communicating the value of your special library
DESCRIPTION
When your library feels pressure to succeed, what do you do? Are you looking for ways to communicate your library’s value? Would you like to find new ways to convey to your effectiveness to management? Communicating the value of your library is crucial in today’s climate. Budget pressures, management oversight, under appreciation by patrons—many complex issues face the library and librarians today. Building on the value discovered via the previous webinar, “Determining the Value of Your Library”, Joe Matthews continues to explore the value of your library by effectively convey it in “Communicating the Value of Your Library.” Though the previous webinar will be referenced, it is not a prerequisite for attending. Here’s what you can expect to hear about: What Will Resonate? How to Structure the Message Communication Options Messages That Soar!TRANSCRIPT
Communicating the Value of the Libraryby Joe Matthews
A Free Webinar from
• Intros (2 min)
•Communicating the Value of the Library (30 min)by Joe Matthews
• How EOS.Web can help you communicate the value of your library (5 min)
• Q&A
AGENDA:
Jackie PrenticeAccount Executive
Joe MatthewsLibrary Consultant, Author
Communicating the Value of the Libraryby Joe Matthews
A Free Webinar from
• Alignment• What Will Resonate?• Frameworks• Communication• Communication Options• How to Structure the Message• Messages That Soar!
Contents:
Alignment
Communicate the Value of the Libraryby Joe MatthewsA Free Webinar from
Alignment
• Do you have a clear picture of the mission of your organization?
• Has your organization established any goals & objectives?
• Do your library services help people be more productive so that they can reach their goals?
Aligning your services with your organization’s mission, goals & objectives should be
your NUMBER ONE JOB.
What Will Resonate?
Communicate the Value of the Libraryby Joe MatthewsA Free Webinar from
What Will Resonate?• Get to know your
stakeholders• What are their
concerns?• How do they evaluate
other services in the organization?• Ask them to critique the
library & its services
What Will Resonate?• Do they have a
financial orientation?• Can they articulate how
libraries add value to the organization?• What keeps them
awake at night?
FrameworksCommunicate the Value of the Libraryby Joe MatthewsA Free Webinar from
• Balanced Scorecard
• The 3Rs
• Malcolm Baldrige Award
Frameworks
Frameworks
Balanced Scorecard
Frameworks
3Rs
ReachWho?
Where?
ResultsWhat do we want?Why?
Resources
How?
Frameworks
Malcolm Baldrige Award
CommunicationCommunicate the Value of the Libraryby Joe MatthewsA Free Webinar from
Match the message and the medium
Be prepared! Rehearse and know a number of messages.
Don’t over-sell your services—Over-deliver!
Communication
Educate but don’t bore.
Always maintain your credibility.
Use the jargon of the decision
makers.
Put information into context.
Communication
States the measurable value or customer benefits that a service will provide
What differentiates the library from its competitors?
Communication
Value Proposition
Better decisions Better work Improved productivity Saves time
Recognized achievement
Saving money Generating new
revenue
Focus on Benefits
Communication
“The field is not well seen
from within the field.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
CommunicationOptions
Communicate the Value of the Libraryby Joe MatthewsA Free Webinar from
Communication Options
Rich channelsFace-to-face communicationHallway/coffee pot communicationsSmall group meetingsTelephone conversationsVoice mailEmailLarge group meetingsHandwritten personal notesCopies of meeting agendasFaxesMemosFormal speechesLettersNews reportsReports
Lean channels
“A profession that sees itself as ‘doing
good’ is less concerned with assessing
its outcomes and impacts since it sees
its own activities as inherently
positive.”—Amos Lakos
How to Structure the MessageCommunicate the Value of the Libraryby Joe MatthewsA Free Webinar from
“Never impose your
language on people you
wish to reach.”—Abbie Hoffman
How to Structure the Message
• Types of learners–Auditory–Visual–Readers
• Internal communication–What kind of communication?–How frequently?–How to format it?
• How to stage it
How to Structure the Message
LINE CHARTSGood for showing trends over time
How to Structure the Message
HORIZTONALBAR CHARTS
Good when comparing a fairly large number of options
or labels are long showing trends over time
How to Structure the Message
COLUMN CHARTSGood for showing comparison among items
How to Structure the Message
PIE CHARTSGood for showing relative sizes of the components to
one another
“The difference between the
right word and the almost right
word is the difference between
lightning and a lightning bug.”—Mark Twain
Language
DON’TsAcquisitions
Collection developmentInformation analysis
ReferenceTaxonomy & metadata
Online searching
DO’sGain competitive advantageInsights & trendsKnowledge sharingValue-added intelligenceInnovationProfessionalInsightCollaboration
Make it Soar!
• Improve your presentation skills
• Practice (and practice some more)
• Tailor your presentation
to your audience
• Focus on the “big” picture
•Be enthusiastic!
MESSAGES
“The medium is
the message.” —Marshall McLuhan
STORYTELLING
How to Structure the Message
• Use slides to reinforce the message
• Use slides to keep the presentation on track
• Use slides to create movement
• Use body movements to reinforce the message
• Every slide should have a purpose
• Make sure the slide adds to the story
“It usually takes me more
than three weeks to
prepare a good impromptu
speech.”—Mark Twain
THE BOTTOM LINE
The library contributes to the
achievement of organizational goals!
Or, it should!
Available now:
The Bottom Line—Determining and Communicating the Value of the Special LibraryBy Joseph R. Matthews
Available on EOSIntl.com
The Digital Library Survival GuideBy Joseph R. Matthews
Download Today!
Determining the Value of the Libraryby Joe Matthews
PREVIOUS WEBINAR:
• Models for Calculating Value• Outcomes of Calculations• Evaluation of Results
To Watch the Presentation or Download the Slides:
http://www.eosintl.com/determining-the-value-of-your-library/
