Need Help in Writing Your Library Brochure?

Tanya Feddern-Bekcan [University of Miami (FL) School of Medicine] asked members of the MEDLIB-L electronic list for suggestions for what should (or could) be included in a library brochure. Here is a summary of the replies she received.

Note: You don't need to put all of these into every brochure. You should have a basic brochure with numbers 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,13 (just the who can use the library part), 33, and a selection of 18 and 21. Adding 27 and 28 would be good, too.
Other brochures could have more specialized information, such as "More About the Library" with the basic information plus 1, 9,13,14, and 20; "Library Services" with the basic information 16,17, and 18; "The Library: Wherever You Want It" with the basic informaton plus 15,22,23,30 and 32. You can think of others, I'm sure.

1. Library Mission/Vision Statement
2. Hours
3. Main phone number
4. Physical address
5. Post Office address with campus locator code (for interoffice mail)
6. Main email address
7. Website address
8. Director’s name
9. Librarians’ names (with/without email addresses or phone number extensions)
10. Campus map showing library location
11. Layout map of the library (indicating location of study rooms, stacks, etc.)
12. NLM Classifications
13. Library Rules (who can access library in person or online, children accompanied by adult, no food/drink, computer usage rules, badge worn inside the library, etc.) - only the "who can access the library" is necessary
14. Library Policies & Procedures (checkout, donating materials, renewal, placing a hold, fines, etc.)
15. Website URLs or databases: with or without annotations (PubMed, MEDLINEplus, etc.)
16. Listing of the number of books, electronic resources, databases, etc.
17. Listing of number of computers and other library equipment (copiers, scanners, paper cutter, etc.)
18. Listing of library services (training, ILL, designing/printing professional posters, document delivery, copying, providing guidance relating to copyright and the ethical use of information, teaching curriculum-related information skills with you, etc.)
19. Listing of librarian duties (part of healthcare team, contribute to patient care and safety, serve on hospital committees, share new resources & ideas, etc.)
20. Referring to librarians as masters-prepared, certified, faculty, professional medical librarians, etc.
21. Quotes by pleased patrons identified as “Molecular Biologist,” “Assistant Professor of Medicine,” etc.
22. Instructions for Remote Access
23. Search tips
24. Description of the EBM/Research process
25. Funded/Donated items and the name of the donor/funding source
26. Awards the library has received
27. “Coupon” for a free library service or candy
28. Tear-off bookmark that lists the library contact info, hours, and services
29. Information prescription form
30. Training request form
31. Top 10 Reasons to Use Your Library
32. Image of the library homepage with its features pointed out and annotated
33. Date the brochure was last revised

SUCCESSFUL LIBRARY PR EFFORTS

Recently I came across two articles describing very successful outreach or public relations efforts by academic libraries. Both appeared in Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship, the quarterly online-only journal from the Science and Technology Section of the Association of College & Research Libraries (a part of the American Library Association). They don’t have an RSS feed, but you can sign up for their mailing list which is used only to notify you of new issues of the journals. If you work in a sci-tech library, you should read this journal.

The first article is Science Experiments: Reaching Out to Our Users, by six science librarians from the University of Washington, Seattle (one of whom is now at Dartmouth College). A user survey discovered that many of their constituents weren’t aware of the library’s services, that most didn’t want to come into the physical library, and that the library’s web site was not in the users’ normal workflow. So, the librarians decided to “meet them in their spaces, lure them into our spaces,” and “use the middle ground that is the Internet.” They tried some really neat outreach efforts: setting up shop in the atrium of a building, geocaching, and setting up a blog, a virtual reading room, and a library presence on a departmental website.

Creating a BUZZ: Attracting SCI/TECH Students to the Library! is authored by eight librarians at Georgia Tech University in Atlanta. I was impressed that the library has an Information Services Marketing Group.” This group came up with the following “dynamic initiatives:” “an afternoon speaker series spotlighting exciting campus research” and “T-Paper, a hip, student-oriented restroom newsletter" (emphasis mine). The article has great photos of their efforts.

URLs:
Mailing list signup: http://listserver.library.ucsb.edu/mailman/listinfo/istl-updates
Science Experiments: http://www.istl.org/08-fall/article1.html
Creating a BUZZ: http://www.istl.org/06-winter/article2.html

FREE DOWNLOADABLE POSTERS

The State Library of Iowa has several downloadable posters with “fantastic photos and quotes [that] can be used by any library—no need to customize.” Most were developed with a grant by the Illinois State Library using funds provided by the federal Library Services and Technology Act.

Some of the ones available are Can't judge a book by its cover! (teen with orange hair) Who would have thought there's actually cool stuff here? (for teens) Books are good for young children...and not just for teething. (for preschoolers) For people who like to read the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth (nonfiction) You mean it...we're really going to the Library? (toddler) Today's Library. Think More. Summertime...and the reading is easy (for adults) He is Into Needlepoint (tattooed man) Tutor doesn't have to be a scary word Young Latino man (in Spanish) Family Destination (in Spanish) Hot days. Cool books. Great prizes. Young girl in star-shaped sunglasses. We think your question deserves more than, "Uh, I think that might be, like in aisle four?" (to highlight helpful staff) It's okay if you don't know what URL stands for. Really. My Library is the Greatest Because... (download and print, let customers write their comments on why they value their libraries, great information for annual reports, budget presentations, etc.)

URL: http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/ld/tell-library-story/Props/posters

SELLING POINT FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES

In these trying economic times, public libraries need all the help they can get. Alice Sneary of OCLC has posted a great way to promote a public library on It's All Good, OCLC's blog.

"I know all too well the whole 'the library is free' mentality is a double-edged sword--it's free but it must be funded adequately."

[Actually, the public library isn't free--it's prepaid with tax dollars. Judy]

"But I was thinking that the economic downturn could be just the thing for libraries to use as a springboard to make their case to the American [and any other] public:
1. We are a vital city service--as important as electricity or clean water. [I'm not too sure about this one.]
2. Use us in good times and in bad.
3. We welcome all the people of the community here for technology access.
4. Hope lives here, at the library--hope for improvement.

"When all the headlines you see are about closing doors and belt-tightening, we can stand out from all the bad news; our doors are open, we are the place to come for education, entertainment, information--basically, we are the place!"

URL: http://scanblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/economic-downturn-could-be-uplifting.html

FANTASTIC PUBLICITY PIECE!

I saw this one in Library Journal (15 March 2008).

"The find engine. Stop Searching--Start Finding."

Comment from LJ contributor Roy Tennant: "Only librarians like to search. Everyone else likes to find." (emphasis mine)

The slogan is from the Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Public Library (Cleveland area, but not including the city of Cleveland).

Note: CCPL once used a slogan similar to the one I used at my last place of work. Mine read"The Bailey Library...more than you thought!" and theirs was "The CCPL...more than you think!"

GREAT PR IDEA--POST CARDS!

This is such a good idea I’m sure you would like to try it. But check with its creator, Rebecca Metzger [Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, USA] , first.

“For the past seven years, the Lafayette College Libraries have been creating and mailing humorous collectible postcards to students as a way of publicizing PRA (Personalized Research Assistance) sessions, which are essentially individual research consultations with reference librarians. PRA cards get the faces of reference librarians out to students in a comedic format that shakes up the stereotype of librarians as stodgy and serious, hopefully making us more approachable. The first PRA postcard came about informally. As a joke, one of the librarians mocked up a spoof of the film Conan the Barbarian and the tagline, "Make an appointment with a reference barbarian today!" It was basic humor, it was typical of the library staff at Lafayette, and it just kind of stuck.

"The postcards, which are mailed to all students a few weeks into each semester, feature the faces of reference librarians superimposed on movie or TV stills, thus appealing to the visual and pop culture interests of most youth. On the back of each card is a URL directing students to an online sign-up form and witty text advertising the service that plays on slogans from the movie or TV show. For example, the recent "Mary PRAppins" card reads: "We may not be able to get the chim-chiminey back in your chim-chim-charoo, but a Personalized Research Assistance session with a reference librarian can help you find the books, journals, and online resources you need for a well-researched project that will make your professor say: SupercaliPRAgilisticexpilalidocious!"

"After that initial postcard, student workers were brought on board to execute the Photoshop manipulation and layout of the card, as well as to coordinate the printing and mailing with campus Reprographic services. It's time-consuming work for them but more fun than shelving books, and it helps bridge the generational gap.

"For the first few years, a surge in appointments immediately after the mailing date was a clear indicator of the cards' impact. When the PRA cards hit their mailboxes, which are all located in one setting, there is a mass visual impact even if the majority of the cards end up in the recycling bin. As the branded service has become more integrated on campus, there's less of an obvious peak in appointments immediately after the mailing. Traffic to the online PRA sign-up form is steady now throughout the semester, and generated not just from the cards but from outreach during instruction sessions, reference desk interactions, articles in parent newsletters, targeted correspondence with honors students, word-of-mouth, and the library website."

Thanks to Jill Stover and her blog, Library Marketing: Thinking Outside the Book, for posting this.

URLs:

Entire post: http://librarymarketing.blogspot.com/2008/01/

what-bunch-of-cards-guest-post-from.html

Some of the PRA cards: http://www.lafayette.edu/~library/pra/gallery.html

USING INTERESTING ITEMS AS AN ANNUAL OUTREACH TOOL

Brian Mathews [Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA] has a great idea on his blog, The Ubiquitous Librarian. At the end of the year, why not create a top 10 list of “interesting” or “important” items—tailored to your customers. You could put the URL and a short annotation—such as why you chose the item. Some ideas: |who won major awards in the field? what are people blogging about? what should everyone know about? And don’t just post it in the library—drop it off in their offices, send it along with books they request, email it, or leave it in the break room. Make it look good! (one page, photos, bright colors). If your customers fall into different disciplines—make different handouts for each not just a generic top 10. Yes, this might take some time, but think how it can make you look relevant and useful.

URL: http://theubiquitouslibrarian.typepad.com/the_

ubiquitous_librarian/2007/11/using-interesti.html

GOOD STUFF FOR LAW LIBRARIANS...

The April 2007 issue of AALL Spectrum, the journal of the American Association of Law Libraries, has some especially good articles. (v. 11, no. 6)

Nevers, Shawn G., Promote Your Electronic Resources: Hot to get more bang for your e-resource buck (Practicing Law Librarianship column), pp. 4-5, 16.
Long, Ann Walsh, All Press is Good Press: Promote the profession by writing articles for your local bar, pp. 6-7, 25.
Lynn-Nelson, Gayle, The Next Generation of Learners: Training issues law librarians face in the 21st century, pp. 8-11.

All three articles are available for download. You should read them!

URL: http://www.aallnet.org/products/pub_sp0704.asp

CREATE PERSONALIZED STICKY NOTES FOR YOUR LIBRARY

I was reading my March-April issue of Congregational Libraries Today, the journal of the Church and Synagogue Library Association, and came across this great idea for making your own sticky notes. It comes from their president, Maryann Barth [New Port Richey, Florida]. (This isn’t the first good idea I got from this organization—consider joining just for the magazine. Membership is just US$35 for a personal membership. A real bargain.

To make the notes, create the text on your computer, then print them on colored paper, four to a sheet. Pale colors (pink, yellow, green, or blue) work best. After printing, cut the paper in quarters. When you need to use the note, just wipe a glue stick across the top. (You could probably print them on 3-M’s PostIt© 8-1/2x11 paper, but this way you can use them as regular notes if they don’t need to be sticky.)

She suggests printing the name of your library, address, location, phone number, and hours. I would add your name, email, and website. Also, your logo and/or motto. You can request a free Word template by email from libraries@distantwind.com (a graphics company—I haven’t tried this). Barth ends her article, “These notes get a lot of attention. Enjoy your creativity and get your message out!” Amen.

URL: Church & Synagogue Library Association: http://cslainfo.org/membership.html

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK RESOURCES

Ideas from the Public Relations Committee, Private Law Libraries Special Interest Group, American Association of Law Libraries.

URL: http://www.aallnet.org/sis/pllsis/commgrp/LibWeek.asp

GREAT PUBLICITY PIECE

The St. Joseph County Public Library, South Bend, Indiana has posted a wonderful list on its website and blog. It lists the “Top 10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know Your Library Offered.”

10. Museum passes!
9. Art for your walls!
8. Books!
7. Movies!
6. Magazines!
5. Children’s toys and games!
4. Your family!
3. Gaming!
2. iPods! (And audiobooks to go with them.)
And the number one thing you probably didn’t know your library had:
1. Delivery! (Homebound Service, Readmobile, drive-through window)

Their list is appropriate for public libraries, but I am sure you can come up with a similar one for your own library. Take a look at it and be inspired!

URL: http://libraryforlife.org/blogs/lifeline/?p=2651

ARE YOU A LIBRARY LOVER?

How about changing 14 February, normally St. Valentine’s Day, into Library Lovers Day? The idea originated with librarians in New South Wales (the state in which Sydney lies) and was described by Sue Hutley, Executive Director of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), in her editorial in the December issue of the ALIA magazine, inCite. ALIA is taking it national in 2007 and even is creating a website for it (http://www.librarylovers.org.au) although it is not working yet.

Promotional ideas include wrapping a book for a blind date with a customer, Valentine postcards for readers to complete with why they love their library, flowers for customers, or red heart stickers [I my library, perhaps?]. I’m sure you can think of many more ideas. This should work in ANY type of library and will certainly bring your customers’ attention to you and your library.