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August 24, 2009

The book on text messages

By: DANIELLE CAMILLI
Burlington County Times
WESTAMPTON - Teens know how to text. And so do the librarians of the Burlington County Library System.

Subscribers can check their telephones for new messages from the library as part of a state pilot program that is using text technology to communicate with young readers.

The county system is one of just eight libraries throughout the state selected to join the New Jersey State Library, the Library for the Blind and Handicapped, and Gold Mobile in a six-month program to determine the effectiveness of using mobile communications.

The library is trying to get information to users more quickly and is targeting teenagers and parents of young children in the program, officials said. Those groups were chosen for their familiarity with and their use of text technology.

"We will be able to contact teens and parents in a way that works for them. We can remind them about programs and services, find out what is on their minds, tell them what their library is doing, and just generally communicate in a way that fits their lifestyles," said Gail Sweet, director of the county library system.

The library's goal is to send out two text messages a week to each of the user groups. In keeping with popular online social-networking site Twitter, the message will be kept short, at 140 characters or fewer, with a link for more information on the topic, said Joan Divor, business services librarian.

"We are very excited about this program and have been planning extensively for it," said Andy Woodworth, the librarian who is managing the project. "Our staff has been planning weekly contests for teens, with drawings for gift certificate prizes as well as offering links and information to support their independent lifestyle. For parents, we are offering all types of helpful tips and tools for balancing work, family, and other activities in their overscheduled lives."

Advertisement The texting program began earlier this month and the library is now accepting subscribers. Teens and parents can sign up for the texts on the library's Web site, www.bcls.lib.nj.us.

"Mobile phone usage is at the leading edge of a cultural change in communications," said Nancy Dowd, director of marketing for the state library. "The (state) realizes communication networks are continually evolving, and it's important for libraries to keep up on those technologies that will help them reach existing customers as well as inform new people of how libraries can help them."

For more information, visit www.tinyurl.com/bclsteen or www.tinyurl.com/bclsparent.

Contact: dcamilli@phillyBurbs.com 609-267-7586

August 23, 2009 02:50 AM

Posted by tumulty at August 24, 2009 11:32 AM

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