O uso das mídias sociais para mediação da informação e mediação cultural pelas bibliotecas universitárias federais do Nordeste brasileiro

Abstract

The use of social media as mediating devices for information and culture by university libraries in the Brazilian Northeast is the theme of this work. From this perspective, the present research has the general objective: of investigating how federal university libraries in the Brazilian Northeast are using social media to mediate information and cultural mediation with their user community. The specific objectives corresponded to:(a) identifying the devices used and the activities carried out by federal university libraries in the Brazilian Northeast within the scope of social media; (b) describe information and cultural mediation actions that reveal the sociocultural aspects that permeate the context in which libraries are located; (c) investigate the scope of the dimensions of information mediation in the activities carried out by the aforementioned libraries, based on social media. Regarding methodology, this is a descriptive research, adopting as a a procedure method, a study of multiple case, which had as its universe of investigation the federal university libraries in the Brazilian Northeast.The sample was constituted from this universe, selected the institutional social media profiles (Facebook, YouTube and Instagram) of the systems or directorates of these university libraries. The technique of direct and systematic observation of these profiles was adopted to describe and organize the actions that are developed in these virtual spaces, associated with the technique of content analysis of messages and posts on these devices, as well as the application of a questionnaire with librarian managers with in order to verify aspects related to the management of these profiles and the scope of the dimensions of information mediation. The data analysis procedure was both quantitative and qualitative. The results highlight some aspects that should be rethought on the use of social media investigated by university libraries in the Brazilian Northeast, considering that they have adopted such tools as devices and means of communication to disseminate information and promote culture among subjects in the virtual environment, and given that there is limited use of the communication potential offered by these digital platforms, in order to encourage interaction and active participation of their user community. This finding highlights the need for greater attention and investment in the development of mediation strategies, both information and culture, that aim to maximize the impact of these libraries in promoting knowledge and strengthening links with informational subjects in cyberspace.