LibTalk Blog

Share Your Library Hacks via the Library Success Wiki

2008-05-06T18:37:00.002-04:00

After reading the last post, Andrew kindly sent me a suggestion to have a library hacks wiki. I like the idea of sharing information via a wiki that anyone can edit, but am not so keen on idea of creating a brand new wiki that people will most likely ignore. I instantly thought of the Library Success Wiki as a better way to do this.

So I added a section on Library Hacks to the promotions page and it is now ready and waiting for your hacks. This may or may not be the best place on the wiki to place this, if it's not I figure someone will move it, but to me this is classic promotion.

If you have a tip or hack that helps get end users excited and shows the value of library resources please head over to the Library Success Wiki and add it!

Where Are All the Library Hacks?

2008-05-01T18:19:00.002-04:00

(just when you thought this blog was officially dead, I’m baaaaaack. Can’t say for how long, I just happen to have a bee in my bonnet again).

After being inspired by meeting conversation, I was on the hunt again today for fun, quick and easy, tips and tricks to share with our end users about OhioLINK resources. Preferably something that tells users how to find cool things in our databases that they don't know about. Things like this Trouble picking the perfect present? blog post which shows how to find consumer reports in EBSCOhost. This should be easy to find at library and vendor Web sites everywhere right? Wrong. Well, maybe I’m not looking in the right place, but they’re not, and not being a librarian, I don’t always know the resources well enough to come up with them. In fact, I’m feeling stumped right now.

I did however find one inspirational blog, Library Hacks, by Duke University Libraries. Inspired by LifeHacker, Library Hacks:

“Library Hacks is a place to find out about tools, resources, services, and ideas that can help make the library more efficient for you. It’s written mostly by librarians, but we’ll also have occasional student and faculty guest bloggers.”

The Cell Phones for Citation post has already given me some ideas. Maybe if I take pictures of my mileage I won't forget it!

It’s good stuff, but shouldn’t there be more tips floating around out there. Help me out, what are your favorite library and library database hacks?

Quality Artwork That Won't Bust Your Budget

2008-01-19T09:49:00.000-05:00

Using great images can take your publications (and blogs!) to the next level, but finding affordable images used to be a real challenge. Luckily, today there are many sources you can turn to for free or cheap high-resolution images.

The free stuff
If you do a Web search you'll find list after list of free image resources. I've explored these lists with little success, but here are two sources I actually use:

Crestock's free daily image (there is even an RSS feed)
iStockphoto offers a free weekly image, free vector of the month, and a free video of the month

Now you do need to be proactive and download and build a library of any images that might be of interest, but at this price, it's worth the bit of extra effort.

The cheap stuff
I've used several subscription image services and while they worked well for me and my place of work at the time, I now have access to many more images and spend much less on them thanks to iStockphoto. In addition to photos, iStockphoto has vector images and videos too. It's the best place I've found to find super high-resolution images for $20 or less. Plus, iStockphoto provides some helpful resources for designers including an article library, forums and examples of real designs created with their images. And you definitely don't want to miss the dollar bin.

One to Watch: Mark Lives in IKEA

2008-01-08T20:58:00.000-05:00

As a major IKEA fan (try the Daim chocolate. Go on. It's impossible not to love it.), I have to say that Mark Malkoff is living my dream. This is just brilliant publicity for IKEA, but how many other stores would have said yes to this? (though I can't help wondering if it was really completely Malkoff's idea in the first place. It's just such great publicity!)

I'm not sure spending the night in the library would have the same appeal, but would you say yes if someone wanted to pull a similar stunt in your library? Before you say no to a wild idea, spend some time thinking about why you should say yes. As Seth Godin reminds us, you can't be remarkable without taking risks and trying something new.

Are You Raking In the Compliments?

2007-12-10T18:41:00.000-05:00

Since many librarians prefer not to toot their own horns, why not let your customers sing your praises for you? Last week’s Get to the Po!nt e-newsletter was a great reminder that we need to make it easy for happy customers to compliment us. The newsletter referenced a post at Andy Sernovitz’s interesting Damn! I Wish I’d Thought of That! blog (subscribed!) and included Sernvitz’s tips for opening the door to positive feedback:

Let customers leave compliments on an "Employee Thank You" wall stocked with paper, pencils and thumbtacks.
Ask your customers to vote in the Employee of the Month contest.
Put your Web site's feedback form in a prominent location.
Invite free-form comments on post-purchase surveys. "You're not going to get praise from a multiple-choice question," writes Sernovitz.

Not only does this let customers easily give you kudos, the testimonials you receive may provide great tools to help you tell your story in newsletters, annual reports, board reports and more. Testimonials also show staff that their good work and service is noticed and appreciated, so be sure to share them.

At OhioLINK, we post stories from our users on our news site as well as our testimonials page. This idea was highly inspired by Google's Press Center. There is also a form to submit stories online and once a year we encourage our member libraries to help us find great testimonials for our annual report. Having these testimonials easily accessible and available to all makes them much more useful for us and our members.

New OCLC Report: Sharing, Privacy and Trust in Our Networked World

2007-11-01T20:13:00.000-04:00

OCLC just published another must-read report, Sharing, Privacy and Trust in Our Networked World. This report summarizes the findings from an international study on online social spaces, including social networking attitudes and habits of both end users and librarians. It explores social participation and cooperation on the Internet and how it may impact the library’s role, including:

The use of social networking, social media, commercial and library services on the Web
How and what users and librarians share on the Web and their attitudes toward related privacy issues
Opinions on privacy online
Libraries’ current and future roles in social networking

One interesting tidbit from the report: Internet activity keeps going up. Search engine use increased from 71% to 90%. E-mail use grew from 73% to 97%. And the use of blogs, went from 16% to 46% in 18 months. While all those activities keep going up, up up, use of library Web sites dropped from 30% in 2005 to 20% in 2007. Sure different populations and even a few different nationalities were surveyed in the two reports, but still that stat is worth some thought.

Privacy and Trust in Our Networked World follows on the heels of another must-read OCLC report, College Students’ Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources.

New Use for the Trusty Lemonade Stand

2007-10-30T17:57:00.000-04:00

I love this idea. Denison University Library hosts a lemonade stand at their welcome back reception for students and staff. Peggy Rector, from the Denison University Library, was kind enough to share all the details.

This past fall, the event was held on the third day of classes and “went over much better than when it was held on the first day of classes.” Thirty-seven gallons of lemonade and almost 20 dozen cookies were served during the three hour event. Librarians and staff from throughout the library were invited to volunteer to staff the event for 30 minute shifts.

Giveaways included magnets with library hours, ID wallets, water bottles, library newsletters, and the Library 101 information booklet. They also had 300 glow ice cubes which were a BIG hit and there was a drawing at the end of the day for an iPod Shuffle.

To get the word out, a flyer (PDF) was posted around the academic quad and on the campus calendar. They also use a big sidewalk sign out in front of the building to invite students inside.

*photo courtesy of Denison University Library

Good Stuff Worth Sharing

2007-09-20T21:40:00.000-04:00

Marketing-ish Think piece: Harry Beckwith's 40 tidbits on what motivates people. Beckwith is the author of the great Selling the Invisible: A Field Guide to Modern Marketing (a must-read) and other marketing books.

Inspiration: Randy Pausch's Lecture of a Lifetime and Jeff Zaslow's article and video about it.

Media relations tip: Publicity Hound Joan Stewart says you should pitch your Halloween stories now. Did you give local reporters your list of library activities?

Creative library opening idea: Taking pictures of patrons and their favorite books is a fabulous way to celebrate a library grand opening. Especially if the photos look as fantastic as the black and white photos taken by photojournalist Todd Mizener at the Moline (Illinois) Public Library's opening

SPARC's Mind Mashup Video Contest

2007-09-13T18:12:00.000-04:00

Speaking of videos, during some video contest research (cough *stay tuned* cough) I stumbled upon the SPARC Discovery Awards Competition. Videos should "demonstrate or illustrate what you see as the value of sharing information, ideas and knowledge." The winner will receive $1,000 and a "fabulous Sparky Award statuette." Two runners up will each get $500.

Videos must be two minutes or shorter and are due by December 2, 2007. The contest is open to anyone not working SPARC or ARL (or living with someone who works at either organization).

The winning videos will be publicly screened at the ALA Midwinter. That just clinched it right? I see you running off to start filming.

Another Interesting Library Video

2007-09-12T18:17:00.000-04:00

I just stumbled upon this intro to the library video on the Ohio University Libraries news blog. Good stuff.

Related posts: UD's Funny Library Video

Do You Make Reporters Jump Through Hoops?

2007-08-08T10:57:00.000-04:00

Publicity Hound Joan Stewart's latest tips of the week include some good advice on what not to do if you hope to ever get publicity and how to keep your message clear when talking to reporters.

Check out the first story for some great tips on how not to treat reporters or anyone looking for information about your library or organization. Joan's tips include (go read her article for complete details):

Make sure your front-line employees understand the importance of media inquiries.
When you get a fabulous media hit, include it at your website.
Put contact information--including a shipping address, phone number and email address--in an easy-to-find place on your homepage.

As well as making sure front-line employees understand the importance of media inquiries, make sure everyone has a list of the events and programs going on in the library that day easily accessible. It's frustrating for patron, the media or anyone to ask about an event they saw listed in the newspaper, or your newsletter, only to be greeted with a blank stare from someone who hasn't been informed of the day's events.

Joan's tips bring up another point. Do you have an online newsroom? Most of the library Web sites I visit don't, but probably should. Online newsrooms aren't just for big corporations, they're something most libraries will probably benefit from as well. Online newsrooms should contain quick and easy access to your news releases, fast facts, statistics, testimonials, historical and contact information, and anything else the media might need or want to know when doing a story on you. And online newsrooms aren't just for the media. Library staff and customers will visit them for facts and stats as well. If you do have an online newsroom, make sure it's up-to-date and is easy to find from your home page.

Good Stuff: Elizabeth Leonard on Libraries

2007-08-01T20:21:00.000-04:00

I found Elizabeth's blog, Elizabeth Leonard on Libraries, yesterday. It's definitely worth a visit. She has a lot of good marketing points and tips.

I also updated the list of blogs I read to reflect my current habits (finally).

Brochure Design: Creating a Winner

2007-08-01T18:46:00.000-04:00

I spent a lot of time thinking about what makes a good brochure while re-designing OhioLINK's brochures. Some of the tips I found really resonated with me, in fact they resonated enough that I was able to see our current brochure with fresh eyes and give it the overhaul it desperately needed.

So here's a compendium of some of the tips that helped me.

First, the ever-insightful Seth Godin reminded us that people won't read your brochure. His tips (go to the post for more):

Use less copy. Half as much.
Use testimonials. With photos. Short captions. It's hard to have too many of the good ones.
Make it funny enough or interesting enough or, hey, remarkable enough that people will want to show it to their friends.
Show, don't tell.

Another helpful article is "Effective Brochure Design":

Use white space
Stick to two typefaces, and strictly limit your use of bold, capitalization, underline, etc.

These key tips from SouthlandNZ.com are also good:

Make the cover as POWERFUL as possible.
Use a single quality image on the cover. Research suggests that one large image is more effective then several small ones.
Be easy to identify – use your logo effectively. Develop a consistent theme for your printed material.

And, because you can never have too many tips, here are a few from me:

Focus on the reader. It's not about what you offer. It's about what you can do for them. Which of their problems can you solve?
Looks matter. If you don't have the design skills to create a killer brochure, hire someone, talk to your campus marketing office, or find a design student to help you.
Don't use a template. You want to stand out from the crowd, using a common template does just the opposite.
Avoid jargon at all costs. And some of the things you think aren't jargon, are. Instead of talking about the databases you have, tell me how they can help me.
Just say no to clip art. I don't know about you, but clip art screams amateur to me. If you need good graphics on a budget try iStockphoto.com. It's awesome.
Get a second opinion. Have someone outside the library look at the brochure and give you a frank opinion.
Include all your contact information. That means your address, e-mail, IM, phone, URL, etc. These should be on everything you produce.

So what does a good library brochure look like? Here are a few I found:

What brochures would you add to the list?

Good Resource: Get to the Po!nt

2007-07-30T19:01:00.000-04:00

I keep meaning to post something about Get to the Po!nt, Marketing Prof's newish e-newsletter. Well, actually I keep meaning to post something period, but, I digress. Anyway, back to the Po!nt, ignore the tagline "small business secrets in 60 seconds," this e-newsletter has great tips for anyone who cares about marketing and promotion period.

Some of the particularly relevant issues include:

Get to the Po!nt is also a great example of everything library e-newsletters should be: short, interesting, useful, attractively designed and relevant. It's on my wouldn't it be great list to have an e-newsletter of short research tips with everything from ways to search Google more effectively, to quick and helpful uses of that database no one without an MLS understands how to use anyway. Wouldn't it be better to stop telling people that X database has x,000 journals and articles and start telling people what they can actually do with it? Read Time magazine online, get the reports needed to make better business decisions, keep up to date with your industry news, etc.

Good Stuff Worth Sharing

2007-05-18T22:18:00.000-04:00

Using jargon and putting more than four bullet points on a slide are just two of the 10 Dumb Things Smart Communicators Do read the complete list at Media Orchard.
The Travelin' Librarian's notes on The Customer-Centered Library: How to Stop Tweaking and Start Doing It with New Steps for 2007 are a must read.
Don't resort to oversize cardboard checks and scissors for that next photo op, get more creative ideas from Joan Stewart's April 10 edition of the Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week. Scroll down to Cardboard Checks and Scissors.
James Oliver Cury, executive editor at CondéNet's Epicurious.com offers some good tips to keep in mind when pitching story ideas to the media in Recipe for Healthy Media Fare: Epicuious Editor Dishes on Patience, In-Person PR.

Clear and Simple Branding Basics

2007-05-17T18:34:00.000-04:00

Are you confused about branding? Not sure branding is important for libraries? Then you definitely need to read

Everything must tie together - from how your phone is answered, how long patients wait, and your choice of uniforms ... to your technology, your manner, your location (signage, building, entrance, furniture, colors of the walls), which services you promote, and much more. If you decide you want to be the “leading-edge dentist in town,” you can’t limp along with a 1970s Brady Bunch look-alike office.

All of that is so true for libraries too. If librarians and staff wish to be perceived as research and information professionals, then that image needs to be reinforced in everything, from the customer service you provide, to the publications you produce and yes, even down to the clothes you wear. When I was an intern at a credit union, the president explained that dress-down days and casual clothing weren't ever allowed because we were in the trust business. Who are you more likely to trust with your hard-earned cash, the uber-professional in a crisp suit and tie, or someone in jeans and a t-shirt? While I like to wear jeans to work as much as the next person (more probably), he was right.

The article also offers are some critical brand-building points to consider:

Start with the patient’s value system...Effective branding communicates to the tastes, attitudes, and sensibilities of the buyer, not the seller.

This is one we often miss. Talk about the benefits patrons will receive (save time, money, hassle), do research at home in your pjs, or get a better grade on your paper.

Identify a value-added edge over the competition. What is highly unique about your practice that delivers value to the patient over and above whatever else is available in the marketplace? Whatever issue you choose to compete upon, it needs to be the one thing that best characterizes the experience, and has to be the centerpiece for everything you do and say about the practice.

Be willing to offend someone. By definition, your positioning must be unique; therefore, you cannot be everything to everyone. The challenge will be to appeal to many, while recognizing that your positioning cannot be universal. Being everything to everyone is not unique, and that’s the same as vanilla.

Guard your brand zealously. Once you’ve created your brand, you should beware of the trap of carrying the message banner for others.

Deliver a consistent experience. People prefer consistent quality to nasty surprises, and a brand isn’t really a brand if the practice doesn’t deliver a consistent, high-quality experience. That’s why it’s easy to understand why budget-minded American students traveling through Europe often pass on local fare to eat at McDonald’s. Remember, just a few negative experiences can blow your brand credibility and betray the trust you’ve worked so hard to build.

Deliver consistent branded communications. In addition to delivering consistent in-office experiences, you must effectively communicate your brand message at every marketing opportunity. This means your Yellow Pages ad, Web site, brochures, etc. (Our next article will cover practice brochures, which should be the foundation of your marketing and branding communication.)

This is a tricky one, especially at libraries where there isn't a marketing or PR person who coordinates all the writing and design needs. When you have multiple people producing Web sites, brochures, fliers, presentations, etc., it's hard to be consistent. Especially in those kinds of situations it's important to have logo guidelines, a style guide and a point person or two to help you provide a consistent look.

(Hat tip to Jill Stover for pointing this article out.)

‘I Love My Library’ Video Contest Offers $10,000 Prize

2007-05-11T18:37:00.000-04:00

I just read about Gale's 'I Love My Library' video contest in the Library Hotline. The contest is open to both librarians and library users. This seems like a good thing to tell library users about. I wish I had seen it earlier (you'd think $10 grand would generate some buzz) but there's still two weeks left to enter.

Here's the scoop:

Post a video that describes what you love about your library and how it serves your community and you could win the $10,000.00 grand prize in Thompson Gale’s ‘I Love My Library” video contest to split with the library you designate.

Load your video on librareo, Thomson Gale's YouTube channel, before midnight on Friday, May 25, 2007 to enter. By June 1, 2007, Thompson Gale judges will determine the top five finalists based on creativity, unique portrayal of love of libraries and the services they provide, and overall appeal. The top five videos will be featured on www.gale.com/librareo for a nationwide vote that will be held June 1-11. The video with the most votes wins the grand prize.

Find the complete contest rules, downloadable video releases and sample videos on Gale’s Web site.

Any Luck with GoodSearch?

2007-04-29T21:58:00.000-04:00

Have any libraries or library organizations been successful in raising funds via GoodSearch?

GoodSearch, which is powered by Yahoo!, is a search engine which donates approximately $0.01 per search to the charity of the searcher’s choice. Get more info here. Charities and non-profits will receive an annual check from GoodSearch providing they earn more than $20/year.

There are quite a few libraries on the list of participants, but so far I’ve only seen a few that have generated the minimum $20/year. The Friends of the New Orleans Public Library has raised $34.44 so far this year. I wonder if most organizations signed up, but aren’t promoting it much. Other total donations raised so far in 2007: ALA - $1.55; Ohioana Library Association - $21.61; and Rawson Memorial Library - $15.10.

Good Stuff: Customer Service Tips

2007-04-26T18:35:00.000-04:00

My customer service kick continues. Here are some links to other good stuff worth sharing:

1. We Don’t Like You Go Away - Seth Godin’s Blog:
“Hey, I know that your last customer was a jerk. I know that you get asked the same stupid questions over and over. I know that people don't appreciate you, they're boors, they're selfish, they're in a hurry.

But, here's the thing: I'm not those people. I've never been here before. I didn't do anything wrong! Don't blame me for them.”

2. Business Week’s “Rules for Making a Good First Impression” (via Library Voice):
Rule #1: Respond within 24 Hours
Rule #2: Greet People with Enthusiasm
Rule #3: Make Eye Contact
Rule #4: Leave Smart Voice Messages
Rule #5: Respect Contacts
Rule #6: Mind Your E-Mail
Rule #7: Remember Small Touches

3. Guy Kawaski's The Art of Customer Service & Doug Hanna's The Art of Customer Service II

I just loooove Seth's post. Get your fix of more customer service articles here.

Turning to the Hospitality Industry for Customer Service Tips

2007-04-10T20:24:00.000-04:00

After reading my Determinants of Delight post, Patrick Graham, director of the Pitts Theology Library at Emory University, wrote to share his positive experience of turning to the hospitality industry for customer service advice. Graham invited Stuart Newmark, Sr. VP of Operations for the Kessler Collection (a group of about 10 boutique hotels), to come talk to his librarians and staff about what they refer to as “customer care.”

Mr. Newmark, did a four hour workshop for all of our staff--catalogers to IT to reference staff. It was a big hit and we continue to work through what we learned that day and look for appropriate application/translation from the hospitality industry to that of academic libraries. He left us a copy of a book that had been critical for the culture that they aim for in their hotels, Positively Outrageous Service, and I've found it both inspirational and helpful.

I asked Pat if he would share the memorable points from that talk and he graciously did.

It's important to make an emotional connection with customers
Need to be passionate about customer service
Service culture is not just a technique, and it comes much easier for some than others.
Important comments regarding hiring of the right staff; he talked about the importance of hiring people who really care about others and see service as an honor or privilege; if you make a mistake in hiring and cannot cultivate the employee into the type of person needed, you need to do both of yourselves a favor and send the person on his/her way.
The customer is NOT always right, but is always the customer. Allow the customer to be wrong with dignity.
Continuously evaluate & seek feedback; aim for a zero defect policy.
Celebrate the successes of your staff--via public recognition, small gifts, etc.
Aim to create WOW moments.
Always try to answer Yes--unless the request is immoral, unethical or unsafe.
Empower your staff to make decisions to respond to unusual circumstances (and train them so that they can do this well).
Discussion of core values

Graham shared more tips about the talk:

We had our staff develop of list of almost 20 questions that we'd like him to address--many relate to challenges we face in our library work--and enjoyed having him work through them with us.

We created a Client Care task force and blog back in the fall and have now instituted a Positively Outrageous Service button so that our staff can commend one another for examples of positively outrageous service. I think we'll share the contributions at our monthly staff meetings and draw one for a complimentary $5 Starbucks gift card. We'll see how that works.

The Pitts Library also created the Client Care at Pitts blog to support their discussions. Check it out for more resource links.

Thanks, Pat, for sharing this great idea. I often think libraries can learn from other industries, it's great to have this positive example to share. On a personal note, I really appreciate every comment and e-mail I receive here, they inspire me to keep blogging (see this is two posts in one month! A record as of late). So if you feel the slightest twinge of desire to leave feedback, please do so.

E-Mail Pitch Tips: What Not to Do

2007-04-09T18:30:00.000-04:00

*updated 4/10/07

Sooner or later everyone has to ask for a favor or pitch a complete stranger via e-mail. I’m sure no one does this with the intention of doing it badly, but lately I’ve been on the receiving end of some less than stellar examples of e-mail pitches. So I'm taking this opportunity to jot down some tips to keep in mind when writing a pitch e-mail, or any e-mail really.

First, a quick note on the jargon. I’m using the word pitch to cover a lot of possibilities: the sales pitch, the media pitch (where you try to interest a reporter or editor in a story), even the idea pitch. Then there is the favor pitch, for lack of a better term, where you ask someone to do you a favor, pass along some information, provide information to you, etc. There are oodles of tips for media pitches online and they’re worth reading, but many of those tips should apply to ANY e-mail you send.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

Just say no to attachments! Some people may not mind them, but it's best to play it safe. Don’t send an attachment to someone who doesn’t know you. Attachments take time to download, take time to open in another program, and are used to transmit viruses. Today I received a sales pitch e-mail, but all it had was an attached PDF file and contact information. Now I’m nosy, so I did open it. The PDF was just a list of the company's services. These could have easily been incorporated into the body of the e-mail.
State the desired action. A good pitch should include a specific call to action. Are you sending information that you hope this person forward to an e-mail list, publish in their newsletter, or just as an FYI? Include a polite, but specific request. I receive press releases in both my work and personal e-mail accounts that do not include context or introductory information and I'm not sure why I'm receiving them in the first place. These get deleted because I don't have time to figure it out. But if someone sends me relevant information and asks me to pass it along I'll always do so.
Get the right information to the right person. Sending unsolicited information to someone who doesn’t want it is spamming them. No one likes spam, so don’t send it. Not everyone will be interested in everything you send, that’s ok, but don’t send things that are completely irrelevant.
Be wary of HTML and graphics. This may just be a personal pet peeve, but I feel strongly that HTML e-mails that use multiple typefaces, type sizes, bold, italics, and colors just end up distracting from your message. Any one of these techniques can be used rarely and tastefully to help enhance your message, but remember that less is definitely more in this area.

I’m sure you’ve all heard the warnings about how different e-mail software displays these things differently, and some people and organizations have settings turned to not display HTML or images. A nicely designed, well-formatted HTML e-mail is fine, but these are rare. If you must use these techniques, be sure to include a link so recipients can view it online.
Keep it simple! If completing your call to action is too complicated or confusing, then your message will be ignored. For example, I recently received an audio card. Usually I won’t open these things, but this one had a good headline on some information I wanted to know and since there was no text, I had no choice but to listen. I clicked and was taken to a Web site. I had to search for the appropriate link and click again, which I did. I was then taken to a page with no clear direction of where to find the audio message, so I grew frustrated and gave up. If you must send your message by audio, I’d recommend keeping the steps needed to access it down to one or two, tops and including the text transcript or summary where people can easily access it instead of the audio if they prefer.
Be professional. There is a time and a place to be cute, but that time rarely happens while you're on the clock. Please carefully reconsider those graphics e-mail backgrounds that can’t be turned off, the hilarious quote you just love, and decorating your signature in a lavender-colored script. Not everyone is going to find it as cute as you do, and it may detract from the message you want to send.
Avoid meaningless words or acronyms. If the first sentence of your e-mail is filled with alphabet soup, or words that are used so often they've become meaningless (quality, value, best fastest, etc.) you're going to lose readers. The MarketingProf's article I read today, Want Better Copy? Take a Tip from Zig Ziglar, reminded me of this point. If you've read to the end of a vendor's description of software or a new product and still wondered what the heck the product actually does, you've experienced this phenomenon. Rather than relying on overused words that have lost any meaning (and trigger our BS detectors), use specific example of why, for example, library resources are better or more trustworthy than those on the Web. Also beware of creating an e-mail that looks like alphabet soup. If you use acronyms be sure to identify what they mean quickly, and too many acronyms, even defined ones, become too confusing. (added 4/10/07)

I’ll be adding to this list as the mood strikes. What am I missing?

Articles Worth Reading In C&RL

2007-03-16T18:57:00.000-04:00

I know I'm (at least) a month behind, but if you haven't looked at the February 2007 issue of College & Research Libraries News, there are several articles that may be of interest. And this is news to me, but now you can get the full-text articles online! Cool. When did that happen?!

Creating the Academic Library Folksonomy: Put Social Tagging to Work at Your Institution by Xan Arch
Building Your Value Story and Business Case: Observations From a Marketing Faculty and (Former) Librarian Perspective by Leslie Simmel
Developing a Ling-Range and Outreach Plan for Your Academic Library: The Need for a Marketing Outreach Plan by Elizabeth Kennedy Hallmark, Laura Schwartz and Loriene Roy
Using Technology in Teaching and Learning: Resources to Help You Navigate a Digital World by Bryan Alexander

If you are embarking on creating a marketing plan, you may find the resources in the OhioLINK Marketing Toolkit useful, especially the communication plan workbook and the additional resources.

Do You Believe In Public Access to Public Research?

2007-03-16T18:24:00.000-04:00

Excuse me while I stray from the marketing topic, but since I haven't been around to be on or off topic, I figure anything is better than nothing. ;)

I'll be the first to admit I'm far from an expert on open access, but not requiring public access to research funded by public funds just seems silly. If you agree, considering signing the Petition for Public Access to Publicly Funded Research in the United States.

It's open to individuals and organizations of all types. If you are a researcher whose work is funded by the federal government, your signature is especially important since it shows that you want your work to be shared and used.

What's Worse?

2007-01-17T18:58:00.000-05:00

When your posts aren't noticed, or when they're noticed for all the wrong reasons? Case in point here. That'll teach me to post embarrassing stories.

Bonus points to anyone who spots all the errors. Oh, I know, it's supposed to be funny. Oh my side.

Noteworthy Links

2007-01-09T20:57:00.000-05:00

I stumbled upon 501c today, a blog that provides "practical ways to use blogs, the Web, communications + cool tools to advance your social sector mission." Worth a look, see these posts especially.
Get a grammar refresh with Word Wise.
Paige Booth's A Mickey Mouse Approach to Customer Service on MarketingProfs is definitely worth a read. Whenever it says higher education, think library.
Also check out Outing Second Life: Q&A With Digitas's Greg Verdino on Marketing Profs

Five Things About C

2007-01-09T20:55:00.000-05:00

Ok, thanks to Jill, I'm supposed to share five things you don't know about me. Here goes:

I've lived in two foreign countries: Denmark and Norway. I was an exchange student in Norway and an au pair in Denmark. I've also been to Finland many times. You could say I've become a bit obsessed with Scandinavia. If you ever get the chance, go.
I've been skydiving twice.
I'm an only child.
I wanted to be a writer since third grade when I went to the young author's conference. Though it's not what I imagine long ago; I'm glad my current career involves writing.
You may have seen me as Maisy the Mouse or the Stinky Cheeseman. Yup, I too did costume duty in my previous life at the public library and man do I feel for anyone who has to do it on a regular basis. Oi!

I'm not really into this tagging thing and I think this one has already been around, so I'll stop here.

The Determinants of Delight

2006-12-07T18:49:00.000-05:00

I went to a marketing research workshop this week. The presenter said many things that stuck with me, but I keep thinking about two of them:

The determinants of delight are different than the determinants of expectation.
Satisfaction = Performance - Expectation

Some of this builds on something I've been mulling over and wanting to post about for some time. How do we get customers/users/patrons to get excited about libraries? To recommend us? How do we go beyond satisfying people and really delight them? What are the determinants of delight?

Sadly, it doesn't seem very hard to satisfy people these days. And yet it happens rarely. Satisfactory service is practically delightful because current service expectations are so low.

I recently experienced delight. The workshop I went to was held at the Cincinnati Convention Center. It was recommended that we stay in the Cincinnati Marriott at RiverBend. So I did. Generally, I just hope a hotel won't suck. That is won't be dirty, that the bed won't hurt my back, etc. But this hotel, well it was great from the moment I arrived until the moment I left.

First, it's impressive and spotless when you walk into the hotel. My room was spotless. The bed was a dream complete with a down-filled duvet comforter (the only way to sleep in my opinion). The bathroom was stocked with products from Bath&Body. When I called the front desk they greeted me by name before asking how they could help me. If you passed a hotel employee they would smile and greet you. I was impressed.

Then, on the morning of my last day there, a hotel employee went above and beyond by helping me find my car in the parking garage. Yes, you read that right. I'm one of those. And it was very embarrassing. Telling you about it is embarrassing. But I was lost and panicked because I was running late for the last day of the workshop. And even more amazingly, he didn't show the slightest hint of what he had to be thinking (which had to be what an idiot. Even I was thinking it). This last bit of my stay bumped me up to delighted.

Which once again got me thinking about how we can delight library customers?

Smile. Yes I know you do. All the time. But some of those other people, well they don't, I've seen them.
Be really nice, all the time. Yes, we all have bad days. But it's intimidating to ask anyone for help. We don't like to admit we don't know something. And that is what most libraries do, wait for people to ask for help. So if they ask, and then have a bad experience, guess what? They aren't coming back. Ever.
Get back to them as soon as possible. Answer e-mails and voice mails ASAP. Especially if you have a generic address (info@library.org, etc.), because expectations that you'll even answer are probably pretty low.
Limit the times you say no. Rules are made to be broken, and maybe it was a bad rule in the first place. Once I noticed two books still listed on my public library account that I had returned. I called the library to ask about it. I expected a problem because how could I prove I returned them. The staff member I talked to apologized and took them off my account without question. She could have easily said no. I was delighted.
Emphasize the positive, not the negative, in signage, announcements, etc.
Speak their language. No one like to feel stupid and when you don't understand the words someone is using you tend to feel stupid. (says she who spent three days hearing the term cross-tabs and multivariate analysis with no clue what they were).
Go above and beyond. I received an e-mail from a patron about a corrupt PDF of an article in our Electronic Journal Center. As per usual, we asked the publisher to resupply the file and told the customer we couldn’t guarantee when or if it will be delivered. I recommend he contact his library to get the article via ILL. He wrote back to ask if we could notify him when the article is delivered. We don’t have an automatic way to do this, so I explained that and repeated the please contact your library bit. But it occurred to me that just because there wasn't an automatic way to notify someone of this, didn't mean I couldn't do it. So I kept checking our journal center to see if the PDF was delivered and a day later it was. When I e-mailed the article to him, he was delighted. It only cost me a few extra minutes, but I bet that person has a much better opinion of OhioLINK after that.
Listen to what they want and give it to them. Look, I know you’re afraid of food and drink spills on books, keyboards and the carpet, but what if you had to work all day without a drink or a snack? Would that be a comfortable environment you'd want to visit again and again? Making the library comfortable makes a big difference. See Coffee's On, Dusty Books Are Out at UMass Library.

That's my working list so far. I hope to add to it with your help. So tell me, what are the other determinants of delight and how can we meet them?

OCLC Will Develop Library Marketing Campaign

2006-11-15T18:36:00.000-05:00

Interesting news: "OCLC awarded Gates grant to develop library marketing campaign"

I think it's interesting that it's OCLC doing this and not ALA. Although, that might not be a bad thing. I also wonder if any national campaign can actually trickle down to produce results on the local level? I mean advice, help and free materials would be great, but don't expect to sit back and watch OCLC do all the work and reap great rewards. Everyone needs to pitch in (call it promotion, education, marketing, etc.) and do their bit locally if they want results. But I'm singing to the choir on this...right?

You can read more from Library Journal.

Oh and if you haven't looked at OCLC's Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources report, you should. There's a college version too.

Going Where the Users Are - When, Why & How?

2006-11-03T18:07:00.000-05:00

Barbara Fister's post on the ACRLog this week triggered more thoughts on some things I've been mulling over for awhile. We know users aren't going to library Web sites, so how do you appropriately promote and advertise libraries to users on the places they are visiting (MySpace, Facebook, Google, to name a few)? Is putting a page on MySpace worth it? Should we advertise on Facebook? Should we be buying Google ads?

The Business Week article mentioned in the post is old, but has some interesting points, like:

But young consumers may follow brands offline -- if companies can figure out how to talk to youths in their online vernacular. Major companies should be exploring this new medium, since networks transmit marketing messages "person-to-person, which is more credible," says David Rich Bell, a marketing professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.

snip

In fact, the advertising can be so subtle that kids don't distinguish it from content. "It's what our users want," says Anderson.

snip

"Kids don't buy stuff because they see a magazine ad. They buy stuff because other kids tell them to."

snip

Just replace the buy with try on that last one if you think it doesn't apply.

But I'm not sure that just putting up a page on MySpace or Facebook is enough. Maybe there a small amount of residual "cool factor" that you get if someone stumbles on your page (yet how do they find you and why would they want to visit?), but otherwise just being there isn't enough. You need to add value, provide an extra service, respond right when they need it, etc. (See more from Jill Stover about this). And that can be hard and time-consuming to do. Mass marketing is time efficient, but less and less effective.

The Ubiquitous Librarian (great blog!) has some ideas and experience with using social networking sites for niche marketing. These are the kind of reasons to be involved with social networking sites that make sense.

Niche marketing opportunities go beyond social networking sites. Have you set up alerts and feeds to monitor what people say about your library online? The small investment of time is well worth it on this one. You'll be amazed at what you find. And if a complaint, rant or problem a user had winds up in your aggregator do you take the next step and contact them and solve it?

I'm far from an expert in any of this, but I think the basics best practices with any promotion effort apply. Focus on benefits to the user (no one cares about your new service or product by itself, they want to know what it will do for them), be interesting (or better yet be remarkable) and to hit a home run, give them something to talk about.

Start Your Engines: National Library Week 2007

2006-10-23T21:45:00.000-04:00

Mark your calendars, grab your idea books and get ready to plan. The official dates for National Library Week 2007 are April 15-21. ALA has a proclamation, press release, letter-to-the-editor and PSAs text available here. For more library promotion and events dates go here.

NLW always seemed to sneak up on me back when I worked in a public library. Here's hoping it won't sneak up on you.

I'm always interested in hearing how academic libraries celebrate NLW. Anyone have any exciting future plans or past successes to share?

New Ideas in the Gallery

2006-10-11T17:51:00.000-04:00

I've been working on adding the backlog of promotional materials to the OhioLINK Idea Gallery. I've made some progress, but there's still lots more new stuff to come. Look for the yellow new icons to spot the latest stuff quickly.

Not a Press Release Pro? This Tutorial May Help.

2006-07-27T17:37:00.000-04:00

Don't feel like a pro when it comes to writing press releases? Need a complete tutorial, a refresher or even just some new ideas on when to write releases? Then Joan Stewart's free tutorial, "89 Ways to Write Powerful Press Release" may be of interest.

Joan's description of the tutorial:

Every day for 89 days in a row, I'll give you one lesson, delivered via email, on how to write and distribute a press release. Each day, I'll also give you one opportunity to write a release. For example, if you're rolling out a new product, that's one opportunity. Each day's lesson will take you just a few minutes to read.

See The Publicity Hound's Blog for complete details and links to get started.

I've signed up and am on day three of the tutorial. A refresher never hurts and I'm bound to gain a new idea or two. Those without training in public relations will definitely find this course helpful.

Tip: Get More Mileage from Your Swag

2006-07-21T18:30:00.000-04:00

Chris Olson sent out a good tip on the AcademicPR list today about how to get extra mileage from your promotion swag:

You can get extra promotion and visibility mileage out of your giveaway. Tell everyone that you'll be holding a contest over the next 2-3 months. Anyone spotted wearing the bracelet/shirt/hat/ or using the cup/pen/whatever in the library at random, unannounced times, will get a special reward and their names entered into a larger drawing for a larger prize. This gives you several visibility opportunities for announcing the winners, reminding people about the random sightings, and building up for the grand prize drawing.

Another option is to doing the "spotting" in a public venues, like a football game. Then you'll be encouraging everyone to wear something that advertises the library (walking billboards) and the winners can be announced during the half-time on the loudspeaker (free PR broadcast).

So don't just give something away. Make it count towards your overall marketing and communications strategy. It doesn't take much more effort and you'll get a better ROI.

This is a great tip and radio stations do this all the time with great success. Has anyone actually executed this idea? How'd it go?

See the original question about ideas of promotions items to give away at orientations at the Academic PR Forum.

OCLC's College Students' Perceptions Report

2006-05-24T15:02:00.000-04:00

OCLC promised to sift the Perceptions' data from college students out into a new report and they've delivered with the College Students' Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources report.

Even if you've examined the original Perceptions report in detail, it's worth checking the new report out because OCLC promises there are "all-new graphs and additional analysis of how college student data compare to that of total respondents."

(via the It's All Good Blog)

You MUST see this presentation!

2006-04-20T18:29:00.000-04:00

I heard Alane Wilson, senior library market consultant, OCLC, speak at Ohionet's annual meeting today on "Understanding User Perceptions." It was a fantastic presentation and one that I think anyone working in or with a library should hear. Whether you've read the OCLC's "Perceptions of Libraries and Information Services" report or not (I must admit, I've done more skimming than reading thus far), you must see this presentation! Luckily, you can watch Alane do her stuff from the comfort of your home or office by watching the SirsiDynixInstitute archive presentation of her talk. Go. Go now.

Alane's presentation and the way she framed her talk really got my gears turning. I have so many ideas and thoughts now I'm not sure where to start. Hey, why are you still reading this? Go listen for yourself.

Want publicity? Don't do this...

2006-04-19T17:39:00.000-04:00

This week's issue of The Publicity Hounds Tips of the Week by Joan Stewart has even more good advice than usual. When working with the media to try and get publicity you should not:

Pitch a story to a new media outlet without first reading the publication, or watching or listening to the program and studying what the reporter covers.
Ask a reporter to read their story before it's printed.
Ask a media outlet to cover a story because "you've worked hard on it or it deserves coverage."

For more of Joan's good advice on mistakes to avoid at all costs, read the article (yes, you'll have to scroll down a bit to story #1).

Joan's third article in this issue, "Attract PR Clients" is also relevant to libraries. Yes, the article is about how to attract PR or any business clients by going on the speaker circuit, but someone or rather a lot of someones from your library should be regularly offering to speak to community groups in your area.

Do you offer to speaker to Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs, special interest clubs, business people, homeschoolers, PTO groups, churches, campus groups, etc. about how the library can specifically help them?! Unfortunately, far too many people still think of the library as an antiquated place to pick up a classic novel or to take the kids to finish a report. Offer to tell groups how the library can help their members save time, win business, save money, get an A on their paper, etc. People I talk to are still amazed at the wealth of resources from today's libraries. There are still many people (too many!) out there who are shocked that they can read industry journals for free from the office via library-purchased resources, find information in consumer reports or other popular magazines from home while they're relaxing in their pjs, and borrow blockbuster movies from the library. Answer the WIFM (What's in it for me?) question and you just might gain a new user/patron/customer.

Looking for more publicity tips? Check out these past posts:

Don't have award winning library PR materials? Get a makeover.

2006-04-18T18:08:00.000-04:00

Could your library PR materials use a little help? Now there is a makeover opportunity for your library’s PR materials! LAMA’s PRMS Swap & Shop committee is continuing the popular PR Makeover event introduced at last year’s Annual Swap & Shop. This year it will be even bigger and better with makeover tips and both budget and deluxe versions of the makeovers.

How does it work? You send three copies of a library brochure that you’d like to see made-over. The “PR Doctors” and library promotions experts, Linda Wallace and Peggy Barber of Library Communications Strategies will select three lucky entries to be “made over” in both a low cost and higher end format. The makeovers will be unveiled during the Swap & Shop event on Sunday, June 25, 2006 from 11a.m. to 1:30 p.m. during the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in New Orleans (check conference schedule for exact location). You’ll have a chance to see the before and after brochures as well as consult with the “PR Doctors” during the event.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to get expert advice and possibly raise your library’s promotional brochures to new heights.

To submit a brochure for consideration, email or mail three copies of each entry to: librarycomm@librarycomm.com or LAMA PRMS PR Makeover, 5109 North Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago, IL 60640. Include the name of the library making the submission, library staff contact name, mailing address, email address and phone number. Short questions about your entry may be directed to Swap & Shop chair, Jennifer Keohane (jkeohane@simsburylibrary.info or 860-658-7663.) Entries should be sent to arrive no later than May 1, 2006.

Do you have award winning library PR materials?

2006-04-18T17:32:00.000-04:00

ALA's Library Administration and Management Association is giving you a chance again this year to show off your marketing stuff and gain recognition for your PR efforts via the Annual 2006 Swap and Shop Best of Show public relations competition. Entries must be postmarked no later than May 1, 2006. Entry forms are available online. See the information sheet with FAQ for more information.

Links Worth a Look

2006-04-12T22:12:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite reasons for reading blogs is that I find out about many articles, resources and tips I would have missed otherwise. So to continue that spirit of sharing, here's some items that caught my interest recently:

HigherEdBlogCon is on, so check it out. (thanks to infOpinions? for the heads up). One presentation that especially caught my eye is "Using RSS to Increase User Awareness of E-Resources in Academic Libraries "
Read Posters Pool - Have you seen the pool of librarian read posters on Flickr? I always find it fun to look the variety of Read (or Research which still seems to fit much better for academic libraries IMO) posters available. Check out the OhioLINK Idea Gallery's poster section for more good ideas.
Alice at the It's All Good blog mentions some good program ideas for National Library Week, or anytime. I love the dinner and a movie night idea.

There's more, but it's getting late for me, so stay tuned...

Get a date @ your library?

2006-04-12T21:30:00.000-04:00

Did you catch the American Libraries' story about speed dating in a Belgium library? The story is online in case you missed it. This is definitely one program I’d like to see a library try around here. It could be a great way to get college kids into the academic library on the weekend. I think it has great potential to catch on with the under 40 crowd and get some special attention.

Has anyone tried this in the U.S.?

Promotional Products: The Best and Worst

2006-03-21T18:21:00.000-05:00

I think I've found the absolute worst promotional product ever: the antimicrobial light switch cover. Because everyone wants a company's logo on their light switch cover. And we're all tossing and turning over fears of germy light covers. Who would ever want this thing?

As to the best promotional products, well, that depends on the event, the audience, etc., etc. I generally prefer to give products that are useful (and hopefully won't go right into the trash) and will be seen by multiple people. If they tie into the theme even better.

It would be nice to always be able to give something new and exciting, but those items usually aren't so useful. Umbrellas were probably the most complimented item I've given out. When I'm on the receiving end I tend to keep the useful items like portfolios, bags, travel mugs and pens while the more flashy, but useless trinkets are purged.

What promotional products have you found to be most useful?

LibTalk is Dead, Long Live LibTalk

2006-03-21T18:16:00.000-05:00

I checked this blog for the first time in months today to see that I haven't posted in more than two months, officially killing off my blog. Horrors! But fear not LibTalk fans (if there are any), I'm back and I have my typing fingers on.

I won't bore you with my excuses for my long absence. Suffice it to say life trumped blogging, or my cat ate my laptop, or you know *insert excuse here.*

Rx for Pitches

2006-01-17T21:54:00.000-05:00

Publicity hound Joan Stewart is offering a free teleseminar to help solve your media pitch problems on January 25 at 1 p.m. eastern time. Joan will choose some submitted pitches during the call. Registration is required.

In related news, you can now get the Publicity's Hounds Tips of the Week newsletter online and via RSS.

Free Info to Go

2006-01-17T20:26:00.000-05:00

Two upcoming seminars at the SirsiDynix Institute may be of interest:

Knowing Who We Serve - To Serve Them Better Geo-Marketing: Customer-Based Research - February 08, 2006
Weblogs & Libraries: Communication, Conversation, and the Blog People - February 15

Don't worry if you can't make the Webinar, you'll be able to view the archived Webinar online afterwards. And if you haven't seen it already, check out Pat Wagner's archived seminar "Marketing As If Your Library Depended On It."

Newsletter Tips from a Pro

2006-01-13T18:16:00.000-05:00

Kathy Dempsey, editor of the Marketing Library Services newsletter, gave some great tips every library newsletter writer, editor and contributor should keep in mind today on ALA's ACADEMICPR electronic list. I've summarized her tips below, with Kathy's permission:

Don't just send the newsletter to everyone. Although opt-in newsletters "make the start-up more complicated, that's what people usually prefer to do. Sending to everyone then saying 'you can opt out' can make people resentful."
When it comes to newsletters, one size doesn't fit all. Consider different newsletters for each audience. As Kathy explained, "faculty and students have very different needs, so if you want to create something that really matters to your audience, you need to customize for each different group."

Give 'em what they want! "Don't forget to ask: why would people want to read this? If you give people something they want, you'll be more successful than if you push them content that you think they need. If we connect with the people first, later in the conversations we could say, "you know what else might be of use to you?"

Want to sign up for ACADEMICPR? From ALA's site
"To subscribe, send a message to: listproc@ala.org. Leave subject blank. In the body of the message, type: subscribe ACADEMICPR your first and last name."

Go Where the Users Are

2005-12-15T19:42:00.000-05:00

After reading this post in the OH!Libraries blog, I went to the LibraryLookup Project page and downloaded the bookmarklet so that now with just one click I can find out if books from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other sites are available at my library.

This is such a cool program! I know it's been around awhile and I've seen it mentioned in other blogs, but I didn't get it until I tried it. This is another functionality libraries need to promote to users and nonusers alike. At work, we're constantly talking about how to be where the users are. In real-life this means posting flyers and publicity for library resources and services outside the library. It means taking library services and resources directly to the user no matter where they are. Online, it means integrating with online services the users are already using, like IM, Google, Amazon, etc.

So, if you haven't already, try the LibraryLookup Project bookmarklet and after you see how cool it is, start spreading the word.

What else is your library doing to go where the users are?

Yes Virginia, You Are a Marketer

2005-12-15T19:36:00.000-05:00

Some people have asked me, who's job should it be to market the library? The answer: It's everyone's job. Every person from the student worker to the reference librarian to the janitor, is marketing the library. And they're doing so every hour, of every day. So we might as well do it effectively.

Thanks to Jill and the Library Marketing-Thinking Outside the Book blog for pointing out the article "In Your Business, Everyone's a Marketer" by Matt Blumberg and for reminding us of this important point.

Market Research You Can Use

2005-12-08T21:43:00.000-05:00

Others have already mentioned this (ResourceShelf, ACRLog), but after looking at OCLC's "Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources" report, I had to write about it too.

The report provides the "findings and responses from the online survey in an effort to learn more about: library use, awareness and use of library electronic resources, the Internet search engine, the library and the librarian, free vs. for-free information and the Library "brand."

What's great for academic libraries, is that the report separates out the responses from college students. Some of the findings from the college students' responses:

"College students have the highest rate of library use and broadest use of library resources, both physical and electronic."
Only 10% of college students indicated that their library's collection fulfilled their information needs after accessing the library Web site from a search engine."
Only 2% of the college students that responded to OCLC's survey typically begin their search for information on a particular topic at the library's Web site (versus 1% of total survey respondents)
89% of college students typically use a search engine to begin their search for information on a particular topic (versus 84% of total survey respondents)
After search engines, 33% of college students learn about electronic inforation sources from a librarian (versus 8% of the total survey respondents)
What's the first source/place college students will choose next time they need information? 72% - search engines, 14% - physical library, 10% - online library, 2% - physical bookstore and 2% - online bookstore.

See the report for much, much more including sample verbatim comments.

Library Marketing Resources from Elsevier

2005-12-02T17:24:00.000-05:00

If, like me, you're always on the look out for new library marketing and PR resources, you may want to check out Elsevier's Library Connect Pamphlet, "Marketing Library Resources: An Annotated Bibliography".

The OhioLINK Marketing Idea Gallery is mentioned, but it's buried under the article "The OhioLINK-YBP road shows: A partnership for vendor/library collaboration." Go figure. Still, I'm glad word is getting out about our marketing resources, and I hope others outside of Ohio find them helpful.

The latest Library Connect newsletter, from October 2005, also has some good stuff, including the article "Can You Lead a Horse to Water? Teaching Users About Electronic Resources," by Scott Walter.

Need Wombat?

2005-12-01T20:08:00.000-05:00

No, not the marsupial. In this case Wombat stands for thr Word of Mouth Basic Training Blog, which is a project of the Word of Mouth Marketing Association. I just found it so am still exploring, but it looks like some cool stuff.

Library Survival Guides

2005-12-01T19:33:00.000-05:00

Popular Mechanics has archived 17 ways to survive worst case senarios like how to survive a riot, airplane crash, sandstorm, etc. The situations are adapted from the popular "The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook." (link via lifehacker)

What does this have to do with marketing libraries? Well, it got me thinking, what about creating brief snappy guides to using library resources to survive real life situations like, perhaps, "how to survive your first college paper" or "how to survive starting a business without going crazy"? Then give users simple, easy steps on how the library can help them. Bonus points if you can use some humor.

The point? Done right, these guides could help show users the library isn't the stuffy, over-serious organization the stereotypes portray. And they just might teach users something about library resources too.

$50M Business Launches from Library

2005-12-01T19:27:00.000-05:00

The Kansas City Star fills readers in on the Johnson County Library's lesser known treasures:
"Library in Rare Company" (Bullers, Finn. November 30, 2005)

Words of Wisdom from Roy

2005-11-28T20:23:00.000-05:00

Here, here to several bits of wisdom from Roy Tennant's November 15 Library Journal article, "What I Wish I Had Known":

-I wish I had known that the solution for needing to teach our users how to search our catalog was to create a system that didn't need to be taught

-Read outside of the profession. Libraries do not drive the engines of innovation. Libraries are part of a niche market that either rides the coattails of other markets or gets left behind.

-It's about the user, stupid. While we were focused on crafting integrated library systems that served our needs, our users got left behind. Is it any wonder that they can't understand why our systems aren't as easy to work with as Amazon?

Summer Reading Clubs - They're Not Just for Public Libraries

2005-11-28T20:15:00.000-05:00

Show 'em that academic libraries can be fun too:

This Summer, Worship a Book

(Elisabeth Leonard, Allie Carr, & Katy Farrell, —Library Journal, November 15, 2005)

Many UCSD staff did not know they could borrow books, use research databases, or ask librarians for assistance. We needed to educate staff about library services in a way that would be enjoyable and encourage lifelong learning. With the words ÂRead Write Think DreamÂ echoing in our minds, we devised the summer reading contest. The objectives were to encourage recreational reading, increase use of the libraries' collections, heighten awareness of staff library privileges, and educate staff about how to use library resources such as the library catalog.

UD's Funny Library Video

2005-11-08T20:58:00.000-05:00

A funny library video? Impossible you say. Oh, but I must contradict you friend. It is possible! And the University of Dayton Libraries has done it.

How you ask? Admit the stereotypes and common perceptions about libraries and then exploit them. Another great tip from the UD video: if you're targeting students, use students as your spokespeople.

View the video here. (Warning: you need to be on broadband for this, it's a 26MB file. Oi.)

Want more examples of how academic libraries are promoting themselves? Visit the OhioLINK Idea Gallery.

(Thanks for sharing Heidi!)

Capturing Students' Interest with Fun Facts at Cal State Library

2005-11-07T18:02:00.000-05:00

True or false - you can capture students' interest and teach them about library resources using fun facts and reference stats? True, says Rachael Green Clemens, distance education librarian at California State University Fullerton's Pollak Library.

Today on the AcademicPR discussion list, Clemens shared how she created a twist on commercial advertisements like those you might see projected onto large buildings in a place like downtown Los Angeles. Clemens created her "reference slide show" two years ago by creating a long, continuously looping PowerPoint slide show and projecting it on a very large wall abover the reference desk area.

"I collected about 150 Q&A's and made eye-catching slides that project for about 16 seconds each...akin to the trivia questions you often see in a movie theatre. I intersperse these Q&A's with library information - such as advertisements for chat reference service, photocopier info, library website tidbits, etc." Clemens wrote.

Clemens describes the project as a fun one that really gets results. "Students often linger at the desk waiting for the answers to the questions. I made a point to add the 'source' of the information - hoping to highlight library resources and model good citation practice."

The slides include a wide variety of facts and fun trivia. Examples include:
Q: What was the median home price in Orange County in July 2005?
A: $603,000 (source: Los Angeles Times article accessed through Proquest Newspapers)

Q: How many new hybrid vehicles were registered in the U.S. in 2004?
A: 83,156 (source: Article in AdWeek accessed through TableBase)

Q: How many gallons of soft drinks were consumed in the U.S. in 2002
A: 15.2 billion gallons (source: Beverage Aisle through Lexis-Nexis)

The slide show, which provides one and a half hours of programming on a continuous loop, is updated each semester to keep it interesting. In the future, Clemens plans to move the slide show onto a new large plasma screen that is hung in the library atrium.

Many thanks to Rachael Green Clemens for sharing this information and giving me permission to post it.

Interested in subscribing to the Academic PR list? Instructions are available online.

It's Time to Shout Presentation Handouts

2005-11-04T18:01:00.000-05:00

To anyone who attended my session (It's Time to SHOUT! Using Blogs to Tell the Library's Story & Educate Users) at the Academic Library Association of Ohio's conference today and didn't get a copy of the handouts here is the PDF. If ALAO posts presentation content I'll add this there too.

If you weren't there and you wonder what these handouts are all about, feel free to take a look. The three page PDF contains my points to remember about how academic libraries use blogs, what to consider before you start a blog and how to market your blog. Then there's the all important list of example blogs and articles that will tell you even more about library blogs and RSS.

Congrats to everyone who helped plan and organize this conference. It looked like a great success to me and I know how hard conference planning is!

More on this conference later.

Libraries Are Great, Pass It On

2005-10-16T14:54:00.000-04:00

How nice to read about how great libraries are and the resources they provide. All this from "civilians."

Read:
Libraries: Like Barnes & Noble, But Free from Deeper Motive
Hacking the Library: Where Information Is Already Free by Ned Wolfe (great post title!)

Improve Your Next Presentation with Presentation Zen

2005-10-16T14:08:00.000-04:00

I'm giving a presentation next month. So I've been thinking a lot about what makes a presentation great, especially when it comes to the slides (or lack thereof).

My favorite blog on this topic is Presentation Zen. It's a great resource for learning about different presenters' techniques and slides designs (found via Seth Godin's Blog). I'm finding it really, really helpful and thought you might too. At my next presentation there will be absolutely no bullet points in my slides!

Apply for Library Marketing Awards

2005-10-13T22:13:00.000-04:00

1. 2006 IFLA International Marketing Award - will honor organizations that have implemented creative, results-oriented marketing projects or campaigns. Three finalists will be recognized for their outstanding achievements. From these three finalists, the winner will be chosen and receive airfare, lodging and registration for the 2006 IFLA General Conference and Council in Seol, Korea, as well as a cash award of USD 1,000 which must be used to further the marketing efforts of the recognized organization. All libraries worldwide are eligible. Applications are due before November 30.

2. 2006 John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award - The award honors outstanding library public relations programs that support a specific project, goal or activity, or a sustained, ongoing program (e.g. the promotion of a summer reading program, a year-long centennial celebration, fundraising for a new college library, an awareness campaign or an innovative partnership in the community). The contest is open to all libraries and agencies that promote library service.

Entries can be calendar year 2005 (January-December), school year 2004-2005 (Fall-Spring) or any special project ends in 200. The awards and $3,500 cash grants will be presented during the 2006 ALA Annual Conference. The deadline for entries is December 9, 2005.

Attention Library Bloggers - Feedback Needed!

2005-10-11T21:17:00.000-04:00

Hey Library Bloggers,

I need your help.

I'm giving a presentation in a few weeks on using blogs to promote the library and I need your help to make sure I've covered all the angles. How do you promote your library's blog? I have the basics down: on the Web site, in library publications, e-mail signatures, talking to users, faculty/staff meetings (for academic library blogs) and during presentations. Do you do anything else? Leave a comment and let me know.

Also, if you use your blog to do something besides promote library resources and services, serve as an internal communication channel for librarians and staff, or to give updates on projects and events I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks!

Learn PR Tips From Pros Around the Globe This Week

2005-09-19T17:45:00.000-04:00

Learn from a group of global PR pros during Global PR Blog Week 2.0, a free week long online event.

What is Global PR Blog Week 2.0? Basically, it's a blog where a group of PR pros will publish 70 articles, podcasts and papers from September 19 to September 23, 2005. The articles are free and anyone can participate via comments, asking questions, etc. Learn more from the Global PR Blog Week 2.0 About page. You can also check out the archives from the first event, held in 2004.

The entire program is available online. Librarians might be especially interested in:

September 21:

Customer Generated Marketing: from Mayhem to Marketing. Why WOM is back on marketers' agenda and how to make it work for their brands by Joël Céré.
Consumer Generated Marketing: The Customer is always right by Kevin Dugan.

September 22:

Easter Seals & Camping case study - Implementing blogs to engage donors, parents and consumers (campers) by Robert French.
Blogs for Events - blogs offer a cost-effective solution for non-profits to promote, cover, discuss and wrap-up events by Josh Hallett.

Word of Mouth Marketing That's No Accident

2005-08-27T21:26:00.000-04:00

The Library Marketing - Thinking Outside the Book blog points to an interesting article on MarketingProfs.com called How to Create the Accidental Evangelist by Sean D'Souza. I agree that little things done at just the right time can make a big difference.

It's the really simple, yet genuine, things that make a difference to me. The generic birthday card from a company you barely do business with feels pointless and fake. I just got some more of them last week and I thought, what a waste of a stamp!

Today, decent service can sometimes seem remarkable because it's so rare. I don't understand people who can't at least reign in their grumpiness on the job. I mean, sure, everyone has bad days at work. But even when I'm having a bad day, I try not to take it out on the people I work with, or for (i.e. customers). But I don't get that in return often when I'm the customer. I'm usually happy if a salesperson, waiter, etc. is friendly. Not overly gushy, just naturally friendly. It's something that's so simple, but it also makes such a big difference.

Understanding Your Users' Mindset

2005-08-27T21:24:00.000-04:00

LISNews recently pointed to Beliot College's Mindset list for the Class of 2009, whose members were born in 1987. I find these lists intriguing. I'm not sure how accurate and helpful they are, but they sure are fun to read. I doubt anyone from the Class of 2009 reads this blog to let me know how true the list is, but if I'm wrong, let me know!

The closest one to when I graduated college is 2002, which is still three years after I graduated. (there goes the mystique about my age). Can people who are just three years longer than me really be so different?

Here's how I differ:
#8 - I vividly remember being in school and watching the Challenger blow up. Very sad.
#10 - Knew what polio is because my best friend's grandpa had it.
#12-#14 - Had records and a record player, maybe that's why I understand the lingo in #13?
#15 - Pac Man - yes, Pong - no.
#21-#25 - Apparently my family is old-school because we had a black and white TV when I was little, no cable, no answering machine, my grandma had a beta, and I WAS the remote.
#32 - I saw Jaws while on vacation in Florida. Not a great idea, mom.
#36 - I remember watching Mork and Mindy.
#41 - So not true.
#42 - No again.

Usability 101

2005-08-27T21:20:00.000-04:00

Market research and usability go hand-in-hand, don't you think? I can't remember where I saw this link, but the University of Minnesota Duluth's IT Department created this interesting list of usability resources.

Know What Your Reporter Wants

2005-08-17T21:33:00.000-04:00

Chicago Sun-Times reporter Jim Ritter recently discussed what he wants from PR people with Joe King in a PR Newswire article. Even if you're not a full-time PR person, it's worth remembering Ritter's tips. You've probably heard them before, but another reminder never hurts.

Ritter's key points:

Know what beat(s) your reporter covers.
Know how the reporter prefers to receive information.
When e-mailing reporters, use a short and sweet subject line.
Never, ever e-mail an unsolicited attachment. (This rule isn't just for reporters, think twice before e-mailing a big attachment to anyone. And remember that files size is relative to the speed of the recipient's Internet access).
As Joan Stewart suggests, find out the best time to call each reporter and the worst time.
If you put your news releases on the Web, make sure contact information is accurate and easy to find.

[Thanks to Joan Stewart's "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week" free ezine for the link. Subscribe at www.PublicityHound.com]

New Month, New Marketing Treasures

2005-08-17T21:30:00.000-04:00

The August issue of Chris Olsen's Marketing Treasures e-newsletter is online now.

Writer Says Library Databases Are Useful, But Hard to Find

2005-07-30T23:04:00.000-04:00

Check out the positive article on using the library's online databases, "Google Isn't Everything" by Stephen Manes on Forbes.com.

Manes warns of the most common complaint with library databases:

"None of these databases is perfect, since most were initially designed for trained librarians rather than mere flailing mortals, so the user interfaces can be daunting until you get the hang of them."

Manes also calls for libraries to do a better job of promoting their online resources:

My biggest complaint is that some libraries' Web sites don't detail the amazing range of services they offer online until you cough up a card number. Memo to those insular institutions: Put the info in the shop windows out front and I bet you'll see a lot more card-carrying customers walking through the electronic doors.

This isn't the first time we've heard this (see advice from Gary Price in this article) and it won't be the last. Even if you have a link on your home page about your library's electronic resources, you still need to repeat your promotional messages seven times for users to start noticing. [Thanks to ResourceShelf for the tip]

ALA Announces 2006 National Library Week Grant

2005-07-30T22:49:00.000-04:00

ALA recently announced the 2006 Scholastic Library Publishing National Library Week Grant. The $5,000 grant will be awarded to the single library with the best public awareness campaign incorporating the official campaign theme 'Change Your World @ your library' during NLW 2006 (April 2-8, 2006).

All types of libraries and library organizations are welcome to apply. See ALA's press release for complete details.

Merchandising the Library In NJ

2005-07-26T19:37:00.000-04:00

Interested about incorporating merchandising tactics in the library? Learn from the experiences of Mount Laurel Library, New Jersey. (Thanks to ALA's PRTALK list for the tip).

Also see the article "Retail Interior Layout for Libraries" by Christie Koontz in Marketing Library Services (January/February 2005).

Speaking the Same Language

2005-07-26T19:22:00.000-04:00

Podcasting, RSS, and phishing. What do these terms have in common? According to a July 2005 Pew Internet & American Life Project report, most people have no idea what any of these terms mean. The fact that podcasting and RSS are not understood doesn't come as a surprise, but with all the media attention the topic of identity theft is getting, I was surprised that only 29% of American Internet users "have a good idea" of the meaning of phishing.

How do you think library jargon would fare in a similar study?

Need ideas? Check out the gallery!

2005-07-12T21:33:00.000-04:00

Need ideas for fall promotions? Want to see marketing tactics from other academic libraries? Then the OhioLINK Idea Gallery is the place for you. Now the Gallery has even more ideas and inspiration. We (meaning the OhioLINK Marketing Task Force) recently added a ton of new pieces including bookmarks, flyers, posters, brochures, promotional products and more.

I'm especially fond of the large array of Research posters that many OhioLINK libraries have created and produced themselves. You can see some of them here. If only ALA Graphics would offer posters that feature celebrities and a message thats relevant for academic libraries, like research. Wouldn't that interest academic libraries nationwide more than the current Read posters? Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the Read posters, they're well done. But academic libraries need a different message than "Read."

Resource Round-Up

2005-06-21T20:52:00.000-04:00

I know I've been quiet lately, but I've still been collecting the interesting things I've found online and offline. Here's a resource-roundup so I can finally catch up:

Find Out About Helsinki's Information To Go Station Library Journal. June 15, 2005) According to the Library Journal the barrel iGS (Information Gas Station) has been placed in train stations to conferences. The LJ article also states that the Helsinki Library was the first to win Bill and Melinda Gates annual $1 million award. And I'm not just mentioning this because I think Finns rock. Though they do of course.

The latest issue of Ragan's Grapevine (a free e-newsletter from Ragan Communications) includes Please Release Me a reminder of press release basics. You can view and sign up for all of Ragan's free newsletters here.

If you haven't heard, the June 2005 issue of Chris Olson's Marketing Treasures newsletter is out. There's some good articles in this issue.

Looking for a unique fundraiser, take a trick from the University of Tennessee Libraries and have a fun run. More than 130 runners participated in the run this February. (from C&RL News).

The Loose Wire blog lists some dos and don't of dealing with journalists online (thanks to PR Opinions for the link).

How do you get men to join a book club? Make it about sports. The Smithtown Public Library, NY, is hosting what it believes to be the first all-male book club. (via Library Hotline, March 16, 2005).

Ok, that's all the catching up I can handle for tonight.

Rev Up Your Readership

2005-06-21T20:39:00.000-04:00

Ann Wylie's free e-newsletter, Revving Up Readership, contains tips and advice on improving your writing. You can subscribe and read it yourself online. To get a taste of Ann's tips visit her online article archive. Some articles to check out:

The Art of Good Writing

2005-06-14T21:29:00.000-04:00

I'm hesitating a moment before writing this because I know people that live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. And when it comes to writing, I certainly live in a glass house. However, writing is such a fundamental part of public relations and marketing that improving that skill is well worth the effort. So here's a few sources of writing tips that I felt were good reminders.

"Does Your Writing Suck?" Expert PR Newsletter. May 2005.

This short article describes e-mail no-nos, but the tips apply to any medium. My favorite tips: 1. Lose the all caps. Figure you get one word in all caps per day. 2. No exclamation points - ever.

Number one is a cinch for me because I absolutely, positively hate all caps. Oh, it's fine for emphasizing the rare single word but anything beyond that is just annoying. As far as never using exclamation points, well that may be a little harsh. I happen to have a strong fondness for the exclamation point. It's my favorite piece of punctuation. I agree, however, that a little e.p. goes a long way. Using too many exclamation points makes me think someone is either on uppers or is trying too hard.

Plain English Campaign Site - Your messages won't be received if the audience can't understand them, so keep it simple. Best tips:

Keep your sentences short
Use active verbs
Choose appropriate words for your audience
Use positive language

These are all great tips to keep in mind when writing for any purpose.

Using Brand Colors Consistently is a Tip to Treasure

2005-05-24T21:14:00.000-04:00

The May edition of Marketing Library Treasures by Chris Olson is now online. I've mentioned this resource before but I'm mentioning it again in case (1) you don't read my archives (nah, I'm sure that can't be...) and (2) there's a good article about "The Role of Color in Branding."

Some of Chris' color branding tips are:

-Make sure the color supports your brand’s attributes.
-Select a color that can be relevant to your primary audiences.
-Maintain the same shade and hue in your brand color.
-Display your brand color to all members of your community, inside and outside the organization.
-Ensure that color branding is consistently applied at every turn.
-Make sure all materials and items carry the brand color

When it comes to branding using all your branding elements consistenly is key. This includes color, font, logo, etc.

Usability Testing On a Budget

2005-05-24T20:59:00.000-04:00

Chris Nagele's article, "Practical (and Cheap) Usability Testing," on MarketingProfs.com explains how you can conduct your own usability testing without a big budget.

Nagele breaks usability testing down to four steps:

Define tasks and location
Identify and schedule participants
Conduct the tests
Review your findings

Nagele reminds us that

...you don't need a large budget for simple usability testing. Make the participant comfortable, ask open-ended questions and learn from the [participants'] confusion.

Do Your PR Materials Need a Makeover?

2005-05-24T19:24:00.000-04:00

LAMA's Swap-N-Shop committee is sponsoring an interesting contest at ALA this year. You could win a brochure makeover by noted library communicators Linda Wallace and Peggy Barber from Library Communication Strategies.

The PR Makeover is a new addition to the Swap-N-Shop at ALA's Annual Conference and is sponsored by the Swap & Shop Committee, from the Public Relations and Marketing Section of the Library Administration Management Association division of the American Library Association.

To be eligible for the PR Makeover contest, send two copies of your library brochure to librarycomm@librarycomm.com or LAMA PRMS PR Makeover, 5109 Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60640.

Three entries will be chosen for a makeover. Makeovers, including the before-and-after brochures will be on display during the ALA Conference on Sunday, June 26, 2005 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

See the official announcement for complete details.

Two Interesting Library Marketing Articles

2005-05-16T21:40:00.000-04:00

In case you missed it, Gary Price's ResourceShelf pointed out two articles that might be of interest:

1. Manager Educates Library Patrons by Greg DeLong (NYU NewsNet)

Favorite quote: "Call him a library communications guru. Call him a manager of communications and public relations. Just dont call him a librarian."

2. Marketing an Online Library Service by news staff (Government Technology)
Explains how staff marketed L-net, a 24 hour online chat reference service. Be sure to check out the L-net marketing wiki!

Jazzy PR Materials Wanted for Conference Swap-N-Shop

2005-05-16T21:27:00.000-04:00

The Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA) Public Relations and Marketing Section is inviting libraries of all types to send 150-200 copies of their Swap & Shop display and give-away featuring the best library public relations materials of 2004. This year's program, entitled "Hit the Right Note with Jazzy PR," will be held on Sunday, June 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the American Library Association (ALA) Conference in Chicago.

Swap & Shop submissions must have been created in 2004. To have your materials included, ship 150-200 copies of each item to: Swap & Shop, c/o Dollester Thorn, LAMA, 50 E. Huron Street, Chicago, IL, 60611, 1800-4-2433, ext. 5032. Materials must be postmarked no later than Friday, June 3, 2005 [via PRTalk dicussion list]

Silverman Asks: Do Journalists Read Press Releases?

2005-05-03T22:21:00.000-04:00

Ben Silverman, from PR Fuel, surveyed journalists at daily newspapers in order to find out what they think about certain aspects of PR.

The purpose of the survey was simple - to gather some quick insight into how journalists receive press releases, whether and where they read them, and how journalists view weblogs and online press rooms.

Some of the same old mistakes PR people and anyone seeking publicity make were mentioned again. Tips:

Don't send press releases as attachments - EVER
Do use a relevant, attention grabbing headline
Do ask the media representatives you contact how they prefer to receive your news. Some, but not all, prefer to receive news by e-mail. Others still rely on faxes or mail. Find out!
Don't send media news on a topic they don't cover
Do post your press releases and contact information on your Web site
Don't expect the media to use a "contact us" form

[Thanks to Tom Murphy at PR Opinions for the link]

And now LibTalk will be on hiatus while I'm on vacation. See you next week!

Bacon: A PR Resource

2005-05-03T22:10:00.000-04:00

The April issue of Bacon's ExpertPR newsletter has two articles that especially interested me and might interest you as well.

1. Continuity: Creating an Image Greater Than the Parts, by Jim Schakenbach.
Ignore the business jargon and pay attention to Schakenbach's overall points.

Pay attend to your library's image and brand.
Hone a consistent image by creating a style sheet for librarians and staff on how to use the library's logo, colors and fonts.
Use a consistent message including your vision statement and tagline.

2. Top 5 Reasons to Use RSS by Fergus Burns. And the reasons are:

Avoid Spam Filters
Make Journalists Happy
Improve Your Web Traffic
Monitor Your Online Reputation
It's Easy - Even for a Non-Techie

Ready for more? Read the articles for details.

[Thanks to Tom Murphy at PR Opinions for the link]

Where's the Library Fan Club?

2005-04-28T21:47:00.000-04:00

A comment by Jill on my last post and a news story on our local NBC station got me thinking. Where's the big open-source marketing effort for libraries? (psst... you can learn more about open-source marketing from James Cherkoff's manifesto, "What is Open Source Marketing?" on ChangeThis.) Or, in other words, where is the library fan club? I'm not talking about Friends of the Library groups. They're great, but they're not enough. We need to inspire a movement.

How does Firefox come into play with this concept? If you haven't been following Firefox, it is an open-source browser that continues to gain momentum and take some of IE's marketshare. Firefox is succeeding because of the large number of Firefox users that are zealously seeking to spread Firefox. Go to the Spread Firefox site and check it out, the devotion of so many Firefox users is amazing.

So where are the library users? Why aren't they screaming about the proposed cuts to Ohio's libraries and other systems around the country? (have there even been any other editorials in Ohio except for the excellent by Thomas Suddes in the April 27 Cleveland Plain Dealer?) And, even more importantly, why don't they speak up at all except for during financial crises.

I think we have to inspire and cultivate widespread support for libraries on the level of Spread Firefox is we're to stop the trend of decreasing library budgets and decreasing library profiles.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get this ball rolling?

ALA Runs Smartest Card Ads in Magazines

2005-04-28T20:45:00.000-04:00

ALA is running ads that feature George Lopez and promote the Smartest Card campaign. The ad will appear in the April issue of Parents Magazine, the spring issue of Ms. and the May issue of Redbook. The ads will reach a total circulation of 4 million people.

In related news,the Public Library Association (PLA) is offering $100 cash prizes for the best examples of how libraries have used "The Smartest Card @ your library®" campaign. See the press release for details. You only have a few days left to turn in your ideas. The deadline is May 2, 2005.

For more on the Smartest Card Campaign visit the PLA site.

The Newspaper Article That Should Appear in Every Paper Nationwide

2005-04-25T21:53:00.000-04:00

"Why pay for free stuff? Go to the library," a column by Gregory Karp, personal finance writer for The Morning Call, a Tribune Co. newspaper in Allentown, Pa recently appeared in the Chicago Tribune.

The column points out what all librarians know and try to communicate to their audiences: libraries offer books, information, and entertainment for free. The article details how people can save money by visiting the library for Internet access, entertainment, business resources, recorded music, videos, meeting rooms, instructional programs and research help.

Now shouldn't an article like this appear in every US paper?

Business Week Online Features Cover Story on Blogs

2005-04-23T13:29:00.000-04:00

Are you still wondering what the whole blogging thing is about? What about RSS and podcasting? The cover story for the May 2 edition of Business Week might help you out. You can read the story, "Blogs Will Change Your Business" online now.

Yes, this story has a business slant, but it still provides a great overview of blogging and it's benefits. Why should libraries pay attention to blogs? In my view:

1. Blogs are learning tools and sources of information.
2. Blogs are communication tools.

Blogs, if they are successful, can help you reach greaters numbers of your audience than ever before. As the Businessweek article says:

Look at it this way: In the age of mass media, publications like our print the news. Sources try to get quoted, but the decision is ours. Ditto with letters to the editor. Now instead of just speaking through us, they can blog. And if they master the ins and outs of this new art -- like how to get other bloggers to link to them -- they reach a huge audience.

How many libraries are trying to reach a huge audience? All of them I hope.

I Missed the John Cotton Dana Library PR Awards!

2005-04-23T12:41:00.000-04:00

I totally missed the announcement of the John Cotton Dana Library PR 2005 Award Winners. Congratulations to:

The Riverside County Library System (CA)
The Seattle Public Library
San Diego State University Library & Information Access
The Louisiana Center for the Book in the State Library of Louisiana
Maricopa County Library District (Phoenix, AZ)
Calgary Public Library (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
North Suburban Library System

I know the winning entries will be displayed at ALA, but for those of us who won't be able to attend, it would be nice if the entries, or as much of them as possible, could be displayed online. I would think that a nice benefit of this award is to share best practices, but how can you share them if you don't provide case studies online?

Or am I missing something? Will this be covered in an upcoming library publication?

If you want to try for next year, applications for the 2006 awards will be due December 9, 2005.

RLG Offers Promotional Toolkit

2005-04-23T12:12:00.000-04:00

The April 2005 issue of the RLG Focus newsletter contains information about new promotional kits that are available for RLG products. See the story for complete details.

RLG now has promotional kits available for:

Anthropology Plus
Bibliography of the History of Art
Chicano Database
RLG Archival Resources
RLG Cultural Materials

Links to promotional information from other vendors is available on this OhioLINK Marketing Toolkit site.

Listening to Your Users Isn't Stupid!

2005-04-17T21:42:00.000-04:00

Don't miss Todd Miller's column in the March 15 issue of Library Journal. In the column, "In Defense of Stupid Users," Miller questions librarians' general disregard of federated searching.

Google gives its users a pitiful solo search box. How can it compete? The answer from the old guard is that it's dumbed down. The reality is that Google gives its customers what they want: simple searching, powerful results.

As Miller explains best, listening to users and giving them a single search box is good marketing. It means your finding out what users want and then giving it to them.

This is not lowest common denominator; it is listening to the market and giving it precisely what it wants.

Users just want to find the answers, right? Most of them don't want to know the intricate ways to do an advanced search in every single database that's available. You don't have to have a computer science degree to use a computer. You don't need to be a nutritionist to figure out the basics of eating healthy. Should users really be expected to know expert search skills just to get information to write a paper or research to complete a work project? Miller would answer this question with a resounding no.

The job of information professionals is not to make all users into information professionals. Our job is either to give them the right tools for the job or do the job for them.

Guardian Article Explores Ohio Libraries' Budget Struggle

2005-04-17T21:22:00.000-04:00

There's a good article in The Guardian which discusses the funding problems of Ohio's public libraries. How ironic that such a great article appeared in a foreign publication.

"We cherish our libraries, but is it more valuable than school funding? No," said Republican state Rep. Jim Trakas. "Is it more valuable than Medicaid for a sick person? No. It's a matter of priorities."

[Thanks to Library Link of the Day for the tip]

Celebrating National Library Week

2005-04-13T21:04:00.000-04:00

Happy National Library Week! How is your library celebrating?

The University of Dayton's Library staff created a new set of Research posters to promote the library again this year. Instead of using the "read" theme for posters like ALA, UD Library uses the research theme, which definitely seems like a better message to academic audiences to me. Too bad ALA seems reluctant to print their own research posters with celebrities.

Once again UD library staff proved that you can create a fantastic series of posters on a small budget. To accomplish this, staff recruited a visual arts student to take the photographs and design the posters. Relying on the talents of students is an excellent way to get quality work at a lower cost. You can view UD's 2004 posters, along with a selection of posters from other OhioLINK libraries, in the OhioLINK's Idea Gallery, which is part of the online Marketing Toolkit.

The library is also hosting their third food for fines campaign this week. Users can reduce their library fine by $1 for every nonperishable food item they donate. The food is later donated to a local food pantry.

(Thanks to Heidi Gauder, at Roesch Library, for keeping me informed)

Why Libraries Need Marketing: Reason #106

2005-04-03T21:09:00.000-04:00

I hope I'm preaching to the choir here, but for-profit companies and Internet information providers (e.g. Learner's Library, Questia, Google Answers, etc.) are marketing many of the same information resources and services that libraries provide to your users and potential users. Sadly, most users don't know that those same resources, or better, are available from their local library for free. And they have no idea about how many resources they can access electronically through the library. Sometimes these for-profit services are fee-based, other times they just provide inferior information. Either way, you can be sure that someone else is talking to your users about them. So if you're not constantly informing and reminding your audiences what information the library provides electronically and otherwise and that they ALREADY paid for it, then you're losing opportunities and users.

Case in point:

Gary Price recently reviewed LookSmart's five new sites aimed at different user groups. Each offers access to FindArticles material along with an interface to search the LookSmart Web index.

There's certainly no mention of libraries on the about us page of 24hourScholar:

24HourScholar is a vast archive of published content, providing a comprehensive resource for academic researchers. Visitors can search or browse thousands of articles on subjects in the humanities, sciences and social sciences. Content is drawn from dozens of quality magazines, academic publications and professional journals. All articles can be read and printed in their entirety at no cost. 24HourScholar is powered by FindArticles, a service of LookSmart.

As Price said:

I've said many times before that it's really sad when students and the general public for that matter don't know that thousands of public libraries offer full text and free access to thousands of sources (newspapers, magazines, full text reference books that are accessible with a library card WITHOUT having to visit the library.

Libraries Should Embrace Feedback Marketing

2005-03-30T21:41:00.000-05:00

Are you paying attention to feedback marketing about your library?

Gary Stein includes a definition of feedback marketing:

Feedback Marketing (n): 1) a marketing approach where consumer desires are directly connected to product development; 2) the communication of such a system.

Also see Canuckflack for more discussion. This seems especially critical for any library designing a new service, upgrading an existing service/ resource, considering a new resource, building a new library...the list goes on.

Today's Front Pages From the Newseum

2005-03-30T21:24:00.000-05:00

The Newseum, the interactive museum of news, has an interesting online exhibit, called today's front pages. Every morning, more than 300 newspapers from around the world submit their front pages to the Newseum, located in Washington, D.C., via the Internet. Sixty-eight of those front pages are then selected for an outdoor exhibit. All the front pages received that morning are also posted on the Newseum's Web site.

[From Dynamic Graphic's Liquid Treat]

Marketing Tip From Toronto: Get the Spring Breakers!

2005-03-30T20:43:00.000-05:00

March is the busiest time of year for the Toronto Public Library. The library helps draw in the crowd by offering two weeks of special events and programs at most of their 99 branches to help entertain the kids on spring break. The schedule of free events includes: storytellers, magicians, clowns, mimes, musical entertainers, puppet shows, and theatre. See the Library Hotline, volume 34, issue 12, March 21, 2005 for more details.

Attention Libraries: Why You Need Good PR

2005-03-29T21:44:00.000-05:00

Head on over to WebProNews and check out the article "Why Good PR Warrants Your Attention" by Robert Kelly. Kelly discusses the importance of monitoring what your publics think about your organization. Research first, then plan. Easy to know, but how many libraries follow that advice?

And Then There Were Two Library-Marketing Blogs

2005-03-29T21:39:00.000-05:00

Finally, another blog that involves marketing AND libraries. I couldn't believe that LibTalk was the first and only blog of this genre for so long. That's why I'm glad to announce there's a new blog in town: Library Marketing-Thinking Outside the Box, a blog written by Jill, an undergraduate services librarian at Virginia Commonwealth University. The blog "is a collection of resources, readings, and creative marketing ideas to help librarians communicate with their patrons about what they have to offer." Jill welcomes your ideas and contributions to this new effort.

Communicating the Financial Squeeze

2005-03-23T21:28:00.000-05:00

It's a sad reality today that library budgets continue to be cut nationwide. How can we communicate the consequences of these cuts to our communities in hopes of creating a public outcry that prevents the cuts from happening afterall?

Ohio's public libraries are slated for another 5% cut this year. My local library system, the Columbus Metropolitan Library system, is asking users to contact their legislators. The Ohio Library Council is also working hard to change legislators minds, and they're providing a forum for users to contact the governor about the proposed cut.

Ohio's academic libraries are not immune to funding problems either. OhioLINK is currently facing yet another year of flat funding. For the first time creative solutions will no longer work and services will have to be cuts. We're communicating this with users electronically through the Support OhioLINK Web site. OhioLINK's member libraries are handing local communications on their campuses.

What strategies have other libraries taken to communicate financial problems? Has anyone gained funding or staved off a cut as a result?

Emerald's Library Link Has Marketing Section

2005-03-15T21:03:00.000-05:00

Resource alert: Learn more about marketing your library from Emerald's Library Link.

Need More Analytics for Your Web Site?

2005-03-15T20:37:00.000-05:00

From time to time I check the Dynix Institute's seminar archive. Here's one that might be of interest to those who want to find out more about their Web sites statistics:

Issues and Opportunities in Web Site Analytics for Libraries
March 22, 2005 | 8 AM to 9 AM Pacific

by Stephen E. Arnold

For more information or to register go to http://www.dynix.com/institute/seminars.asp

You can also find a list the Institute's archived seminars. A few seminars of interest include: