Dear All,
Apologies for cross posting.
Thank you to all those who replied to my appeal for information on the different marketing methods used by libraries and any policies they would be willing to let me see.
Apologies for the lateness of this reply. Please find below a summary of the replies I received.
Marketing methods used by libraries or that are being considered:
- Inductions (general for whole organisation or more specific for certain potential users)
- Word of mouth
- Training sessions (can highlight the possibility of tailoring the session to individuals’ needs) [Library run training or feeding into parent organisation’s training schedule]
- Providing equipment/service not available elsewhere e.g. scanner, broadband ….
- Networking
- Brochures / Library guides
- Flyers / Posters / Display boards
- Writing articles
- Direct personal selling
- Press releases
- Showcasing collections/services at organisation’s events
- Library website
- Online library bulletins
- Global or targeted emails/ mailing lists
- Current Awareness bulletins
- Electronic TOC
- Promotional book lists
- Using groups / committees for word of mouth (e.g. User groups)
- Use national campaigns / celebrations for a focus (e.g. Mental Health Day)
- (Directorate or the Library’s own) newsletter / magazine
- Outreach to off site locations
- ‘Freebies’ - pens, pencils ect.
- Email signatures
- Attending meetings & promoting library services
- Signage – electronic or physical
- Possible collaboration with other libraries to purchase marketing materials
- Target marketing to specific service users/audiences
- Focus on some aspect relevant to users and how the library can help
- Touring/going around their organisation to promote the library (e.g. visiting wards)
- Information clinics – going to a location outside the library and offering to give immediate assistance to anyone with queries about accessing/searching and using library services
- 1 librarian also noted interest in using Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites – but is prevented due to their organisation blocking/banning such sites.
Other tips received:
Consider the different users you may have and think of the problems/needs they may have, how the library can help solve/reduce them and then do targeted marketing to this segment of users.
You could try changing the title of a training course /strap line used in an advert to appeal to different users (without necessarily having to change the content of the training session / advert)
Thank you also to Colin Engel, Elizabeth Stitt and David Newman who sent me copies for their current or draft marketing strategies/plans.
Regards,
Frances Griffiths
Health Library Deputy Manager,
Clinical Education Centre,
University Hospital of North Staffordshire,
Newcastle Road,
Stoke-on-Trent,
Staffordshire,
ST4 6QG
Tel: 01782 556565
Health Library website: http://www.keele.ac.uk/healthlibrary/
Email: [log in to unmask]
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