Tips & Tools – 658.8 – Marketing, Management, Leadership, Libraries

Big Ideas, General, Reader's Advisory, Tips & Tools, Uncategorized

#TBT – Going Rogue for Summer Reading

June 2, 2016October 20, 2016 658.8

In honor of the season and the day, I am reposting an article I wrote for Novelist a few years ago for this early summer edition of Throwback Thursday. At the time, this felt like edgy stuff – ditching the CSLP theme felt like a crazy move! However, based on responses to the piece, I learned that many other libraries were also (and were already) rethinking summer reading.

summer-in-the-city_(1)

Fast forward to 2016 and libraries are still doing just that – rethinking, reframing, and redesigning summer reading programs to create more value, reach more people, and have a greater impact. Inspired by what many other libraries are doing, Chapel Hill Public Library is embracing the summer challenge framework and expanding the scope beyond just reading to embrace experiential learning as well.

charlotte summer — Charlotte Mecklenburg’s Summer Break Program

chicago — Chicago Public Library’s Summer Learning Challenge

As I post this, and thanks to our fabulous Youth, RA, and Marketing staff, we are launching our 2016 Summer Challenge: Read More, Do More, Learn More – I’ll let you know how it goes.

chpl summer

Raise your hand (and comment below) if you and your library are rethinking the season and your approach to it. I’d love to hear about what you are doing!

Going Rogue for Summer Reading: A Totally Local Approach to our Busiest Season

Originally appeared in the October 2013 issue of Kids & Books

It all started in the fall of 2011. After another summer — our busiest season at Lawrence Public Library — staff from Children’s, Teen, and Adult departments gathered to discuss how the summer reading program went. Good participation numbers? Check! Engaging slate of programs? Check! Lots of happy readers? Check! Continue reading “#TBT – Going Rogue for Summer Reading” →

General, Tips & Tools

Read, Use, Join, Try, Do, Apply

December 3, 2012December 7, 2012 658.8

Read this – This article should be required reading for librarians, especially those who doubt the need for marketing. Ned Potter, author of Library Marketing Toolkit, interviewed Terry Kendrick, strategic marketing guru and author of Developing Strategic Marketing Plans that Really Work, for the latest issue of American Libraries.

Use this – The American Library Association released an “Ebook Media and Communications Toolkit” that can help librarians communicate about the state of ebooks in libraries. At Lawrence Public Library, we repurposed some of the content for a feature on our website. Continue reading “Read, Use, Join, Try, Do, Apply” →

General, Marketing 101, Tips & Tools

Six Partnerships for Public Libraries

November 23, 2012December 3, 2012 658.8

Fred and Ginger. Batman and Robin. Starsky and Hutch. Your public library and ____________________ (insert community organization, local business, or local nonprofit here). Your library has the potential to join the list of great partnerships – all it takes is a little time, attention, and maybe a cup of coffee.

At every local, regional, and national conference I’ve attended in the past year or so, one of the frequent buzzwords has been partnerships. In an era of decreased budgets, over-stretched staff, and limited resources, partnerships make more sense than ever. Here are a half dozen partnerships that public libraries can readily develop – for programs, PR, and more.

If you’re wondering how to get starting developing these relationships, I suggest a cup of coffee. Contact the marketing officer or program director or even the agency head, and offer to buy them a cup of coffee. Let them know that you’d like to partner more and be ready to brainstorm possibilities. A good strategy is to start small – consider what the lowest-hanging fruit is and use that as a first effort. And don’t forget that partnerships are a two-way street: be prepared to discuss both what they can do for you and what value you can offer them in return. Continue reading “Six Partnerships for Public Libraries” →

Reader's Advisory, Tips & Tools

Content Marketing for the RA Crowd

August 29, 2012August 29, 2012 658.8

Even though I’m wearing a marketing hat these days, I do still keep my toes wet in the Readers’ Advisory waters. I occasionally write for NoveList’s RA News newsletter, a free resource full of great ideas for library staff involved in RA. My most recent article is just out and talks about making RA content more marketable by reducing it, re-using it, and recycling it. Read the article here and sign up for RA News here.

I’m not the only one with both an RA hat and a marketing hat! NoveList is branching out into the marketing world with a new product – LibraryAware. If you haven’t heard about this cool new tool to help libraries with branding and promotion, check it out. One of the best things about NoveList has always been all of their added content – RA training, book discussion guides, themed book lists, newsletters, etc. – and it looks like LibraryAware will carry on this tradition with white papers like this and more.

Marketing Masters, Tips & Tools

One Hour, Three Libraries, Nine Words

February 17, 2012April 19, 2012 658.8

Intuit. Inquire. Identify.
Claim Your Seat.
Always Be Connecting.

In the excellent Building a Library Aware Community webinar, three libraries talked about how they successfully articulate their value to their communities. My notes are copious, but in reviewing them, I noticed that each panelist offered up a three-word phrase that expressed the essence of their project and their perspective. Continue reading “One Hour, Three Libraries, Nine Words” →

Tips & Tools

Minute to Market It #2 – Newsletter Mailing List

February 14, 2012February 14, 2012 658.8

A series of short and sweet ideas that you can implement right now.

M2MI #2 – If you maintain a mailing list for your library newsletter, whether it’s in print or electronic format, take a minute today and check it:

Are all of the current Trustees included? Current leadership of the Friends of the Library? Library Foundation Board of Directors? As new leaders and members come onto these boards, make sure to get their addresses.
Is the mayor on the list? County commissioners? State representatives? Remember to update the list after Election Day each year.
Is the city or county Public Information Officer or Communications Director on the list?
Are area news outlets included? In addition to sending them press releases and entries for their community calendars, send them your regular newsletter as well.
Are the leaders of other community institutions on it? Make sure that directors of local arts organizations and children’s museums and civic groups get your newsletter and make sure that you receive theirs.

Often our goal is to grow our list and it is easy to overlook these key audiences and assume that they are either already on your list or that they just somehow know about what’s going on at your library. Continue reading “Minute to Market It #2 – Newsletter Mailing List” →