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Marketing

Community Building, Marketing
Getting Out to Get Inclusive
December 5th, 2012 | Permalink | Comments Off

This season of giving is a good time to reflect on inclusion, particularly how libraries reach out to underserved communities with their services. For libraries, outreach is about reaching out to those who don’t know how awesome the library is—to non-users and people with special needs that could be addressed by library services. In a renewed look at library outreach, we consider the what, why, who and how of outreach, with examples of three innovative programs. Read more »
Marketing, Sustainability
Are you ready to get your geek on?
February 18th, 2011 | Permalink | 1 Comment

By Jenny Johnson, Executive Director, Branding and Marketing Services for OCLC

I geek movies, Italian food, making new friends and mystery novels. What do you geek? This is the question asked by the Geek the Library community awareness campaign.

If you haven’t heard about the campaign yet, here is your opportunity to find out more. This distinct awareness campaign—that focuses on highlighting the critical role public libraries play in every community and the continued need for sustained funding—is one fun way to help raise awareness about the amazing ways your library supports all the ‘geeking’ that goes on in your community. Many U.S. public libraries have signed up to implement the program locally, and positive results from the pilot campaign conducted with public libraries in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin are fueling momentum.

Geek the Library’s look and message are catchy and definitely grab people’s attention. A new OCLC membership report confirms this—there was impressive awareness of the campaign in surveyed pilot communities and high likeability. The best news is that Geek the Library doesn’t only get people’s attention; it also helps change people’s perceptions about public libraries and public library funding. According to the report, residents in pilot communities took positive steps to support their public libraries after being exposed to elements of the pilot campaign.

Geek the Library is an opportunity for public libraries to surprise their communities with an unexpected approach and connect with residents in a new way. The campaign encourages a personal connection to the library that leads to awareness and, hopefully, continued support. It also starts important local conversations. Essentially, it can help libraries develop community advocates who understand the value of the library, but also appreciate how funding works and recognize the need to keep it top-of-mind in community discussions.

Geek the Library certainly got the pilot communities talking about libraries and we can’t wait to see where the conversation goes in the new communities that are getting their geek on.

Curious if this could work in your area? Geek the Library is now freely available to any U.S. public library. Download the report and visit get.geekthelibrary.org for more information.
Advocacy, Marketing
Libraries can now get Geek the Library campaign materials
October 12th, 2010 | Permalink | Comments Off

Have you heard about the Geek the Library community awareness campaign? Did you know that any U.S. public library can implement it locally?

Created by OCLC and funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Geek the Library illustrates the fact that everyone is passionate about something—everyone “geeks” something—and that the public library supports it all. The campaign materials include advertising, collateral, a campaign Web site, social media and other online tools. The campaign message is bold and simple, and it focuses on the critical role that public libraries play in our communities while raising awareness of local library funding challenges.

OCLC piloted the campaign last year with nearly 100 libraries in many communities in southern Georgia and central Iowa, as well as libraries in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Geek the Library helped participants educate the public about the value of the library and library funding, and start important local funding conversations. The results of the pilot are encouraging. People noticed it and it’s making an impact!

After just five months, over 60 percent of residents in central Iowa and nearly 50 percent of residents in southern Georgia were aware of the campaign. More than two thirds of people had taken action or intended to take action in response to the campaign, including visiting their local library or talking about the campaign to friends and family. And, in southern Georgia, there was a statistically significant improvement in people’s willingness to support an increase in library funding.

A few pilot libraries also reported other positive outcomes as a result of improved community perceptions, such as fewer budget cuts (and even increased financial support) from both the local and state level, and increased staff compensation. The results of the Geek the Library pilot will be available in a comprehensive report later this year.

OCLC is currently accepting requests from libraries and library systems interested in implementing Geek the Library in their community. To learn more visit get.geekthelibrary.org.
collections, Marketing, Online Collaboration, Webinar
Webinar: Shine a light on your digital collections
September 2nd, 2010 | Permalink | Comments Off

With such great turnout for last week’s Digitization & Preservation Symposium, I wanted to be sure folks know about the free upcoming OCLC webinar on September 22, Shine a light on your digital collections.

Michael Scott, Maryland Digital Cultural Heritage Coordinator, will discuss how she uses everything from social media to WorldCat.org to increase the visibility of their online collections.

Also hear from Suzanne Butte, OCLC Digital Services Consultant, about how other libraries, museums and archives use a wide variety of ways to increase awareness and promote their digital collections.

Register Now for September 22 Webinar»
View Archive for Digitization & Preservation Symposium »
Community Building, Library Services, Marketing, News, Webinar
Libraries grow community economies
July 29th, 2010 | Permalink | Comments Off

Free 30-minute webinar series on three Tuesday afternoons in August: 17th, 24th, 31st

Communities across the country are pursuing a burgeoning strategy known as economic gardening, which works to stimulate the development of small business with the goal of growing a healthy, community-scale economy. Libraries can be key players in supporting and facilitating their success. This Libraries and Economic Development webinar series will expand your thinking about the powerful connection. Your host for the series is Shelley Walchak, a mover-and-shaker with the official title of Library Community Programs Senior Consultant at the Colorado State Library.

Webinar 1: How to Make Your Library Entrepreneur-Friendly
Tuesday, Aug 17, 4pm Eastern/1pm Pacific

Christine Hamilton-Pennell literally wrote the book. She is an articulate proponent of libraries’ support for local entrepreneurs. Learn specific steps your library can take to connect with and support its local business community. If you’re at all intrigued by the concept of economic gardening, this webinar is a must-see. Hamilton-Pennell introduces the strategies and lays the groundwork for their practical application, which will be covered in the following two webinars.

Webinar 2: Turning Your Databases into Business for Your Customers
Tuesday, Aug 24, 4pm Eastern/1pm Pacific

Your library may already have the tools at hand (or close by) to help stimulate economic development in your community and you don’t have to be a trained business reference librarian to use them. Presenters Terry Zarsky and Kathleen Rainwater will give a guided tour through the best databases for small business information.

Webinar 3: Going to Your Customer – Outreach and Strategic Partnerships
Tuesday, Aug 31, 4pm Eastern/1pm Pacific

How do you let the business community know that your library is primed and ready to help? Presenters Suzanne Kaller and Colbe Galston will talk about how to get the word out to Chambers of Commerce, small business development centers, community groups and government entities.

For more information and to access archives and registration:
http://www.webjunction.org/workforce-resources/articles/content/103122377
Marketing, Webinar
Webinar: Library Images and Video
March 18th, 2010 | Permalink | Comments Off

I read the latest American Libraries on the bus this morning (it’s a great issue, btw) and Ellyssa Kroski‘s excellent article “10 Technology Ideas Your Library Can Implement Next Week” reminded me to blog about the upcoming March 30th webinar with Michael Porter and Jeff Dawson. Ellyssa’s Idea #1 is to create a library video tour. Come join us on March 30th, 2:00 Eastern for a webinar that will help get you started!

Library Images and Video: Engage, Inspire and Tell your Story

In this entertaining and heartwarming presentation you will learn how two librarians teamed up to advocate more effectively (and boldly) while staying true to the personality of the communities, the libraries and the staff they serve. You and your library really can market your services and engage more effectively, and images, video and authenticity can be a key! Learn how you too can use images and video creatively and effectively to inspire Libraryland, engage the communities you serve boost staff morale and get more enjoyment from your job. The stories and lessons in this session will be presented by Jeff Dawson from the Lester Public Library in Two Rivers Wisconsin and by Michael Porter from WebJunction.

Register for the event »
Library Services, Marketing
Food for thought (or fear?)
October 27th, 2009 | Permalink | Comments Off

I read this post (excerpted below) on Seth Godin’s blog, and it resonated with me–both the specific example of apples and the overall point he was making.

In our industrialized world, people are now afraid of apples. Afraid of buying the wrong kind. Afraid of making a purchasing mistake or some sort of pie mistake.

And they’re afraid of your product and your service. Whatever you sell, there are two big reasons people aren’t buying it:

1. They don’t know about it.

2. They’re afraid of it.

If you can get over those two, then you get the chance to prove that they need it and it’s a good value. But as long as people are afraid of what you sell, you’re stuck.
Marketing, Web 2.0
Twitter Tips for Libraries
September 23rd, 2009 | Permalink | 1 Comment

David Allen Kelly, aka kellydallen, of Palm Beach County Library System put together a set of five tips for how libraries can make better use of twitter and posted to his blog as “How Your Library May Not Be Using Twitter But Should.”

If you like what you read, post a comment to his blog to encourage him to write that Part II he mentioned!

Need a primer on twitter? Read this article: “Twitter: A Beginner’s Guide.”.
ALA MW 2009, Community Building, Funding, Library Management, Marketing, Online Collaboration
ALA MW: It has to make sense
January 25th, 2009 | Permalink | Comments Off

Librarian Lesson #1 here at ALA MW in Denver: align priorities and learn when to sometimes say “NO.” The message at my table at the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) Breakfast among skilled Project Managers, Supervisors, and Directors was simple: use regular, structured, F2F and online interactions with the public to nail down ”the mission,” then put “results” above all else in selecting and structuring projects that get the maximum bang for the bite. To do this well, it sometimes means saying no, or at least “not now.” Scope creep can render projects and actions null and void. Pinpoint focus on a mission… the right one, gets us to the next (big) thing all the sooner.
chrystie, Library Services, Marketing, Tech
patron stories
June 26th, 2008 | Permalink | 4 Comments

My colleague Zola Maddison mentioned to me today that she thought we ought to publish the patron stories behind or alongside the library staff stories we tell at WebJunction.

So, what if when we talked about what Rachel does for her library in the Mission Branch of San Francisco Public, we could also hear the voices of some of her patrons talking about how her library services have changed and enriched their lives?

That is why we do this stuff, afterall.

Zola’s comments came after a whirl-wind hour of Knowledge Cafe-ing, hosted by Betha and Emily, based on their time at SLA this year. At the end of that session we were talking about actions and outcomes from the Cafe. ‘Just let it change you,’ I said, ‘let it influence our work’. But what I think I may have meant was more simple than that, even: ‘just let it remind you’.
Advocacy, chrystie, Library Services, Marketing
Wyoming Libraries Campaign
September 20th, 2007 | Permalink | Comments Off

I think that what Wyoming is doing to market their libraries is very cool. This particular image is sure to raise a few eyebrows, but I think it’s great!! Be sure to take a look at the whole campaign. They’ve done a great job.

wyominglibs
Originally uploaded by WebJunction
ALA2007, Conferences, Marketing
The WebJunction PEZ Dispenser Post
June 14th, 2007 | Permalink | 6 Comments

My coworkers here at WebJunction are a patient lot. They work hard every day knowing that at some point there is a very real possibility that I will march right up to them and start talking about, of all things, PEZ dispensers.

I know that sounds strange, but don’t be fooled! These PEZ discussion really are about work (most of the time anyway), work that is about to happily culminate in the dissemination of our very own WebJunction PEZ dispensers! That’s right; you may soon be one of the roughly 120 WebJunction members that will soon be the proud owners of some very spiffy, very limited edition (only 150 were made), highly collectible WebJunction PEZ dispenser. This could mean you! So how do you get one?

First, everyone should know that this special little PEZ was designed primarily as a giveaway for this year’s ALA Annual Conference. So, if you attend our big WebJunction event next Friday, June 22nd and are one of the first 100 WebJunction members to bop around the room partying, visiting, learning and answering a very short question sheet, you will get one of these super spiffy PEZ dispensers. So if you are especially keen on acquiring a WJ PEZ, arrive early and join the party! *Just a note, we do have lots of other activities, games and giveaways planned for this giganto event. It will be so much fun that, believe it or not, even without PEZ it would be a pretty fab party.*

Sadly, large numbers of limited edition custom PEZ dispensers are cost prohibitive so we only have so many to go around. We also know that a very large number of our members cannot make it to our party at ALA. Sooooo…. If you are a registered WebJunction member currently working in, for or with libraries and you really, really want one, you have a chance. We have set 20 dispensers aside and will hold a drawing for them shortly after our return from the conference in DC. There are some requirements that you’ll see on the drawing sign-up page but as long as you meet them (and you really, really want a WebJunction PEZ dispenser) feel free to register. The link to sign up for the giveaway is here **UPDATE** We’ve given away all of our PEZ dispensers for this event and want to thank everyone for participating. We hope you are enjoying your WebJunction PEZ!

Here are the WebJunction Reception/Party details:
Venue: Renaissance, Washington, Grand Ballroom Central
Location:999 Ninth Street NW, Washington, District Of Columbia
Date: Friday, June 22
Time: 5:00 – 7:30 PM ET
Required Dress: Your sassiest librarian outfit. (Or business casual)

And just in case you wondered, my own personal obsession with PEZ is nicely documented by following this link. Additionally, Chrystie and Rachel can attest to the majesty of the Burlingame Museum of PEZ Memorabilia, which printed these custom “fantasy” PEZ for us and which we also recently visited while in the Bay Area for a Community Unconference and a meeting at the RLG offices. A grand time was had by all!
ALA2007, Marketing, News, Spanish Outreach
Resource Party
May 23rd, 2007 | Permalink | Comments Off

We are very excited about our partnership with the REFORMA DC Metro Area Chapter to sponsor this year’s PIÑATA DE RECURSOS/RESOURCE PIÑATA Exhibit. The event highlights outstanding Spanish language library marketing and public relations materials and will be held at the REFORMA Fundraiser Reception in Washington, DC on Sunday, June 24, 2007. And did I mention the REFORMA Reception is at the Venezuelan Embassy!

At the PIÑATA DE RECURSOS/RESOURCE PIÑATA Exhibit, guests will view the materials and take ideas back to their libraries. We will also post all of the materials on WebJunction after the event (stay tuned!). Submissions can be from all types of libraries and we welcome all Spanish language library materials. Contact Elena Tscherny for more information about submission guidelines and deadlines.

We hope to see there!
Design, Marketing, Meet Ups, Online Collaboration, Social Computing, Tags and Taxonomies
flickr fun
October 25th, 2006 | Permalink | Comments Off

One of the most engaging programs I attended today at IL2006 was Michael Porter’s presentation on Flickr and the libraries and librarians group there. Michael described how his involvement in the project evolved over time, how the group grew to include more than 900 members and close to six thousand photos, and how that growth had naturally caused the group to self-moderate with tagging guidelines or suggestions and a bit of back-end volunteer work. His description confirmed what we’ve been learning at WebJunction about the wisdom of groups and their tendency to self-moderate when they have ownership or particular community roles. (Let’s set aside for a moment the fact that I defy that statement myself – having posted a number of pictures to the group pool without, I am sure, adherence to suggested guidelines…)
But the most fascinating (and impressive) thing to me about Michael’s program was not flickr, nor his group, nor his group’s growth� – it was (drum roll please) the ultra-suave way he brought in voices from around the world (literally) to help him tell his story.

People in the libraries and librarians group in Flickr from both Spain and Australia did voiceovers for their portions of the program. They talked over their demonstrations – which were done in PPT, I think, but maybe there was some flash involved. It was so simple, but a nice big photograph of each speaker as they began, along with name and title, and Michael gave his audience the feeling of meeting someone online. Impressive! It has me thinking about how we (the WebJunction community) can bring our members into these types of conference or meeting settings without even physically being there. Next time we have a member reception at ALA or something, why not let WJ members who can’t or won’t be there tell their library’s story in a similar way? Any volunteers?
Though this one may be my favorite, it’s one of a thousand new ideas I have after being here. Lucky me – lucky us. Now it’s just a matter of sorting through them all!
Marketing, Weekly Tips
Weekly Tip: Use this free library wireless graphic
September 11th, 2006 | Permalink | Comments Off

Got wireless in your library? Use this image to let folks know.