for any updates! Inactive groups will be removed yearly.
Remember -- sharing is caring! If you join a new group due to this list, please tweet, email, or post about this blog post. It'll warm my little librarian heart that the hours I spent on this list were indeed helpful!
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