Libraries are integral part of a community's infrastructure

This fantastic video from Minnesota talks about the impact of cutting LGA (local community funding) and places libraries right there with firefighters. This is what OCLC's report meant when they said we needed to demonstrate how libraries are an integral part of the community infrastructure and a tough but essential tax cost.

You can view the video and hear other stories at the LGA web site.

Metadata Can Save the World!

This video is just too fun not to share. It shows "Team Digital Preservation saving the world from nuclear disaster caused by the work of Team Chaos...."

I guess if I'm posting this, it should have something to do with marketing or promotion, right? Well... ummm.... Next time someone wonders why libraries are still important in the digital age, tell them that it's the highly skilled librarians who will preserve the metadata that'll save the world someday. There, that oughtta work...

Darien Library- transparency in action

I am always touting the need for transparency in our communication with the public and often I hear that libraries are deathly afraid that horrible things will happen if they allow our customers to voice their opinions publicly.  Here's a great example of how transparency plays out when people don't agree with a policy.

Not only are they green, but Darien Library is transparent.  After posting signs for preferred parking for hybrid cars, they heard feedback that people were confused and maybe even a little upset over the new arrangement.



Of course it never helps when the NY Times runs an article with these kind of comments:

"Some people thought the library was making a political statement and did not understand it was part of the model for LEED application,” Ms. Berry said. “I think they thought we were making more than a green statement.”
Zengo, 74, who has lived in Darien for 36 years, said he was outraged by the library’s decision to designate special spots for hybrid vehicles. A retired banker who drives a 1994 Cadillac, he said the spots were discriminatory.


“Why should someone who can afford that kind of car suddenly get special treatment?” Mr. Zengo said. “I have no problem with parking spaces for the elderly or for a young parent with an infant or handicapped drivers. But this is over the top. What about somebody who can’t afford to go out and buy a fuel-efficient car or somebody with a large family that has to drive an S.U.V.? They suffer. It’s not fair.” 

But Darien isn't only about new ideas, they are also about being responsive to feedback and sure enough posted this to their blog that same day:

"Today's Connecticut section of the New York Times features an article about Darien Library's hybrid parking spots.  The article references the feedback on our website about the spots and the confusion surrounding the types of vehicles that our users are encouraged to park in them.

After considering the feedback, we'd like to clarify several issues and make you aware of some of the changes we've made in response.

• The preferred parking spots are not exclusively for hybrid cars, even though the sign says so.  They are meant to be used by environmentally-friendly vehicles.  Please see the list of 474 cars that are LEED certified for eligibility for preferred parking.
• No punitive action is taken when a non-preferred vehicle parks in a preferred spot.
  
  
  If no other parking space is available, we invite visitors to park in those spots, regardless of the type of vehicle they're driving.
  
  The preferred parking spaces are part of a larger "green building" initiative that includes a number of proactive steps that the library has taken to benefit the environment. 
  
  
  
  Dot Kelly, one of our board members, recently wrote an article that explains the LEED gold certification process. In response to comments and feedback, we have already moved three preferred parking spaces away form the building into the middle of the parking lot.  Additionally, because of the confusion caused by the wording of our current signs ("Preferred parking for hybrid vehicles"), we have ordered new signs that will simply say "Preferred Parking" and feature a car with a green leaf (see image).  The signs are designed to allow our visitors to make the determination as to whether they are entitled to park in those spots.  Though we hope that our users will respect the preferred parking, we want everyone who comes to the library to feel welcomed and apologize if our current signs sent a message to the contrary.
  
  
  Our new signs will be installed before the end of the month..."

Ah the beauty of authentic, responsive communication. For any library worried that being transparent will create problems, this a perfect example of how in fact it helps to resolve problems. Hats off to Darien Library! 

A Wonderful Example of Asking Users What They Want

Everyone who decides what libraries look like and how they work should be spending lots of time asking their patrons and potential users what they want the libraries to be before taking any action. Today I want to point you to an amazing example of that. Check out this post over at Designing Better Libraries. It explains the many things that libraians at Georgia Tech did to get input while redesigning their much-used second floor.


Library planners used not only focus groups and surveys but also mind-mapping, open forums, storyboarding, and furniture demos while asking students what they wanted the rennovated space to be like. The post author, Brian Mathews, also did something that's as simple as it is rare: He grabbed his laptop, left his office, and went out to "live among" his users. He found the experience very worthwhile:

Living, working, and going native was a tremendous benefit for me—not only with this project but for a richer understanding of students and their library usage. It’s one thing for us to talk about the library, but another to actually use the spaces and services that we provide.

Why am I mentioning all this on The M Word? This, my friends, is the essence of the True Marketing that I preach. The first step is getting to know users, asking what they want (thereby starting to get their buy-in), and designing your products and services specifically to fill their needs. What Brian and his colleagues are doing at Georgia Tech is a shining example of true marketing in action.

And even if you claim not to have the time, money, support, or whatever to do such in-depth studies, there's no reason you can't simply "go native" like Brian did. It's easy and it's free! Grab your laptop and your mobile device, disguise yourself by trading in your nametag for a baseball cap, and go use your space like a patron does. Can you find a power outlet in the area you want to sit? Is the furniture comfy? Is it too loud or too quiet? Look at how others are working around you. Watch and learn.

How Marketing Can Save You Money

In the latest issue of my Marketing Library Services newsletter, I have an article called "Five Ways You Can Save Money By Marketing." I thought it was important to make this point now. And in fact, yesterday I got a lovely email from a reader saying that she felt the same way, and that the article "really cemented" the way she was thinking about this topic.

It begins like this:

Everyone knows that times are tough now, especially in America but also in other countries that are feeling the effects of the faltering U.S. economy. I’m tired of hearing and thinking about it, as many of you probably are too. But I wanted to address it here in Marketing Library Services because there’s an important message you should hear: When you’re low on money, marketing is one of the last things you should cut from your budget.

You might be shaking your head right now and thinking that either I just made a mistake or that you read that sentence wrong. But no, I meant it. This is the time to do more—and more careful—marketing and promotion than ever before. In fact, if done right, these actions can even help your library save money. Let me explain how.

If you're uncertain about this point, or if you need something to help convince colleagues not to take your marketing money and use it on other things, this might help.

Any stories to share? Comment here!