The library tweets about events and exhibitions at the National Library. The account is used to reveal “behind the scenes” details that otherwise wouldn’t be available to the public. In one tweet a curator of the Cook exhibition gives a explanation of where a number of the exhibits have come from and why they are important.
Listen to #CookAndThePacific curator Dr Susannah Helman speak about the stunning chief mourner’s costume, which appears in the exhibition, on loan from @Te_Papa.
Hear more from Susannah next Thurs in her exhibition talk: https://t.co/nvcfbGtWUi pic.twitter.com/VSHZq64LWu
— National Library of Australia (@nlagovau) November 27, 2018
They use #OnThisDay to tweet about important events in Australian history that are of relevance to the library such as commemorating the passing of Norman Lindsay.
#OnThisDay in 1969, Norman Lindsay – renowned Aus artist, etcher, sculptor, writer & editorial cartoonist (well known for the Magic Pudding) – died at the age of 90.
Explore a collection Norman Lindsay items in our Bookshop: https://t.co/ibhk5KSDWg
📷: https://t.co/tL2GDb6fy2 pic.twitter.com/gGSqb7G7fu
— National Library of Australia (@nlagovau) November 21, 2018
The account generally retweets posts where someone is discussing a positive experience at the library, or a photo of the library or library event. There is a lovely retweet of someone who was really happy yo get her library card, this approach makes reading the libraries twitter feed uplifting.
I got my membership card from the @nlagovau today. It’s so special I almost instagrammed it. https://t.co/LNHvwiCkzK
— Debbie Russell Groarke (@DebGroarke) November 29, 2018
There are retweets of historical information from likeminded accounts such as “Sydney Then and Now” showing the construction of the Harbour Bridge.
It appears that the goal of the Twitter account is to engage the public by creating lots of operational content on a regular basis. This is reflected in the library having over 41 thousand followers. A more strategic or politically motivated account would have a lot fewer followers and would not make reference to politically charged decisions such as celebrating a year since the referendum on same-sex marriage.