We have to stop marketing as though we were running for student council president
Avoid the word “library”, brings up the “oh that’s sweet” children and book club response. Advantages: Teachers, clergy, local officials, health care workers may influence user behavior more than librarians Challenge: will they listen to us?
So many library homeschool resource pages DON”T highlight our magazine sources, children's encyclopedias children’s test prep materials Just mentioning the library isn’t enough; people will assume you just mean books Must stress that these are available free, online, from home
Let’s start attending and speaking at homeschool conferences! Museums, bookstores do
Avoid the word “library”, brings up the “oh that’s sweet” children and book club response. Advantages: Teachers, clergy, local officials, health care workers may influence user behavior more than librarians Challenge: will they listen to us?
Part of the Evanston Chamber of commerce packet to new businesses. Dallas Chamber article has section on libraries, hardly mentions databases. Directory of libraries doesn ’ t have their websites. Dallas Chamber has section on Business research. Where is the library?
Note I don’t use the word library,to avoid glaze over effect
Will focus on 4 state systems that market effectively and have seen their usage grow dramatically
One of the few states to have a serious marketing plan. Convened in 2005
PROBLEMS: vendors who also sell directly to the public (RefUSA, Public Records) Encourage two -tiered approach: sell limited product to libraries, allow advertising of fuller featured one. Should promote the library as their “free sample” Vendors who only sell to libraries need to get on the ball. No different from book publishers, pharmaceuticals, videos, etc. they sell less than 1% of their products to individuals,so why don’t their websites lead people to libraries?
Public Records Periodicals: how often has a patron discovered a new periodical from using Infotrac or EBSCO? Vendors need to show publishers the value of being in a library index,not just agree to “protect” them from us Most vendors sell less than 1% of their products to individuals
Note that it doesn’t mention ProQuest, but would work with any product
If they can afford a $2 Superbowl ad they can afford to toss us some money for a few NPR ads Cut back on some of those mailings to libraries! Attend Chamber of commerce,governors, homeschoolers, real estate conventions!
ALA has the clout to get media attention more than individual libraries,or even state ones
One of the most useful, and under utilized advantages of a library card is access to online services.why doesn’t Ala seem to realize that? Maybe a FOLUSA project? Or local Friends?
We’re in fiji. The bulk of our promotional activities are in libraries, on library websites, in library publications, or the “library” ghettos of other publications. Ask yourself: what have you done to market your library online services to people who are NOT your customers?