Inspiration for Library Reels

Creating original short and snappy videos for social media is probably at the bottom of your library’s list of priorities on a day-to-day basis. It takes a lot of brain power to come up with an idea for a video, let alone have the resources or skillset to execute the plan. We understand that most libraries do not have a devoted marketing team, but we’re here to tell you, you don’t need one! Thankfully, the most popular videos on social media are the unpolished ones. You don’t need to be marketing professionals to jump in on the trends and have some fun. Need inspiration? Check out the following simple ideas for reels!

FAQ’s & How-To’s

Doing a Q&A or running through the most frequently asked questions on social media from your patrons is a great idea for a short video. This format makes it easier to show the answers to these questions by talking right to the camera or showing viewers how to do something in your library. If video still feels overwhelming, text and graphics can be used instead with music over it. Address topics like, upcoming events, how to access your databases, or how to reserve a study room. Multiple questions could be answered in one short video, you could even make a series out of this, or have themed Q&A sessions.

Timelapse

Audiences always respond to behind-the-scenes content and anything that shows a side of their library that they wouldn’t normally see. Why not try filming a time-lapse video of a process? Whether it be checking in new books, your daily routine at the library, or a kid’s craft project, it’s easy to just set up a phone (most smartphone cameras have a timelapse video mode) and let it fly! You can also use a free timelapse app to speed up regular videos that were already filmed. It’ll take a long activity and speed it up into a short video, perfect for the short attention spans of today’s digital world. Add some music along to the background and you’re good to go!

Photo Recap Slideshow

This is another fun workaround to actually filming or editing videos. Why not create a slideshow recap? If you took a bunch of pictures at story time or a community event that was held, put them all together with transitions and a soundtrack. You can add text for captions or descriptions of each photo. There are even apps that will allow you to time your photo montage to the beat of a song. In Instagram’s Reels Templates tool, you can drop your photos into a time-stamped template to match it with music.

Static Graphics

Images or graphics can easily be turned into a video clip by using another app like InShot and this is a great technique for making video content out of something you already have! A photo of a page of a book with a great passage, inspirational quote, even an informative tweet. Snap a photo and turn it into a clip. The photo stays static so people can read it the way they would a regular post, but you can add text or music to enhance the message. You can even record a voiceover reading or narration of the book excerpt. As with most content ideas, there’s always room to turn this into a regular series. Have every staff member read a page from their favorite book, or highlight a different genre every week. You could even create a challenge asking patrons to do the same with their favorite book quotes and create a hashtag for it!

There are so many ways to explore short-form video within your limitations as a busy library. Hopefully these ideas have inspired you to play around and learn the different features in Reels or TikTok to start creating some quick and easy videos for your library’s social media.

About Julia Giantomasi

I've had opportunities throughout my career to coordinate marketing and social media for live events and small businesses across various industries. I've enjoyed keeping up with the trends and using social media to not only promote quality services but create a sense of community. As the PR & Marketing Coordinator for the New Jersey State Library I can draw from these experiences in order to provide tips and best practices for libraries handling their own marketing and social media. I hope that I can be a resource to libraries across New Jersey as they engage with their communities.