• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
6 Steps to Free PublicityNewspapers, Radio, and TVSample Press ReleaseSample Public Service AnnouncementToot Your Own HornCollect Personal TestimoniesMention the Community's SavingsBrag About Your Hot ItemsRespond to Negative Comments and RumorsSurveys and FeedbackWeedingCandidates for WeedingEasier to Locate and Find Items in DemandDisposing of Weeded MaterialsNotesReferences
 
What is the most important thing for running a small public library? Notfinances because no matter how much money you have, if you don't havepeople using your library it just doesn't matter. Not the collection because youcan have the most wonderful, organized, and easy to use collection in theworld, but without people using it you're wasting money, time, and effort. Apublic library, especially a small public library, is for the people. You are aservice organization first and foremost and if people aren't using the library, it'sa failure no matter how nice it looks, how well equipped it is, or how well runit is. I know that if you advertise, if you market yourself well, you get swampedwith people and you don't have the staff to keep up. As an organization which
 
doesn't charge for each service you provide, when you get more people in youget more work without any extra money to do it. However, with the communitybeing actively involved and using the library, the money will come and yourlibrary will be better positioned to help more people now and in the future.The biggest thing is trying to get the word out in as many ways as possible, asoften as you can, to let people know what the library has to offer. There issomething at a small public library for even the most well off or the mostignorant, so spread the word and let them all know. You don't have to be anelectrifying speaker, a whiz at sleight of hand, or the greatest showman onearth to market your library to the people it serves, you only need to inform asmany people as possible in as many ways as possible about what the library isdoing. Every conceivable avenue is available so where do you start and how doyou build up contacts and visibility?First, a few definitions: Marketing deals with the movement of materials fromthe producer to the customer, or patron, and focuses on the promotion,through advertising and more, of the materials and services offered. Publicrelations involves promoting goodwill between the library and its stakeholders,i.e. the community it serves or the funding sources allowing it to operate,originally through the press release, although the field has expanded greatlyfrom this starting point. Librarian Christopher Hart puts it this way, "marketingis the advertising of your goods and services to the public to encourage theiruse while public relations is the marketing of your organization to otherorganizations to garner support (such as budget increases, millage proposals,volunteers, board members, etc.). Both marketing and public relations relyupon library staff joining efforts to create a comfortable, welcomingenvironment that the public wants to come enjoy and with which sponsorswant to associate themselves."The chapter begins with getting the word out throughword of mouthand beingvisible in the community. After these are discussed, ways tomarket yourlibrary, its services, and its materials are covered. Be willing totoot your ownhornand share all the great things happening at and made possible by thelibrary, this is an extremely important public relations tool. Finally,weedyourcollection constantly! A small public library exudes respect and confidence if itscollection is up-to-date and looking sharp soweedingis one of the mostimportant marketing tools available to every small public library.
 
Word of Mouth
Word of mouth is by far the most important means of reaching yourcommunity.; people are more likely to believe those they know and trust overany flier or ad. Make your library as friendly as possible with a smiling face andwillingness to help, whatever the question. The staff IS the library to those
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...