Competência informacional do bibliotecário como social media

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the informational competence of librarians in their role as social media professionals, considering the challenges and opportunities that arise from the convergence of Librarianship and digital communication. The proposal is based on the understanding that the information professional, traditionally associated with physical spaces such as libraries and documentation centers, has expanded their field of activity due to technological and social transformations, taking on new roles in virtual environments and on digital social networks. Informational competence is understood in this context as the ability to identify, locate, evaluate, organize, produce, and communicate information ethically and effectively. These skills, essential to the practice of Librarianship, are increasingly required in digital environments where information circulates rapidly, fragmented, and often out of context. When acting as a social media professional, the librarian plays a key role in curating, validating, and disseminating informational content, promoting access to reliable information and contributing to users' critical development. This study reflects on how these competencies are applied in the management of institutional social networks, especially those of libraries and cultural centers, and how librarians can use these platforms to expand the reach of informational services and foster audience engagement. It also addresses the communication strategies adopted by librarians on social networks, the production of digital content with informational value, the mediation of reading in virtual environments, and the construction of institutional image in digital platforms. Based on the analysis of successful practices and experiences, the study shows that librarians, when adopting digital marketing tools and developing an active communicative stance, can strengthen the social role of libraries and act as agents of transformation in the information society. Social networks thus become privileged environments for the promotion of reading, informational inclusion, and digital citizenship, reinforcing the ethical commitment of the profession to the democratization of knowledge. The research also highlights the importance of continuous education and technical training for librarians in the strategic use of digital media. Topics such as content planning, metrics analysis, audience engagement, reputation management, and the use of accessible language are discussed—elements that are part of the social media role and require competencies aligned with Librarianship. In summary, this work contributes to the recognition of social networks as legitimate spaces for professional librarian practice and advocates for the appreciation of informational competence as a structuring axis of this performance. By occupying digital spaces with responsibility, creativity, and technical knowledge, the librarian expands their presence in society and reaffirms their role as a qualified information mediator.