This article, by Victoria Manriquez, was originally published in the Arizona Daily Star on December 15, 2024.
Have you ever wondered who creates the memes and TikToks that get posted on the Pima County Public Library, opens a new window social media pages?
It’s me! I am the Social Media Librarian for Pima County Public Library.
As the Social Media Librarian, I oversee our library system’s 37 Facebook pages, seven Instagram pages and one TikTok page. Each of our social media pages has dedicated library staff members who write and create content. I assist those staff members in those efforts and jump in to help whenever they need me to. Additionally, I write and create content for our main Facebook, opens a new window, Instagram, opens a new window and TikTok, opens a new window pages.
Content creation is something I really enjoy. The key really is to have fun and make yourself and others laugh while interacting with the content.
My typical workday includes browsing Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to identify new social media trends that I can use for the library. I constantly ask myself, “How can I make this work for the library?” which also involves me coordinating and creating the actual content.
This includes things like editing memes, writing captions and filming TikToks. You’ll sometimes find me wandering around the library with my phone in my hand asking people if they’d like to be in a TikTok. Sometimes those requests are met with hesitation, but every time someone does agree, I get to witness them having fun and enjoying themselves in the process.
So why does the library need social media? The goal of our social media pages is to connect the community to the library in fun new ways. Memes and TikToks are great ways to do just that!
Often, we will get comments on our posts saying things like, “I didn’t realize the library offered this service!” and that is the exact reason why social media is an effective tool for us. We want our services at the library to reach as many people as possible — when we connect with someone new, we feel a great sense of accomplishment.
Prior to becoming the Social Media Librarian, I was the Teen Librarian at Valencia Library and prior to becoming a Teen Librarian, I was a Page and Library Technical Assistant for about eight years (also at Valencia Library). I mention this because the library has been a part of my life for a very long time now and I can honestly say it has changed me. I have met some of my best friends here and it has provided me with a tight-knit sense of community that I truly do cherish.
I used to see it every day when I worked directly with the public at the branches, and I still see it every day being the Social Media Librarian — the library is constantly supporting and connecting the community to vital resources and helping people in any way we can. Whether we are delivering those services to people in person or online, we are here and want to connect with as many community members as we can.
If you are reading this and haven’t visited us in person in a while, let this be a gentle reminder to come on down to your nearest branch and visit us! Or if you prefer to connect with us online, be sure to follow us on all our social media channels.
Follow Pima County Public Library on social media at:
Victoria Manriquez has worked for Pima County Public Library since May 2014. She currently works in the Communications & Systems Office as the Social Media Librarian. Her favorite things to do are hang out with her family, go to Disneyland and attend Phoenix Suns games.
