To no one’s surprise, during 2021 TikTok was the most visited site on the internet around the world. The plethora of content creators on the app have made some of the funniest and interesting videos over the past year, and the Mahomet Public Library decided to hop in on the action.
Much of creating a popular TikTok comes from following the trends and coming up with interesting content or a joke. From there, a TikTok can be shared and viewed in many different ways, spreading like wildfire through the internet.
When the Mahomet Public Library created a TikTok account, they expected to function like any other library. Posting videos about certain books or authors while promoting events going on in the future at the library were just a few of the many ideas.
Earlier this month, adult programming coordinator of the Mahomet Public Library Becca Maree had an idea for a TikTok about the book covers of James Patterson. Much of the author’s collection features his zoomed-in face on the back of the book, and Maree took notice of this funny reality.
As of today, the video has over 16 thousand likes and 211 comments and was enjoyed by many in the TikTok community. In the past, most libraries, in general, weren’t necessarily about keeping up with social media applications. However, the Mahomet Public Library followed the trend of libraries making accounts on TikTok in an effort to get more connected with the community.
“The Mahomet Public Library wanted to find another outlet for us to build connections and community outside of the people in the physical library building,” Maree said. “So we have our Facebook, and we have our Instagram, but we really wanted to find new avenues to reach people where they are.”
Many of the people who helped to make TikTok the most visited website on the internet last year were teenagers. Maree knows this fact and by creating an account, the Mahomet Public Library will definitely get more young adults interested in visiting the library to check out a book or two.
“We were also very interested in starting a TikTok, because a lot of teens use the app,” Maree said. “So we saw that as a really important means of engagement with younger people in the area.”
When Maree came up with the idea for the Tiktok, she knew it would need a bit of coordination with another co-worker to help make this video a reality. But when the notifications began to pile up on her phone from the video, she knew that the rest of her co-workers would be excited.
“I was the one who wrote the joke, and when I first heard the audio, I thought it would be really funny if I did a James Patterson type of TikTok,” Maree said. “But we had no idea that that would be the type of response we would see. And so when it started going viral, we let everyone on the staff know so they could join in on the fun. I think we were all genuinely surprised.”
As the adult programming coordinator, Maree has got involved with the Mahomet community, engaging with them even more through the power of social media.
“As adult programming coordinator, I plan and coordinate activities for patrons of all ages, but I specifically work with adults and teens,” she said. “I didn’t think I would be working with TikTok when I initially got this position, but we’ve been able to use it as another programming outlet.”
Businesses and gathering places around the country are realizing the power of social media applications such as Tiktok. The ability to reach many people with the click of a button is empowering to places such as the Mahomet Public Library, as Maree is excited about the impression she’s made through social media.
“Behind the scenes in the library, we have a lot of fun,” Maree said. And we wanted to show those pieces of our personality to the people of Mahomet.”
