Jenny said:
"I would love to, but our current catalogue does not have the capability to allow users to add tags/ratings/reviews etc. We are experimenting with some extracts from the photographic collection on Flickr where people can add comments but we're not getting many hits (partly because I don't really have time to promote it I guess...) I think it's another case of the smaller libraries with lower budgets having neither the financial, personnel or physical resources to join in as easily
with the new trends. "
I know that the printing collections at one of the archives in Edinburgh had some luck with pitching their images as "mystery photos" - adding a bit of novelty helped engage people. One thing that can also help is to highlight the Flickr images on your existing website/blog so that people know they can take part. Emailing your users or including a link on a regular mailing also helps.
The visibility of items on flickr generally tends to relate to the titles, descriptions and tags that are shown - one way that might help elicit comments would be to add more tags/descriptions etc. Licensing can also impact on what is found in searches of Flickr. If you are able to make your images available under a Creative Commons license they will be found and engaged with more often but that will only be appropriate for some items/libraries.
And of course sending a link out to your Flickr account round a giant mailing list of enthused catalogue <-- *very unsubtle hint* --> might also help! I'm sure I'd be happy to help spread the word as would others here ;)
- Nicola.
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Nicola Osborne
Social Media Officer
EDINA website:
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