The 'M' Word - Marketing Libraries

Study Your Users With Ready-Made Studies

2013-05-16T22:40:00.000-04:00

Steven Bell

I've been meaning to write a post about using local / state / national studies to learn more about the people in your target audiences ever since the new Ithaka Survey came out last month. I haven't done it yet -- but Steven Bell has. And he's done it even better than I could have. So I'm just going to send you over to his Library Journal column, From the Bell Tower, so you can read "Studying the Studies" for yourselves.

The first step in successful marketing is researching the people you're trying to reach in order to understand the most effective way to reach them. Most of you don't have time to do original research, but you don't have to when there are so many useful reports out there for the taking. The Ithaka US Faculty Survey and the others that Bell discusses relate mostly to academic libraries. But there are plenty of others too.

One of my favorites comes from the ICMA: Maximize the Potential of Your Public Library. I gushed about it in an earlier post here. I also found the ERIAL project pretty enlightening.

And as you probably know, there are lots of great studies done by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. And the OCLC Perceptions Survey is one of the best.

Of course, no study can help you if you don't read and use it (Steven Bell's post will help you with that part). And they should certainly be part of your marketing toolkits.

What are your go-to sources when you want to get familiar with a target market?

Take 2 Minutes to Vote for Libraries (US)

2013-05-08T13:14:00.001-04:00

Hey, America! Today is National Library Legislative Day, and you can advocate for libraries in 2 minutes or less.

++ Go to this CapWiz site.

++ Follow the 3 steps in red boxes.

1. The letter is already written (but you can change it if you like).

2. Fill in your basic name / address info (automatically finds your government reps).
3. Optional: Upload a photo of yourself & caption it. (I added a pic of me in my newly expanded local library; that added about 3 minutes to the process.)

++ Click the red box to "Send Message."

And you're done!

Please do it now, and share the link with everyone you know! Today, May 8, is the official day, although ALA says you can send this email through Friday.

Our leaders in Washington D.C. need to understand how vital libraries still are. You can make your voice heard in less than 2 minutes. What's stopping you?? Take 2 minutes now!

Book Review: The Library Marketing Toolkit by Ned Potter

2013-05-02T17:28:00.003-04:00

This review is long overdue ...

Hats off to Ned Potter for writing a book to help librarians market their organizations. There are two exciting aspects of this book that brings a new perspective to the books that are already out there: case studies from around the globe and a working blog where he 'll update information.

We can never get enough books that encourage librarians to learn about the marketing process. My co-blogger Kathy Dempsey, did an amazing job of it in her book, The Accidental Library Marketer, and this book covers it beautifully as well. Both authors approach the marketing process as it applies specifically to the library field which makes a huge difference for librarians trying to figure out how to reach their audiences. Ned's down to earth tone makes it an easy read and less intimidating for those who might otherwise feel overwhelmed by it all. I love that he keeps reminding us that marketing is both valuable and fun.

So who should read this book?

I think just about everybody in the library. Administrators need to understand how the marketing aligns with the strategic planning process. Program developers will benefit by understanding the importance of creating programming that meets the needs of their audience. Web designers get some great tips and everyone will welcome learning about incorporating social media into the overall marketing plan. Frontline workers will be able to visualize their role better and the entire community will benefit when the library incorporates partnerships into their planning. Ned also covers the integration of advocacy and marketing as well as discussing some ideas of marketing special collections.

Real-Life Situations

The case studies add a variety of voices that help the reader envision how marketing could look for their library or specifically for their project or job. Of course the fact the he recruited the best of the best doesn't hurt either. I am sniffling a little that I'm not in it.

Ned utilized his talent for interviewing to pull essential information from his marketing studies.

This is a book you will want to read front to back
and then leave on your desk for a handy reference.

Here are a few gems to whet your appetite:

Katy Sidwell, University of Leeds, has sold over 35,000 tote bags. Labeled "the Sshhh bags" they released limited edition colors and turned the library tote bag into a phenomenon.

Ned shares a graph to demonstrate what a stakeholder audit looks like. (this is really cool.)

Kathy Saeed, NYPL, shares that their communication team surveys the Twitterverse everyday looking for trending topics, current events and popular content.

Rebecca Jones, Dysart & Jones, takes the cloak off of the secrets to focus groups!

If you are responsible for marketing any part of the offerings of your library, include Ned’s book in your reading list.

If you are looking for some additional reading, Ned and I are both writing articles about marketing for Library Journal.

BCLS Grand Opening

2013-04-28T20:40:00.000-04:00

There was a big event in my local library world today: The main building of my county's library system had a Grand Opening celebration. The Burlington County (NJ) Library System has been around since 1921, but today its staff officially unveiled its new expansion to the public. All the details are here.

My husband and I attended the celebration, and I was, of course, looking at it partially from a marketing point of view. Anytime you have a big event and invite legislators, the press, and the public, your building and your people need to be at their best. You want to have great-looking spaces, plenty of helpful staff to welcome and guide people, good refreshments, photo opps, interesting activities, and info to go. Most importantly, you want to entice visitors to come back again. I think Burlington County Library System (BCLS) did a good job on all counts.

Rather than write about every little detail, I took photos of them and made a Flickr set. You can see the giveaways, the displays, the mascot, the new Teen Zone, the spacious cafe, and more.

The 250-seat auditorium was empty at the beginning...

... then, an hour later, the stage was set up for a game
show and lots of people was playing along.

I'll just mention a few specific things that BCLS got right:

Several newspaper reporters and photographers were there.
Having Cub Scouts there to raise the flag outside gave the event even more of a community feeling--and brought all their parents, with cameras. Now the library is part of those kids' stories.
Everyone loves a good mascot, and BCLS's bright blue Book Buddy was all over the event.
There were various activities this afternoon, including a trivia contest in the new auditorium, a make-and-take craft, storytime, a local historian speaking, and of course, guided tours.
They also had a "grand opening" of the digital library, which was a room where people were equipped to show visitors how to use ebook hardware, how to download ebooks, and answer tech questions. A cool twist on tech training!

I spoke to the BCLS director for a moment, and she was quick to give lots of credit to the whole staff, who had been working toward this day together. It appeared to me that everything went smoothly, and that the guests of all ages enjoyed themselves. I believe this is the beginning of yet another successful chapter in the life of my area's main library, and I wish everyone there all the best for an exciting future.

2013 John Cotton Dana Award Winners

2013-04-18T15:37:00.002-04:00

A scene from the last time the JCD Awards
were given out in Chicago, 2009

As many of you know, the John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award is considered the most prestigious in the library marketing / PR field. So it's one that The M Word always covers. The winners for 2013 have just been announced, and they are.... **drumroll please** ......

The Craighead County Jonesboro (Arkansas) Public Library “Meme Your Library” campaign resulted in increases in usage both physically and virtually.
The Hood River County Library (Oregon) district closed due to lack of funding, then won a ballot measure and re-opened a year later, busier than ever.
The Lawrence (Kansas) Public Library had local artists competitively design a week’s worth of trading cards for Banned Books Week.
Mid-Continent (Missouri) Public Library developed a comprehensive rebranding campaign around the concept of “access” to help shift the public's perceptions of libraries.
Richland Library (South Carolina) used customer experience workshops with 400 staff members to “change from the inside out.”
The Robert E. Kennedy Library at Cal Poly (California) inspired its students and others to declare, “I’m with the Banned,” through virtual outreach and library programming during 2012 Banned Books Week.
The Santa Clara City (California) Library launched the Project BEST campaign to educate the community about a new food workers law and, in doing so, positioned itself as a resource for job skills development.
Texas Tech Universities (Texas) used several print and electronic channels to successfully reach its student population through six keywords: Action, Create, Help, Relax, Green, and Connect.

To read more about each 2013 winner, see the press release. Each of the eight winners will be awarded a $10,000 grant from the H.W. Wilson Foundation at a gala ceremony during ALA's Annual Conference in June.

Celebrate Preservation Week

2013-04-17T13:54:00.000-04:00

The week after National Library Week (NLW, April 14 - 20), it's Preservation Week (April 21 - 27). According to the ALCTS:

Libraries and other institutions can use Preservation Week to connect our communities through events, activities, and resources that highlight what we can do, individually and together, to preserve our personal and shared collections. Get involved! You don't need a lot of time or money, you just need to get started.

create a display about preserving and collecting personal, family, or community heritage

offer a preservation workshop or event

highlight Preservation Week on your website with a logo linked to ALA’s Preservation Week resources

Tweet about Preservation Week #preswk.

The Event Toolkit makes it easy to celebrate by giving you a free, pre-written Press Kit and elevator speech, along with logos, photos, bookmark templates, etc. It's interesting that there's even a tool to help you evaluate your event afterward. One of libraries' important duties is preserving history and heritage, so join in and remind everyone about how valuable this is!

PSAs for NLW 2013

2013-04-09T19:26:00.001-04:00

Here in the US, National Library Week starts this coming Sunday, April 14. Are you ready?

If you're still scrambling to do something, here are quick-and-easy solutions from ALA. There are free Public Service Announcements (PSAs) in audio, video formats, print, and digital formats. There are downloadable graphics,photos for social media posts, sample letters, and much more.

There's no excuse not to commemorate our big week and to show that Communities Matter @ your library, especially when these ready-made tools make it so easy.

Is it a library or a music studio? Both!

2013-03-24T14:03:00.000-04:00

There are always two parts to every service libraries offer. One is the service and the other is how you communicate that service.

Roy Conley from Skokie Public Library just aced both!

They are offering Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro headphones for people to use in their digital media lab. Read the description- it speaks to the audience they trying to reach and lets the reader know the library knows its stuff too. Something for everyone to remember, no matter the audience.

Here's the copy I was so excited about:

"When you are producing music or mixing down a track, having both opened back and closed headphones can be beneficial for an A-B mix down. Your music could sound amazing in closed back headphones because that’s what you were using to create that perfect mix. But what if the record exec you handed your demo to has opened back headphones? All the bass heavy sounds will lose that punchiness that you’ve added. In most studios you will see more than one pair of speakers for that reason. You have to find that compromise between the two.

In the Digital Media Lab at the Skokie Public Library, you can now have the best of both worlds! No longer do you have to listen to your newly production musical masterpieces at low volume in the DML. We’ve stepped into the circumaural headphone arena!

Now available for use in the DML…. Beyerdynamics Custom One Pro headphones. These headphones are a great addition to the DML. As you know, the iMac computers have pretty good sound coming out of them. However, after you’ve listened to your music through the Custom One Pro headphones, you will hear sounds you’ve never heard before. And that’s not because these headphones are magical. It’s because some speakers just can’t reproduce the full spectrum of sound. That’s ok though, as I’m sure that wasn’t Apple’s intent when they designed the iMac."

Have you seen some exciting copy lately promoting library services or programs? We'd love to see it!

Reminder: 'Best of Show' Contest Deadline Is April 1

2013-03-21T23:31:00.001-04:00

Don't forget, it's time to send in your entries to the ALA / LLAMA Best of Show contest for great PR. The deadline is Monday, April 1.

The Best of Show awards ceremony at ALA Anaheim, 2012

See the details at our earlier post.

You could be getting YOUR Best of Show award at ALA in Chicago this June.

Is Your Library Lending American Girl Dolls Yet?

2013-03-15T17:38:00.003-04:00

Four new ambassadors are arriving at Arlington Public Library

I saw Arlington Public Library's New Program -
it's simply brilliant!

Libraries are always struggling with creative ways to celebrate Women's History Month. Well this program cries "winner" on so many levels that I can't even begin to count them.

Arlington Public Library is introducing four new ambassadors to the worlds of literature, history and imagination…The American Girl Dolls. Is this perfect for a Women’s Month celebration or what?

They have put together a comprehensive launch - hosting the author Valerie Tripp and parties at different branches introducing the new ambassadors. They are allowing children to borrow the dolls and books - the lending period is one week. They have four dolls- a good beginning that I am sure they will end up expanding. Here’s how they explain it on their website.

“Along with each girl’s first book, the doll kits also feature an exclusive guide created by the Library’s Virginia Room depicting life in Arlington during each doll’s era. And to tell future history, there’s a special journal to record and preserve each doll’s homebound adventures with new friends. The Virginia Room is also creating a historic display for the dolls at Central Library.”

I love, love, love this idea. Is anyone else lending the dolls?

Imagine all the connections in the community- history, political, local businesses, families, aspiring writers, the list goes on and on. They have positioned this perfectly.

Of course the best news is that children who may never had the chance to sit and read stories to an American Girl doll will have the opportunity.

I guarantee there will be a lot of happy children in Arlington thanks to the library.

Infographic of US Library Tech Statistics

2013-03-07T00:07:00.000-05:00

This is a nice infographic you can use to show people, in a friendly, visual way, what libraries are really doing these days.

I'm not sure why the creators at OpenSite named it "The Future of Libraries" because the stats are all current, and there are no projections about the future. Although, if everyone in the world saw this information and realized how up-to-date and tech-savvy libraries really are, it certainly would help to ensure the future...

If you know of similar infographics full of data from other countries, please share links in the comments below. We'd love to see more!

Please include attribution to Open-Site.org with this graphic.

If you want to know more about infographics, why they work, and how to make your own, read this really practical post over at Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media.

Database vs. Internet Poster from Gale

2013-02-28T10:30:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while I run across something that makes me say, "Where has this been all my life?!?" Here's one of those things.

I found it on the Gale Cengage Learning website under its Free Resources section.

Every librarian can use this! Point to it when clueless searchers use the open web instead of your databases. Send it to officials who ask why libraries still matter when everyone has the internet.

It's free to download, so go get it! (It's a high-quality PDF, suitable for printing. You can also customize in the bottom left circle.) Put it on your public-access computer screens, your websites, and your social media posts. Print posters to hang too -- and put plenty of them outside the library!

It's PR Xchange Time Again!

2013-02-20T15:57:00.000-05:00

Kathy and I are huge fans of the annual ALA/LLAMA/PRMS PR Xchange Best of Show competition and encourage you to submit your best work.

When I worked in libraries, my team was fortunate to have won a few times and there is nothing more rewarding than being recognized for excellence amongst your peers. Of course, your director will be thrilled and the local press will print the story which means that your win will help with advocacy and community support as well. Actually, there are hundreds of reasons to enter - so don't delay! :-)

Submit your best work now!

Online entry forms must be completed, and print work postmarked no later than April 1, 2013.

Here are the details about the contest:

The annual Best of Show awards recognize the very best public relations materials produced by libraries in the past year. This year’s competition will recognize original materials produced during the 2012 calendar year. Entries will be evaluated based on content, originality, and design by a team of experts in public relations, graphic design, communications, and marketing who select the winner(s) in each category.
Winning entries will be on display during the PR Xchange program during the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. Awards will be presented to the winners during a Best of Show ceremony on that day. Award winners need not be present to win, but are encouraged to attend. The Best of Show awards are sponsored by the Library Leadership Administration and Management Association's Public Relations and Marketing Section and are overseen by the PR XChange Committee (formerly known as Swap and Shop).

For more information, please visit the Best of Show at PR Xchange page on the LLAMA website or contact Best of Show co-chairs Jamie Hazlitt and Rebecca Metzger at prxchange.bestofshow@gmail.com.

The War for Libraries Continues...

2013-02-19T11:33:00.001-05:00

Ahhh, the good old days... When libraries were the only places that held information, nobody questioned their existence. Now that we live in a world of information overload, too many people are questioning their value, and even speaking out against libraries directly because they [gasp!] cost money.

The latest big battle began on 12 February in a local UK newspaper, Sunderland Echo, with an article called "Sunderland libraries facing closure under £850,000 savings plan." The article quoted one author who was against the budget-driven closure, then it quoted another author, Terry Deary, who favors the closure:

Sunderland-born Terry Deary welcomed the plans and told the Echo the future of reading lies with e-books.He said: “Libraries have had their day. They are a Victorian idea and we are in an electronic age. They either have to change and adapt or they have to go.“I know some people like them but fewer and fewer people are using them and these are straightened times. A lot of the gush about libraries is sentimentality.

As you can imagine, discussion ensued. More papers picked up on the controversy. The Guardian, a major UK newspaper, ran an article with this heading on 13 February:

"Libraries 'have had their day', says Horrible Histories author

Author of children's bestsellers Terry Deary says they are a drain on taxpayers and authors that no longer makes sense"

Deary's main argument is that, when libraries buy books and lend them many times, they are taking money away from publishers and authors because they are cutting down on the individual sales of books. Here is the basis of his argument:

... we've got this idea that we've got an entitlement to read books for free, at the expense of authors, publishers and council tax payers. This is not the Victorian age, when we wanted to allow the impoverished access to literature. We pay for compulsory schooling to do that," said Deary...

A firestorm followed. The Guardian article is not yet a week old, yet it has been shared on Facebook 3,115 time and Tweeted 815 times (and certainly there are more shares not measured directly from the site). The article itself has 359 comments. And of course, other media have picked up on it.

The best response I've read was in The Huffington Post on 15 Feb. The essay "Why Terry Deary Is Wrong: The Case for Libraries" was written by author and blogger Foz Meadows. She makes many points that specifically answer Deary's comments, especially on his belief that libraries take money from authors.

I share all of this here to point out, once again, that we need to constantly speak up for libraries and to explain their value to everyone who has a stake in them. While it's good that there are comments in our favor when articles like this appear, in a way, that's almost too late. If everyone understood why libraries still matter in the digital age, then fewer articles like this would be written in the first place.

This is but one more battle in the continuing war for libraries. We all need to be "armed" with facts, elevator speeches, and passionate soundbites. If you don't feel that you are good at coming up with your own quotes or arguments, there are a lot that you can use.

"25 Writers on the Importance of Libraries" was gathered in response to Deary's comments.
"Author Library Stories" are short video tributes by famous authors, collected by ALA's @yourlibrary campaign for you to freely use.
"Library Stories from the General Public," also from ALA's @yourlibrary campaign, contains powerful stories to share.
The New York Times' "Room for Debate" series had an installment called "Do We Still Need Libraries?"
My Libraries Are Essential Facebook page has lots of quotes, links to articles, and images that you can share on social media. (The Toni Morrison quote below is one example.)

Please don't ever be afraid to speak up on behalf of libraries every time you have an opportunity to discuss them. If we want these institutions to continue to exist, it's vital.

Creative Commons H-ll

2013-01-27T09:44:00.000-05:00

Photo credit: Nancy Dowd

A few years ago I had been contacted by a photographer who was quite upset that I had used his photo in a slideshow without his permission. I had thought it had a CC license but when I went back to check it was clearly marked with full copyright protection.

To make a long and very scary story short, the person "let me off the hook" and I ended up taking the deck down. just to be safe, I pulled all of my presentations. It left a bad taste in my mouth for CC photos. The deck I took down had been featured by Slideshare and had an amazing traffic - ouch!

Immediately after that, if I really loved a photo and was going to use it in a high profile piece, I'd email the person directly. I seldom take the time to do that anymore and prefer to use my own photos or sites such as Microsoft.

In a post by Bobbi Newman last month she talked about her own experience with CC and shared that she too has begun to create her own library of photos to avoid a similar nightmare. Take the time to read her post but make sure you scroll down to read the comments. http://librarianbyday.net/2013/01/27/the-danger-of-using-creative-commons-flickr-photos-in-presentations/?goback=.gde_2700921_member_209399450

I love a few of the suggestions including the one from Theo Kuechel:

"There’s a really simple solution to this dilemma – Imagestamper http://s1.imagestamper.com/login.jsp

With one click on a toolbar button you can record the CC details including date, licence version and timestamps when you accessed the image on Flickr http://goo.gl/sOjqu."

Jonathon Gunson, Best Sellers Lab, offers a list of alternative sites and includes beautiful examples of the types of photos you can use here.

Here's his list in abbreviated form:
1. Stock.xchnge
2. Dreamstime Free
3. Microsoft Image Gallery
4. Kozzi Free Photo Library
5.MorgueFile Free Photos
6.Free Range Stock
7.RGB Free Stock Photos

Kathy shares list of free / cheap photos at Libraries are Essential. This post listing resources for marketers is a good one to bookmark.
http://www.librariesareessential.com/library-marketing-resources/resources/

Would love to share any other sites people are using.

Enter by Feb. 1 to Win Two $10,000 Awards

2013-01-25T14:37:00.001-05:00

There are two major marketing / public relations awards that have entry deadlines of February 1. Both are open to Canadian and American audiences. We at The M Word wanted to remind you today, since you have one week left to enter--and since there's a lot of prize money at stake!

John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award

The American Library Association (ALA) is accepting submissions for the John Cotton Dana Award (JCD) Library Public Relations Award contest. The award, which is managed by the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA) division of ALA, honors outstanding library public relations. Eight grants of $10,000 each will be awarded by the H.W. Wilson Foundation.

All sizes and types of libraries, Friends groups, or consultants can submit their strategic library communication campaigns, rebranding efforts, promotional work, etc.

JCD entries are judged on needs assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. This focus on True Marketing is what makes JCD one of my all-time favorite awards. Entrants must submit evidence of their processes, research, media releases, media cover or other results achieved, plus evaluation of the results and other documentation and supporting materials that show the scope and effectiveness of the library’s strategic communication effort.

John Cotton Dana award winners receive cash development grants from the H.W. Wilson Foundation. The JCD awards are presented during a fancy reception hosted by EBSCO Publishing during the ALA annual conference.

Entry details are here.

LibraryAware Community Award

The brand-new LibraryAware Community Award emphasizes a library’s engagement with its community and will recognize a library or library system that has demonstrated its ability to make its community “aware” of what the library can do for it—and has delivered on that promise. The award will be given by Library Journal and funded by LibraryAware, a product of EBSCO Publishing’s NoveList Division. (M Word founder Nancy Dowd now works on LibraryAware.)

This award will illuminate the value that communities throughout the U.S. and Canada derive from their libraries. It will highlight the outcomes of work by libraries—through the development of effective programs, services, partnerships, and communications—that result in better communities and an increased understanding of how libraries contribute to a community’s well-being.

The LibraryAware Community Award will be given annually, to a community of any size and its library, during National Library Week (April 14-20, 2013). It will be presented to the mayor, city/county manager, or city council president, along with the library director.

The city/county will receive a plaque identifying it as a “LibraryAware” community. The first-place library will receive $10,000. The second-place library will get $7,500 and third place will win $5,000.

Entry details are here.

So, what are you waiting for? Both of these awards will deliver big money, great press coverage, and international recognition. Enter your best work by the Feb. 1 deadline!

Take the Library to the People!

2013-01-17T15:23:00.000-05:00

"You need to take the library to the people instead of waiting for the people to come to the library."

You have heard that for years, but what have you done about it? If you haven't been moving toward that goal, then you're behind the times. Bookmobiles have been doing it for decades. And your website, or "virtual branch," does it in a way. But you'll increase your usage and visibility if you do something new or unexpected to physically deliver information and / or books to the public at their points of need.

Many public libraries around the world are taking their resources out to the people in new and interesting ways, which brings lots of media coverage and increases circulation. Here's a sampling of great projects to inspire you. They include libraries built where travellers are, libraries that move on four legs, and libraries on wheels.

Schiphol's Airport Library had lots of
users when I saw it in September 2012.

* I must start in the Netherlands, because I think their innovation is beyond compare. You've probably already heard of the Airport Library that's in Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport. It holds books, videos, movies, music, art, and more in over 30 languages, and is meant to entertain and enlighten people about Dutch culture while they're waiting for flights in Schiphol, one of the world's busiest airports. You can read about it in Marketing Library Services or watch the project manager, Dick van Tol of ProBiblio (a service organization for Dutch libraries), talk about it on This Week In Libraries.

Inside the Train Station Library (Stationsbibliotheek) there are lots of books on display, self-check-out stations, tea & coffee, reading tables, and more. Photo by Floris Porro.

* Last summer, ProBiblio did it again, this time with Europe's first library in a commuter train station in the city of Haarlem. The idea is so simple: Set up a lending library in a busy railway station and design it so that commuters can step inside, find a great book, self-check it quickly, and rush back out to meet their trains. ProBiblio did lots of research about commuters and the idea's feasibility, and it also did lots of publicity and promotion. You can read all about those details in MLS and you can watch a 3-minute video (spoken Dutch with English subtitles) report made in the library.

* Speaking of summer, libraries, and the Dutch: The Netherlands also has temporary Beach Libraries in the summer. Yes, you can borrow books, magazines, and newspapers right on the beach, whether you have a local library card or not. They simply trust you to return your materials. This travel blog explains it. Even OCLC has written about the beach libraries in a blog post on outreach.

* On a smaller scale, you've probably heard about the Biblioburro in Columbia, South America, which delivers books to very rural areas where no other library service exists. This has been around for many years. A children's book has been written about it. PBS has even made a documentary film about it!

The Camel Mobile Library, photo from Masha Hamiliton's site.

* There are other four-legged book carriers too. The Camel Mobile Library has been travelling across Kenya for a long time, serving nomadic tribes and helping with literacy. There's a blog about it. IFLA has written about it. There's even a book about it, along with video and some lovely photos here.

Market vendors who spend hours in their booths can
choose books from a shopping cart that librarians bring to them.

* You don't need a pack animal to deliver books. One of my favorites, for its simplicity and effectiveness, was the Reading at the Market in Lima, Peru. Here, library workers from the Municipalidad de Miraflores (Public Library) pushed a shopping cart around the market square. They talked to the vendors, gave them library cards, and loaned them books to read while their market stalls weren't busy. This project won one of IFLA's International Marketing Awards in 2007.

* Here's something that started in 2011:

There's a bicycle-based library in Brazil that delivers books, wireless access, and programs around Sao Paulo, especially for the homeless. The "Bicicloteca" blog page is in Portuguese (it's worth translating and reading!). You can also read about it in English on the Global Voices site. In December 2011, the Bicicloteca was elected as "social project of the year" and has been widely recognized outside of its country.

* I've posted here before about the very unique, repurposed army tank that its owner calls the "Weapon of Mass Instruction." He drives around Buenos Aires, Argentina and gives free books to people It's quite a sight, which you can see on this YouTube video.

* Here's my latest discovery: In Taipei, Taiwan, the city government has a "movable library" program that's put bookshelves in city buses. It provides books on 62 city buses, and according to an article from 11 January, it "plans to place public bookshelves in MRT stations, on MRT trains or at venues around public transportation sites." Borrowers keep books for a month, and can return them to any participating bus or any city library branch. Wonderfully convenient!

A photo of a temporary Uni setup, from its Facebook page.

* Then there's The Uni Project, a portable reading room that moves around New York City. It consists of many cubes that can be transported easily and set up in various configurations, right on the street. It's "dedicated to expanding a culture of learning beyond the walls of schools and libraries and into public space" and is referred to as a "walk-up learning space." Very mobile indeed!

This PPT is from Cathy Sanford's 2008 Calif. Library Assn.
conference presentation. It shows the machine
and how the library branded it.

* Finally, to bring this post full-circle, I'll refer back to "Library-a-Go-Go," the book-dispensing machine that Contra Costa County, California put into a commuter train station back in 2008. The project has expanded to serve a second train station and a shopping mall. Details are on its web page, which includes links to articles from both MLS and Library Journal.
I have also seen book-dispensing machines in Dutch train stations.

So these are some of the "take the library out to the people" projects that I'm aware of. And some of them are not even officially run by libraries! I have covered trains, planes, buses, bicycles, beaches, streets, and deserts, including rural, suburban, and urban areas. I'm sure there are even more -- please share comments and links about other outreach that public libraries are doing outside their own walls. As you can see, nothing is impossible!

Let's Start Anew

2013-01-02T16:16:00.002-05:00

Hello dear readers, and welcome to 2013. We have lots of fresh ideas for this year, so let's get started!

January is always a time to "wipe the old slate clean" and to start things anew. So for any of you who are new readers -- or those who just want a refresher -- I'd like to point you to the very beginning of marketing. It begins with understanding what "marketing" really is.

This guest post I wrote for the Illinois Libraries Matter blog on marketing explains and clarifies. It's called "Think You're Marketing Your Library? Let's Make Sure." I've learned over the years that most people are mistaken about what marketing is. They think they're doing it, but in reality, they're not.

Are YOU actually marketing? Here's a little True / False test:

Marketing is like an umbrella because it protects your Strategic Plan.
"Public relations" and "promotion" are different words with the same meaning.
Social media accounts are great marketing tools.
Staff members, including the Director, are your best advocates.

If you thought any of those were true, then head over & read this post right away. (There are other useful posts on that blog as well.) Feel free to ask questions here, about this or anything else.

We hope you'll keep turning to The M Word for marketing help in 2013. Happy New Year! Here's to your success!

Sign This Petition to Support School Librarians

2012-12-29T20:42:00.000-05:00

We know the importance of having a qualified librarian in each K-12 school. We've seen the studies. So let's use our voices to make it happen.

Sign this petition at WhiteHouse.gov. (The registration process is quick & easy.) Then SHARE the link everywhere and encourage others to sign it.

Your voice can make a difference. If you consider yourself an advocate, then please take just a moment to help, and then one more minute to spread the word. Thank you!

The End of the World as Librarians Know It?

2012-12-20T14:53:00.000-05:00

With great apologies to REM and their popular song...

I had a crazy thought last night about how librarians could use the whole Mayan Calendar / End of the World thing to our advantage. I posted it on a Facebook page of US librarians this morning, and some liked the idea, so I'm putting here for all of you.

Idea: Librarians could make photos / posters saying something like, "See, we're still here. Trust librarians when you need facts!" and schedule them to post on 12-22-12. Sort of like READ posters with books about Mayans.

The great Jessamyn West ran with the idea and made this fire-ball image. You are all welcome to share it, with her blessings. Or make one of your own with a meme generator or other tool.

Then I made this one that you can post today:

There are lots of funny ways you could illustrate this point. And there are links you can add to send people straight to the facts about Mayans and more:

* A short article posted today on the Library of Congress blog

* A piece from National Public Radio (NPR) that you can either read or listen to

* Find others written in your own countries!

And here's an example of how some people chose to celebrate with tours of Maya Spirit Tours...

You can use other lines too:

* Separate fact from fiction at your library.

* The library has facts to live by.

* No matter what the question is, your library has the answers. Just ask!

* Still here? We knew you would be. Learn about Mayans at your library!

Do you want to look smart? Do you want to remind people that, no matter what the question is, you have the FACTS at the library? Use these images, or make your own, to post on social media in the days ahead.

Assuming there will be days ahead ... ;-)

++ If you make some, please share links in the comments below, or post the images to my Libraries Are Essential Facebook page.

Data You Can Use in Reports & Presentations

2012-12-13T09:30:00.000-05:00

When librarians are trying to prove their value to faculty/staff, stakeholders, administrations, and funders, one of the things they need to do is to present hard data. That warm & fuzzy "everyone loves libraries" line just isn't enough anymore.

Fear not: There's lots of data out there! Here are just a few things I've recently come across:

Pew Internet Project study data, as presented by Lee Rainie.

Lee speaks at lots of conference puts many talks on SlideShare. Here's the latest:

The Changing World of Libraries

Here's another good one: How Libraries Add Value to Communities

Check the SlideShare page for many more.

Also, one of my favorite factoid sources has just been updated: Quotable Facts About American Libraries. This pocket-sized card from ALA is a MUST for any advocate. It comes in English and Spanish. You can order packs of 100 for just $10 or download a PDF and print your own for free. It's full of great lines for elevator speeches, such as these:

"Research shows the highest achieving students attend schools with well-staffed and well-funded libraries."
"Almost 89% of public library outlets now offer wireless Internet access."
"If the cost of People magazine had risen as fast as the cost of academic library periodicals since 1990, it would cost about $182 for a one-year subscription."

ALA's E-book toolkit includes graphics like this one.

Finally, there's a toolkit to help you explain e-book lending practices to the public. ALA has released the “ALA E-book Media & Communications Toolkit,” a set of materials that will support librarians in taking action in their communities. It includes sample Op-Ed pieces for newspapers, press release templates, ALA talking points, e-book data, and public service announcement scripts.

Start using this data right away to improve everyone's understanding of why your work matters so much.

Loopholes or Libraries?

2012-12-09T20:09:00.001-05:00

Just spotted this on the always-colorful French Facebook page Improbables Librairies, Improbables Bibliothèques and had to share it. I think it's a great idea, don't you?

MORE Gift Ideas for Library Lovers

2012-11-30T16:30:00.000-05:00

You know how it goes: As soon as you think you're finished putting a list together, you find more things you could have added. So it is with the library gift list that I posted last week. I just spotted a few items in a Signals catalog that were so cool, I had to add them.

Wooden Card Catalog

If you have friends who keep saying they'd like one of those old-fashioned card catalogs to store things in at home, I've found one. You can buy this one new (no skulking around libraries asking if they're willing to sell their old ones). It's made to store CDs, but of course you could use the drawers for other things. There's a 12-drawer model for $200 and a 24-drawer model for $270.

Exclusive Shirts

This Signals catalog claims that these two shirts are exclusive to their company. So if you want to get a shirt that nobody else in your town is wearing yet, check these out.

The Library: It's Like Taking Your Brain to the Gym

Pretty cool, huh?

Libraries are my candy store

How can this not make you hungry for knowledge or entertainment?

In both cases, the T-shirt version costs $20 and the Sweatshirt version costs $30. I like them because they say great things about libraries and make them seem fun and interesting. With these, you can be promoting libraries simply by wearing them out in public! And they'd probably be good conversation-starters too. (I've written about using t-shirts to promote libraries before.)

If you have any super-fun gift ideas, share them in the comments!

2012 Nonprofit Tagline Award Winners

2012-11-28T09:47:00.000-05:00

The winners of the 2012 Nonprofit Tagline Awards have been announced!

As you may remember from posts earlier this year, Nancy & I were asked to be some of the judges for this contest, and we've been mentioning it throughout the voting process. Now you can go look at the winner list. And YES, there are some library organizations among them.

The 18 winners of the 2012 Getting Attention Nonprofit Tagline Award Winners, presented in this brief video, were selected by 3,300 voters. They were selected from 63 nonprofit tagline finalists identified by our expert panel of judges.

You can use this info when working on your own taglines.

Gift Ideas for Library Lovers

2012-11-21T13:12:00.000-05:00

For many of us around the world, gift-giving holidays are almost here again. With them comes the question, "What can I give to the library fans and librarians in my life?" If you don't want to give another reading lamp or bookstore gift certificate, I have some fresh suggestions for you!

Since this blog is about library marketing & promotion, I especially want to suggest gift ideas that support and fund library-related organizations. Spending a little money with them will not only make your gift recipients happy, but it will also support good causes.

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SantaThing

SantaThing uses this great photo on its site.

Do you know the term "Secret Santa"? That's when you give a gift anonymously (nobody knows who the "Santa"/giver is). If you like this idea of sneaky fun that does a good deed, check out SantaThing 2012 from LibraryThing.

The site explains: "The idea is simple. You pay into the SantaThing system (choose $15, $20, $25, $30, $35, or $40). You play Santa to a LibraryThing member we pick for you, and choose books for them. Someone else (secret!) does the same for you. LibraryThing does the ordering, and you get the joy of giving AND receiving books!

Sign-ups close Thursday, November 29 at 4pm Eastern time. Shortly afterwards, we will tell you who you are matched up with by sending a profile comment and you can start picking books. So get the details here now!

Picking closes Thursday, December 6th at 12pm Eastern time. As soon as the picking ends, the ordering begins, and we’ll get all the books out to you as soon as we can."

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Tattooed Youth Librarians of Massachusetts 2013 Calendar

For all the body-art fans on your list, consider getting this 18-month calendar of tattooed librarians. It costs $21 + $5 shipping. The Youth Services Section of the Massachusetts Library Association took on this project, and profits go to MLA. Learn more about it, see some photos & videos, and observe how the group is promoting their product here, on its Facebook page. Then, order it here.

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This Week In Libraries

This Week In Libraries is the world's first internet talk show for librarians. TWIL's Dutch hosts, Jaap and Erik, interview library thought leaders and post each week's episode for free. Their mission is to make inspiration and innovation accessible to all library workers around the world.

Donations of any amount more than $1 may be made, in any world currency, via PayPal at the show's fan-created Tumblr site. Help keep this ground-breaking show on the air!

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Hurricane Sandy Recovery Donations

Urban Libraries Unite

The New York-based advocacy group Urban Libraries Unite has created a "Sandy Children’s Book Relief" wish-list via Powell's Books online. This makes it easy to order the book(s) of your choice, in any price range ($5 and up), and have them shipped to the library that needs it. You may qualify for free shipping too.

Suffolk County Library Staff Hurricane Relief

The Suffolk Cooperative Library System in New York state is accepting donations to help its own staff members who suffered major personal property / home losses due to Hurricane Sandy. Online donations in any amount more than $1 are greatly appreciated.

Rebuilding New Jersey's Libraries

The New Jersey Library Association has set up a way to donate in order to help its many coastal-area libraries rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Once damage assessment is completed, NJLA will distribute the funds among the libraries that need it most. You can contribute either online via credit card or PayPal, or by mailing a check.

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Library Advocacy Store on Cafe Press

At this online store you can order t-shirts, stickers, buttons, mugs, tote bags, and lots of other items, all designed with your favorite library sayings and pictures. So if you need an iPhone case that says "Party Like a Librarian," a hat that says "Librarians Against DRM," or even pajamas that declare "Casanova was a Librarian," this is the place. All profits go toward advocacy efforts.

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Librarian Avengers Store on Cafe Press

Here's another online store with fun sayings on fun items. Want a onesie, some buttons, or a mug with attitude? These products declare to all that librarians are "natural language search engines" and that this is "the profession of the over-educated."

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Brown Bag Design Studios Store on Cafe Press

While I know everyone can search Cafe Press on their own, I had to add one more site because it's the one that offers one of my favorite designs: The multi-colored, Google-like logo that says "Librarians" instead. I loved my t-shirt so much that I made it the cover of my Libraries Are Essential Facebook page.

Brown Bag Design Studio's Cafe Press store has that design on many items -- even in Spanish! It also has lots of others you might enjoy. Other designs say "What happens in the library stays in the library" and "Librarians love Obama."

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Great Moments in Library History products

The Library Resources Group is offering a series of whimsical mugs, posters, and notepads that center on the cartoons from the Great Moments in Library History 2013 calendar. This is a for-profit vendor, but that doesn't make the items any less funny.

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The 'M' Word - Marketing Libraries

Study Your Users With Ready-Made Studies

Take 2 Minutes to Vote for Libraries (US)

Book Review: The Library Marketing Toolkit by Ned Potter

This is a book you will want to read front to back and then leave on your desk for a handy reference.

BCLS Grand Opening

2013 John Cotton Dana Award Winners

Celebrate Preservation Week

PSAs for NLW 2013

Is it a library or a music studio? Both!

Have you seen some exciting copy lately promoting library services or programs? We'd love to see it!

Reminder: 'Best of Show' Contest Deadline Is April 1

Is Your Library Lending American Girl Dolls Yet?

I saw Arlington Public Library's New Program - it's simply brilliant!

Libraries are always struggling with creative ways to celebrate Women's History Month. Well this program cries "winner" on so many levels that I can't even begin to count them.

Infographic of US Library Tech Statistics

Database vs. Internet Poster from Gale

It's PR Xchange Time Again!

The War for Libraries Continues...

Creative Commons H-ll

Enter by Feb. 1 to Win Two $10,000 Awards

Take the Library to the People!

Let's Start Anew

Sign This Petition to Support School Librarians

The End of the World as Librarians Know It?

Data You Can Use in Reports & Presentations

Loopholes or Libraries?

MORE Gift Ideas for Library Lovers

2012 Nonprofit Tagline Award Winners

Gift Ideas for Library Lovers

This is a book you will want to read front to back
and then leave on your desk for a handy reference.

I saw Arlington Public Library's New Program -
it's simply brilliant!