Published by the Fels Institute, this manual  was written for local governments — cities, counties, townships and their affiliates — that are beginning to experiment with social media and would like to get more out of them. Its emphasis is on the use of specific applications, such as Facebook and Twitter, by government managers and communications directors.

The report (see pod at right) reflects the experiences of some two dozen ‘early adopters’ and offers some lessons to local governments about what sorts of tools social media offer, how to integrate them into a busy office, and how to use them creatively to be more effective.