Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the extent that users participated in Facebook of U.S. state archives and the types of user responses to posts on the Facebook. For the purpose, data created between August 1st and September 30th in 2016 were collected from Facebook continuously operated by 27 state archives. The extent of user participation was measured based on the number of user comments, the number of unique commenters, and the average number of comments per post. According to the measures, top 10 Facebook of state archives were selected. Out of these, Facebook of Ohio (1st), Florida (5th) and Arkansas (10th) state archives were chosen to collect 687 user comments and 132 posts. The analysis showed that comments regarding users' emotional opinion and judgement, adding explanations to a post, and sharing personal stories occupied a large portion. Interactions among users or between a user and an archivist were also identified. With regard to posts, those for sharing information/knowledge of records held in archives were identified as a high percentage. The study suggested that archives should collect and present historical information and related records connected to users' lives, examine methods for effective communication with users via social media and facilitate publicity and outreach services of archives based on shaping and maintaining online user community through social media.