TWO GREAT MARKETING RESOURCES

PROQUEST MARKETING TOOLKIT FOR ACADEMIC LIBRARIES

Last year ProQuest introduced a marketing toolkit for public libraries—now there’s one for academic libraries. There is “how-to” advice on marketing your library’s online resources, from Beth Dempsey, library marketing expert, speaker, and author; database descriptions that speak “patron” rather than library language; customizable promotional flier, advertisement, poster, press release and radio script; and a digital “commercial” that can be downloaded to the library’s homepage.

The Library Marketing Toolkit was recently mailed to academic libraries across the United States and is available as a free download at http://www.il.proquest.com/division/libraryadvocacy.shtml.

LIBRARY WEBSITE BEST PRACTICES AND RESOURCES

Marylaine Block presented Beyond the Basics: Making the Most of Your Library Website to the Arizona Library Association on 14 November 2007. She has graciously posted many of the examples and resources on her website. Included are: examples of good, user-centered design; use of prime display area for most important content from the users’ point of view; use of movement or animation; library terms that users understand; show off the physical library on your web site (on your main page, with virtual tours, with webcams); put your users in the picture; new site announcement services; library-created databases, digital text collections, topical guides, tutorials, voter guides and community issue guides; building projects: annual reports; strategic plans, surveys made public; blogs; RSS feeds, wikis, invitations to comment or add content; interactive quizzes, online contests and discussions; use of IM or text messaging; personalized portals and other services; toolbars; going where your customers are; websites for specific groups (kids, teens, teachers, parents, seniors; podcasts and videocasts; and other resources on library website design.

Believe me, you won’t find this many links on website design in any other place—at least not for free. Thank you so much Marylaine.

URL: http://marylaine.com/libsite.html