Marketing

Library Services, Marketing
Teens in charge
November 23rd, 2005 | Permalink | Comment?

Chrystie recently suggested looking at teens as a key to libraries’ branding quandry. If we can successfully develop and sell library services to teens it bodes well for our ability to adapt to the expectations of some of our most challenging, demanding, and exciting users. I can’t think of a better way to keep us moving and thriving. Especially if we involve teens themselves in making decisions about our services and marketing.

Jill Stover’s Library Marketing blog has an inspiring interview with Meg Canada, the Coordinator for the Hennepin County (MN) Library’s TeenLinks program, including some cool marketing ideas–and even cooler involvement of teens in advising and developing content.

At WebJunction, the Milton (Ontario, Canada) Public Library, our Library of the Month, is developing both on-site and online spaces for teens, and a teen advisory group will help guide Milton’s work.

And in a recent discussion on teen services on WebJunction’s discussion boards several folks pointed to resources on teen advisory boards including those available at YALSA’s (Young Adult Library Services Association) TAGS (Teen Advisory Group Site). Jennifer Peterson has shared a list of resources as well some tips for program success. Thanks Jennifer!
Library Management, Library Services, Marketing
Re-branding Libraries?
November 17th, 2005 | Permalink | 1 Comment

Driving home from work one night this week I was struck by this story on NPR’s All Things Considered:

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin is re-branding her city. As part of the effort, the city commissioned a theme song from hip-hop artist Dallas Austin. The song, she says, is intended to appeal to young people�

Great cities are built for the future and any mayor around the world will tell you that; we go to work, not just to fill the potholes on any given day, but rather to be a part of a planning process that prepares this city for success twenty and thirty years later. You must reach out to young people to be a successful city; but the question then becomes: do you have the nerve to say that? And in Atlanta, we do�

This song needs to represent the future of our city and the diversity of our city. It�s a lot easier to use the words �we want to represent everyone� and in fact find a place for everyone to participate.

Insert the word library in the place of city in the comments above and I wonder if we�d be on to something. We talk a lot about libraries, marketing, services, and teens. But last night it all came together for me: could YA services be the key to our branding quandary?

(BTW: he�s no hip-hop artist, but I know someone who can write some clever library lyrics.)

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Marketing

Library Services, Marketing

Teens in charge

Library Management, Library Services, Marketing

Re-branding Libraries?