What is Pinterest and could my library use it? [Learning 2.0 update]

What is Pinterest?

• "Pinterest is a virtual pinboard, in which users share the stuff they find online by “pinning” the items to their board (or boards). Other users can then view, comment and share those items." Michael Sebastian 
• As Joe Murphy says "Pinterest is an online visual pinboard for curating images and web content with major promise."
• "According to comScore, the average Pinterest user spend 98 minutes per month on the site, compared to 2.5 hours on Tumblr, and 7 hours on Facebook." Josh Constine 
• Pinterest is a visual search tool, allowing people to browse easily.

What does it look like?

• The Little Big Book Club has a great pinboard full of inspiring ideas for sharing books with young children
• Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) are using it to collect ideas and inspiration for children's librarians 
• Westerville Library has a wide range of library and reading related topics pinned

• Darien Library clients can share favorite books, movies, and games, by clicking on the Pin It! button in the library catalog.

What could a library do with Pinterest?

• Use it to drive traffic to your website and online collections
• Use it to promote image collections (copyright permitting) like the New York Public Library Picture of the Day pinboard
• Use it to promote children's programming and offer alternative craft ideas for at home use
• Collect images that relate to your local studies area like the Chicago History Museum pinboard
• Hold a class to show library clients how to explore and use Pinterest for themselves
•  "Pinterest is important to libraries because it empowers patrons as self curators and it gives us a service opportunity to mark and share books and resources with users through their pictures and those they discover." Joe Murphy 
• While Melissa Mannon can see potential for  generating dialogue and sharing expertise.
• Share professional ideas like the children's librarians sharing ideas for flannelboard / feltboard stories and to find ideas for teen craft activities 
• If you're planning a refurbishment start collecting ideas like an interior designers  'mood board'

For more information take a look at this video tutorial: