Branford Marsalis Promotes Summer Reading

Thought everyone might enjoy our summer reading promotional video with Branford Marsalis. He was so gracious and enthusiastic during our filming, even though he had just returned from a very strenuous tour in California. WTVD, a local tv station, and UNC-TV, public television have both agreed to air the psa throughout the summer. The children in the video have parents who work in our Department.
Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/user/statelibrarync

A Very Cool Annual Report

I know everyone is always on the lookout for new ways to create their annual report. In North Carolina I've seen some wonderful formats and presentations. I remember Greensboro public library's a few years ago developed notepads with a fact about the library on each note pad sheet. Cumberland County had plastic bags with library information printed on the outside. I came across this idea which I think is fantastic and very innovative. The Columbus Library presented their 2008 annual report in a very unique way. Check it out.
http://ourstory.columbuslibrary.org/

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

"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

National Library Week - Online Tools

Getting ready for National Library Week - make sure to check out ALA's free online tools at www.ala.org/nlw. The tools include a proclamation, sample press releases, scripts for radio public service announcements, and downloadable posters. There's a great poster of Jamie Lee Curtis, this year's spokesperson. This year's theme, "Worlds connect @ your library" gives you a great opportunity for all sorts of programming.
If you have programs you're planning - please share!

Learning from Starbucks

Starbucks asked for advice! In order to get a better handle on consumer feedback, Starbucks used social media to start "My Starbucks Idea." The site allows users to submit suggestions to be voted on by Starbucks consumers, and the most poular suggestions are highlighted and reviewed. Starbucks then added an "ideas and action" blog that gives updates to consumers on the status of changes suggested. Wouldn't this be a great thing for our libraries. Ask users for suggestions for the library and then share with them how we responded. Academic and community colleges could put it up on the student pages, public libraries could post it on their website. I love the fact that they follow up with the updates for consumers. How often do we forget to tell our customers what we are doing in response to their requests?

check out the "Starbucks Idea" at http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/ideaHome

Surge in Library Usage

Katie Couric on the surge on library usage.
Watch CBS Videos Online