tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16726900.post4910536466929543676..comments2024-01-18T12:05:00.152-05:00Comments on The 'M' Word - Marketing Libraries: If only... a tale marketing won't resolveNancy Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05334494927083951535noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16726900.post-11691142604214747062008-11-21T14:08:00.000-05:002008-11-21T14:08:00.000-05:00THANK YOU for posting this. Even if I were already...THANK YOU for posting this. Even if I were already aware of our library's many inadequacies (some of them, at least), these things tend to get pushed off to the side as we concentrate on day-to-day operations. I appreciate being shaken up a bit, and reminded of all the improvements in need of serious, serious consideration. I may not be able to make any major changes at my library just yet, but erecting a COOKBOOKS sign over the 641.5's would certainly be an easy step in the right direction, and I can make other small changes that will help our customers to feel more comfortable here. Thanks again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16726900.post-20028091842024007452008-11-18T15:32:00.000-05:002008-11-18T15:32:00.000-05:00Hi Nancy,So many great points! We have a very sim...Hi Nancy,<BR/><BR/>So many great points! We have a very similar outlook -- but we already knew that, didn't we ;-)<BR/><BR/>I think you've, at least implicitly, pointed up the difficulty of marketing Libraries, as opposed to marketing a library. There is a real range of quality from library to the next, so it's very difficult to mount a statewide or nationwide library marketing campaign that amounts to anything more than, "Go the library, it might not be as bad as you remember (but then again it might be.)"<BR/><BR/>I guess another way of saying that is "All Marketing is Local". Since each library is serving a distinct population and offering unique mix of services, each library must find its own path.<BR/><BR/>Your main points hold, of course. Regardless of how big/small rich/poor a library is, it behooves them to start from the customers' experience and evaluate everything from that perspective. Ask, "Why would anyone choose to be here, rather than at Borders? Or the movies? Or home surfing the web?" Ask, "Why would anyone choose to use our website? What experiences are our customers having? How do they feel about themselves in our presence?"<BR/><BR/>I'm in partial agreement with you about the database (and OPAC) situation. We need to do whatever we can to make these products more usable. But I also think we can get more value out of them through some creative re-packaging. Maybe offer database training as part of library "Super Searcher" certificate program. (It would have to be done right--fun, empowering, etc.) Or maybe that's just re-arranging the deck chairs...Peter Bromberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04049942096676844442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16726900.post-38019659235251475512008-11-17T17:22:00.000-05:002008-11-17T17:22:00.000-05:00You have many valid points. I would say the proble...You have many valid points. I would say the problem that most libraries run into is limited resources. Yes public access computers have timers. There isn't enough for everybody. Believe me, if I didn't have long lines of people waiting for computers, I would let them have it all day, but that does't happen. <BR/><BR/>I would say the biggest problem that libraries have is that we are a tool to use, and then people are done. They don't often see the overall value, just what it does for them individually. That's all they care about. Libraries can't often meet at the individual level, or least they cannot do it very quickly. (again limited resource)<BR/><BR/>Maricopa County is a good library system to check out. They are a model for what you are talking about. Deweyless libraries, the fact that you can purchase a book through their website (a Polaris feature) and have a percent donated to the library, Polaris is coming out with handheld check-out (walk around with a device and check out on the fly), and other cool stuff, http://www.mcldaz.org/default.aspxjdscott50https://www.blogger.com/profile/04229906352079565341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16726900.post-15781824416814751302008-11-17T09:12:00.000-05:002008-11-17T09:12:00.000-05:00Good rant, Nancy! At the heart of it is the point ...Good rant, Nancy! <BR/><BR/>At the heart of it is the point I keep trying to drive home too: Step One of any library activity or plan should be to ASK CUSTOMERS WHAT THEY WANT. People in our profession continue to offer what they <I>think</I> people want, and they just don't realize how often they are wrong. <BR/><BR/>If libraries would work on becoming what people want, instead of what librarians think people need, much of our image problem would become a thing of the past.~Kathy Dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16148885286539771057noreply@blogger.com