The county’s public information department recently joined Facebook and Twitter.  The user name for both sites is “allencountyinfo,” the same name used to access the county’s YouTube channel.

Founded in February 2004, Facebook is a social utility that helps people communicate more efficiently with their friends, family and coworkers.  The “allencountyinfo” group page on Facebook will contain postings of news releases, schedules, videos and pictures from the public information department.  Any Facebook user can join the group.

Started in March of 2006, Twitter has grown into a real-time short messaging service that works over multiple networks and devices.  The public information department intends to use Twitter to pass along quick “bursts” of information on subjects such as emergency road closings, weather event declarations and other urgent messages, plus notices of news releases posted on the county’s website (www.allencounty.us).  Twitter clients can simply choose to be followers of “allencountyinfo” to get those messages on their cell phone or mobile device.

“Making information about county government more accessible to the public has been a goal of the Commissioners’ Office for some time,” said Bill Brown, president of the Board of Commissioners.  “We see this as another opportunity to reach out and connect to our citizenry.”

“We’ve been pleased with the response to our YouTube channel, which just recently surpassed 5,000 views,” said Mike Green, Public Information Director.  “Today, when people search for information from the government, they want to use the same avenues they do in their everyday lives.  Joining social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter makes sense as we move toward more modern methods of sharing information with the public.”