Practice The Library that Cried Wolf Outcomes of a Banned Book Hoax on Facebook

In fall 2012, the Mansfield University library created a Facebook hoax banning a book from the library. Attention was quickly drawn to the book and the library. Ending a few short days later, the hoax left many unanswered questions. Through interviews with individuals on different sides of the hoax, a review of Facebook statistics and comments, and other relevant data, this paper explores the impact on the people involved, the learning outcomes achieved, and the impact on the reputation and credibility of the library and university. The information collected reveals a complex picture of feeling, perceptions, and intentions. While successful at gaining attention, the hoax strategy as employed produced a negative response warranting concern. The paper concludes with suggestions for those contemplating a hoax strategy. Hoaxes have been used to varying degrees of success to raise public awareness about issues, to market products or companies, and to entertain. A hoax can induce a strong reaction in its audience but is not without its risks. At its core, a hoax involves deception, which people tend to react to adversely and try to avoid (Vohs, 2007). On the other hand, a hoax can be quite successful at garnering attention in a world where information onslaught seems endless