There are a number of apps available for sharing images such as Imgur, Flickr, Tumblr, Snapchat and WhatsApp but for today’s post we’re going to concentrate on the most popular, Instagram, and Pinterest.
So… Instagram. What is that?
Instagram is a pretty cool social networking app for sharing images. Similar to Facebook or Twitter, when you create an Instagram account you’ll get a profile (which will display your images) and a news feed so that you can follow other folk’s own profiles.
How is it different from other social media apps?
Instagram is primarily designed with smartphones in mind and is specifically made for sharing your photos and videos rather than just text-based posts. It comes with a variety of tools to get your curated media looking as pretty as possible via the use of filters and other image-altering effects.
So how can we use it to promote our library?
Instagram can be used to promote library news, facilities and services to library users, advocates and the general public. As an example, at the Moore Library, we have focused on image quality, variation of design using compatible apps and the liberal use of hashtags (something which drives the platform even more so than Twitter does) we have made many new connections and achieved a rapidly increasing number of followers. Clearly, the Instagram app has the potential for effectively spreading your message even wider.
The set-up
- Download the Instagram app for iOS from the App Store, Android from Google Play Store or Windows Phone from the Windows Phone Store.
- Once the app is installed, tap the instagram symbol
to open it. - Tap Sign Up With Email or Phone Number, then enter your email address or phone number (which will require a confirmation code) and tap Next. You can also tap Log in with Facebook to sign up with your Facebook account.
- If you register with your email or phone number, create a username and password, fill out your profile info and then tap Done. If you register with Facebook, you’ll be prompted to log into your Facebook account if you’re currently logged out.
The limitations
Because of its mobile-specific design, things can get quite fiddly if you want to share an image that is not already in your mobile’s image gallery. To get around this, you can download a snipping app to your phone or you can export an image from other mobile applications such as Dropbox directly to Instagram. For those times when you want to share others’ posts, there are such apps as Repost (an iOS app) or Instagetter (for Android).
The possibilities
There are a couple of easy optional add-on features (designed by Instagram programmers):
- Boomerang
- Hyperlapse (iOS only, but Microsoft Hyperlapse is a good Android alternative)
The former shoots a burst of 10 photos and loops them to create a short video to share. The latter allows you to shoot time-lapsed video to share.
Together with Layout (which now comes pre-installed with Instagram) and others like Swipeable (for iOS user panoramic shots) and WhenToPost (to help Android/iOS users post during periods of high user activity) you can really make the most of the app.
If you have any questions about Instagram then feel free to get in touch with John Clarke at jrc49@cam.ac.uk or @moorepheus42 on Twitter.
Pinterest? What is it?
Pinterest is all about images. It is used to gather ideas and get inspiration, perfect for libraries! The idea is you collect images you like, either uploading your own, or pinning them from the internet. The image is now a pin and you can organise your pins in boards. You can search Pinterest for content to pin and Pinterest will prompt you with content you may be interested in based on your pins and pinboards.
What sets it apart from other image apps?
Rather than a social network, Pinterest is a community of like-minded people. Whatever your interest, you will find a board dedicated to it. You don’t have to follow a person’s account, you can follow individual boards and even set up RSS feeds to keep track of new pins.
So, how can we use it as librarians?
Pinterest is typically used for collections, so you can showcase your library, collate images on a theme or subject, follow what other libraries are doing and gain inspiration from them, and gather quotes about libraries and how awesome librarians are! You can also add links to the images, so when the image is clicked on, it takes you to the library catalogue for example.
The set-up
- Download the Pinterest app for iOS from the App Store, Android from Google Play Store or Windows Phone from the Windows Phone Store.
- Once the app is installed, tap the Pinterest symbol
to open it.
- Create a username and sign up for an account using your email address, Twitter or Facebook account. If you use your email address, you will need to confirm it.
- It will prompt you to create some boards and make sure you edit your profile.
The limitations
There is limited functionality on a mobile device, it works better on a desktop PC or laptop. Original content has been usurped by sharing any images from the internet; you may weep at the flagrant copyright flouting. But occasionally you may find that images you’ve pinned have been removed at the request of the owner; you’ll be notified about this by email. You may not be able to pin some images and the websites behind them as either the image is not compatible or the website has blocked it.
The possibilities
- Group boards
- Browser extension
Group boards allow you to collaborate with others, so you can have multiple people pinning to one board. This is useful when brainstorming ideas or working together on a project, such as planning a display, showing collections or choosing decorations for a party.
You can upload images from your computer or mobile, but the more common way to use Pinterest is by saving images from the internet. As well as the mobile app, there is a browser extension that allows you to save images you’ve found on the internet to your boards.
The task
Either…
Create an Instagram account on your own device and post an image of / from your library, using the filters and other options to get it looking its best. Then in the post text use the Easter App Hunt hashtag #CamEAH2018
Or…
Create a Pinterest account and create a board for one of your interests, using original images and/or pinning from the internet. Then tweet a link to it using the Easter App Hunt hashtag #CamEAH2018
If you have any questions about Pinterest then feel free to get in touch with Sarah Burton at sb729@cam.ac.uk or @harasanotrub on Twitter.
Contributors: John Clarke and Sarah Burton
Cambridge Librarians in Training 