Week 15 Prompt
What do you think are the best ways to market your library's
fiction collection? Name and describe three ways you do or would like to market
your library or your future library's fiction. These can be tools, programs,
services, displays - anything that you see as getting the word out.
Book Displays
Book displays
are something that can grab people’s attention as soon as they walk in the
door. Personally speaking, I always make sure to give them a look, even if I am
not looking for anything in the genre or subject. You never know what you are
going to find there. Book displays really market to the frequent library patrons
since the display can only be seen in the library. These displays could easily market
different genres or any fiction story that fits the display theme. I like when
the displays change because it is something new and exciting most of the time. Other
times its relevant to something, news, pop culture, etc., but still easy to
find something relatable.
Social Media
Social
media is a growing way that people market their library. Facebook reaches a lot
more people than a typical book display would. Facebook not only allows you to reach those
non-frequent patrons, but it’s a platform to post new and exciting material
daily. One could even get patrons to interact or engage in conversations about
books, displays, or any other posted material. Facebook is also good for customer
feedback about the library and its services.
Community Gatherings
Many communities
have some sort of gathering throughout the year. Whether it be the county fair,
trunk or treating for Halloween, or a food festival, a city/town usually has
some activities that involve the community in some way. Since the library is
community based, it would be beneficial for the library to participate in these
activities in some way. For example, for the trunk or treating idea, the
library could participate and give out bookmarks to kids along with the candy that
gets passed out. It is a small gesture but it gets the library involved and out
there, catering to those whom the library was for in the first place.
I didn't even think about community gatherings as an opportunity to market the collection! That's a good idea. You could make bookmarks featuring books for a range of ages or for different genres and it would get the kids and parents thinking about what to check out next.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I always like to see them out there because it reminds people that the library still exists. Some people forget that.
DeleteI love using social media to promote our collection. I'd enjoy surveying patrons soon to see how the posts have influenced the decisions our patrons make. We got some of our patrons talking about audiobooks on our Facebook page this week. I enjoyed reading their interactions!
ReplyDeleteYou are right on when it comes to Social Media. I know personally I check FB and Instagram everday. There are ads and suggestion on all the platforms and this is a great way for libraries to market themselves, because everyone checks these out all the time.
ReplyDeleteI also posted about book displays and social media being great tools for promotion. Social gatherings are also a fun way to promote! I LOVE the “trunk or treat” idea and I’m sure that would be a hit in the children's department!
ReplyDeleteIt is great to take pictures of displays and post them on Social Media, it really helps to excite those people as well. Participating in community events is something I do with my job: summer time I spend 7 days (38 hours) at our local fair in the merchant building. we have flyers with books, programs, bookmarks, stickers for little kids, and trinket toys for older kids. A local business donates a large prize basket that we give away at the end of the week. we reach thousands of people! We set up at the school orientations, family night at the school book fairs, trunk or treats (we have zombie body part toss games)... just try to be there as much as we can! It is one of my favorite parts of my job!
ReplyDeleteWell that sounds exciting! It is a great way to bond with the community.
DeleteGreat point about social media! Now that I think of it, the staff member who runs my library's Facebook is always posting open ended questions. Just the other day he asked users to respond to the post by listing a book with a terrible ending. Not only do these prompts get users involved and interacting with one another, it serves as a platform on which people can recommend books!
ReplyDeleteHow would you recommend getting your community involved with a library's social media page? I have worked at a couple of libraries where I helped with social media and it always seems to be people associated professionally with the library that follow and like posts.
ReplyDeleteSocial media can be HUGE. You make a ton of great points and did a great job of engaging your classmates. Full points!
ReplyDeleteSocial media is a great way to publicize books! One of my coworkers is considering starting an online book discussion for those who are unable to come to one of our in person book groups.
ReplyDelete