Monday, April 27, 2009

Promoting Your Library - Free & Easy Tips

With staff shortages and increased demands from library customers I've heard many library staff say, "we just don't have time to promote our library." So thought I might share these free, easy promotion tips - that don't take much time or money.

  • Use "sound bites" on your voicemail or e-mail signatures
  • Promote positive testimonials
  • Encourage letters to the editor
  • Distribute Library pr in unlikely places
  • Invite community leaders to library programs
  • Piggyback on other groups' communications
  • Encourage strategic Word of Mouth in your library
  • Supply talking points to staff that work with the public
  • Use targeted emails to promote library programs and services

Monday, April 6, 2009

"Friend" Raising

Recently Paula Calabrese, consultant, shared her thoughts on Friend Raising. There are some great ideas for your Friends, not only for fundraising, but also for improving your marketing efforts. I've listed a few of my favorites.

DESIGN A DECK OF PLAYING CARDS: Create a deck of playing cards on a particular theme: history of your town,great literature, local officials, library trivia, Pennsylvania writers, children’s’ authors or something similar andobtain a customized deck of playing cards to sell.
www.customizedplayingcards.com/


JUST DESSERTS: Work with a local bakery to provide a smorgasbord of desserts and offer a “borrow a book andreceive a dessert” to eat while you’re enjoying your book. Food for the mind and the body.

M&Ms: No one can resist M&Ms. So get them customized with your library or friends’ logo and sell them topatrons.
www.mymms.com/customprint/?src=112228&sc_cid=P_GG_P2_N00_MA9CON00PGGP2111

TRIVIA NIGHT: Obtain donated prizes for winners and then invite players to pay to play. Select a theme for the evening’s questions such as Elvisology or Presidential Trivia depending on the season.
www.funtrivia.com/
www.elvis.com/elvisology/trivia/default.asp
www.apples4theteacher.com/prestriv.html