Category Archives: Marketing

Maximize the Potential of Your Public Library

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ICMALearn how public libraries can help local governments tackle critical community priorities such as economic development, public safety, environmental sustainability, cultural diversity, education, and literacy.  This new report and accompanying case studies provide examples and instructive guides on how public libraries in jurisdictions large and small are partnering with local governments and organizations to develop innovative solutions for important strategic community initiatives.   (The ICMA lists this as a best practice for municipalities.)

Stephen Abrams, vice president Innovation, SirsiDynix, says:  “So e-mail this link to your officials.  Put a return receipt on the e-mail so you know they’ve opened it.  Propose to take them to lunch to talk about it.  Print a copy, put a bow on that baby, and drop it off at their offices with a bundt cake or something.  Do whatever you need to do in order to get this into their hands.  This is GOLD for today’s struggling Public Libraries. Spread the word!”

Free Download.

Article reprinted from ILA Newsletter Vol. 4, Issue #6

OCLC Publishes Results from Geek the Library Awareness Campaign

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Information from OCLC Member Update

Geek the LibraryA new OCLC membership report, Geek the Library: A Community Awareness Campaign, provides a comprehensive overview of the pilot community awareness campaign conducted in partnership with nearly 100 libraries in Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.
The community awareness campaign, designed to highlight the value of public libraries and inform the public about critical library funding issues, positively changed community perceptions about libraries.   
 
The report findings indicate that the campaign not only grabs residents’ attention, but that it helps change public perceptions about library funding. The campaign gets people talking about libraries and helps libraries connect with their communities to engage in important funding conversations.

Exposure to the campaign, through advertising, public relations and other communication vehicles, led many residents to take positive action in support of public libraries. Many residents surveyed for the study said they had or would visit the library or library Web site, visit geekthelibrary.org, talk to family and friends about the library or about the campaign, and some were more likely to vote for a library referendum.

WJIL Course Highlight: Improving Your Communication Skills – Presentation Skills for Librarians

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Most communication within libraries is of the one-on-one variety. With the exception of the library director and the librarian or staff members that teach public classes, many of us have been able to avoid speaking to groups. But that is becoming less and less common and many of us find we are ready to take the “presentation plunge”.  If that is you, or even if you would just like some solid, useful presentation and communication tips, “Improving Your Communication Skills: Presentation Skills for Librarians” is here to help.

This course is designed to provide you with the basics and covers areas like organization and presentation of information, as well as how to present yourself to increase the audience’s receptiveness to your messages.  You’ll finish being able to:

  • List at least three ways to identify each of the three learning/communication styles
  • Identify three ways you can improve your next informal presentation
  • Identify three ways you can improve your next conference presentation

NOTE: After you enroll, you will receive an additional email with special LE@D login information within 3 business days. If you do not receive the message, please email courses@webjunction.org. After completing the course, click the Launch button on your My Courses page and follow the instructions to record completion

WJIL Course Highlight: Delivering the Message

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Whether it is online of in person, when you need to make a crucial presentation knowing your material well is only part of the challenge.  Often what’s really missing in presentations is a clear, engaging and positive deliver. This course leads you through these critical presentation skills and offers actionable tips, tricks and suggestions.  You’ll learn more about how to use body language, gestures, language and tone of voice to deliver an even more effective and memorable presentation.  

Delivering the Message is also part of the Communicating the Value of Your Library course set, which has plenty of other useful courses to choose from.

Important New Report Available

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Perceptions of Libraries, 2010: Context and Community, a sequel to the 2005 Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources, is now available for print ordering and free download.

The new report provides updated information and new insights into information consumers and their online information habits, preferences and perceptions. Particular attention was paid to how the current economic downturn has affected information-seeking behaviors and how those changes are reflected in the use and perception of libraries. The OCLC membership report explores:

  •  Technological and economic shifts since 2005
  • Lifestyle changes Americans have made during the recession, including increased use of the library and other online resources
  • How a negative change to employment status impacts use and perceptions of the library
  • How Americans use online resources and libraries in 2010
  • Perceptions of libraries and information resources based on life stage, from teens to college students, to senior Americans.

The membership report is based on U.S. data from an online survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of OCLC. OCLC analyzed and summarized the results in order to produce this report.

Keep It Simple: Develop a Marketing Plan for Your Library

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An effective library marketing plan can be crucial to ensuring the library remains a central and vibrant part of the community that is valued by both patrons and funders. In this LibraryU course, “Keep it Simple: Developing a Marketing Plan for Your Library” you’ll learn a clear, 7 step approach to creating just such a plan for your library. These are the seven steps the course covers, but the details in the actual course are where it really all comes together:

1.  Understand what marketing a library entails
2. Follow a clear, 7 step approach to marketing
3. Create a marketing plan for the library
4. Prepare quality collateral/print materials for the library
5. Create a better level of communication with the media
6. Develop partnerships that benefit the library

Enroll today in this free LibraryU offering from the WJIL Course Catalog.

Communicating the Value of Your Library

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This month, WebJunction Illinois is focusing on Communicating the Value of Your Library.  We know you understand the value of getting the word out to your library board, funders and the community at large, but what if you could be even more effective in your communications, without spending extra time or energy? This month the courses we’re highlighting help you do just that.

Beginners and seasoned presenters have plenty to learn from this group of courses designed to help you improve your communication effectiveness and efficiency.  From creating a plan, to developing and refining your messages and then getting them out there through a wide range of delivery methods, we’ve got you covered with these courses.

Join with us this month in learning more about how to get the best results through the right messages to the right audiences… and start celebrating more effective communication than you’ve ever known.

Course information and links can all be found on WebJunction Illinois.

What’s New @ WJIL: Chart Your Course – A Marketing Toolkit for your library

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ChartYourCourseWant to let job-seekers in your community know what a wealth of resources and services your library has to offer? Use this “Chart Your Course”  marketing toolkit recently added to WJIL as a part of the Workforce Resources collection. Here is a sneak peek at what you’ll find. For the full story and resources follow the links.

Overview

  • Why it’s important to make sure that your community knows what your library has to offer.

Get Started

  • Ideas for setting achievable and measurable goals and objectives as well as a quick survey to help you identify new opportunities to raise awareness.

Tell the Story

  • How to find the story and develop the key messages and talking points.

Reach out to the Community

  • Outreach strategies for a number of key groups and tips on how to sustain your efforts.

Marketing Materials

  • A wealth of customizable ready to use graphic templates such as bookmarks, flyers, graphics, etc. that can be used in reaching job-seekers. All assets are branded with the marketing  slogan “Chart Your Course – The latest news about Jobs and Careers is always at Your Library.”

LACONI Marketing Program November 19

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Featuring Peggy Barber, a noted speaker and author and co-owner of Library Communication Services, this workshop is based on the premise that all of us who believe in libraries can help get the message across, can by our own enthusiasm  inspire others to use and support this unique resource. 

In this age of dot.coms, cell phones, and road rage, caring and conviction still rule.  It’s time to get passionate about “selling” libraries. Learn about the most powerful form of advertising of all:  What it is/Why do it/ Who to do it/How to do it/ and where customer service fits in.

November 19, 9:30 a.m – 12:30 p.m.
Gail Borden Public Library District Main Building, Elgin

Register for this event by contacting RoseAnn Vonesh at ravonesh@oppl.org or 708-697-6957.

$15.00 for LACONI members, $25.00 for nonmembers

For details, see: http://www.laconi.net/rass/programs/

ILA Marketing Committee Starts Modcasts

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ModcastsThe ILA Marketing Committee is starting a new video offering, Modcasts.  The first Modcast is up at the Marketing Committee’s Youtube channel.

These marketing vodcasts, “Modcasts,” will mostly feature aspects of marketing libraries to highlight all kinds of  interesting trends, handy resources and stories.  This first short video introduces The Field Museum Team who will energize and educate pilot advocates at the Oct. 22 Workshop  in preparation for our exciting  Go Green @ Your Illinois Library project where Illinois libraries will impact the future of Illinois in a new and greener way.