Tools and Tips to Market YOUR Collection

Ruth WolfishIEEE Client Services Manager31 March & 1 April 2009UK Serials Group

Have fun marketing your collection!

Today’s Agenda

Events in the libraryBlogsTwitterFacebookOther simple ideasMeasuring successQuestions

Successful Events are the Result of Several Factors

Meaningful event Timing that works with the audience Good promotion to the right audience Endorsement of key influencers

FacultyStudents

What’s in it for me? FUN!

Sample Task List for Library Event

Check for conflicts on library calendar & university calendar(s)Create task timeline for advance planning and the “day of “Partner with students to design poster /flyersEngage assistance of E-resource library vendors, library staff, catering, academic departmentsPlan for food, balloons, posters, etc.Work with university building services for chairs/tables, power, web accessTake photos!

Ask STUDENTS for

input on where to

advertise event and

ideas for raffle prizes

Vanderbilt University Uses Key Marketing Elements

Eye -catching image

Enticing AttendanceGenerators

Link from technology to

IEEE Xplore

database

Build on the Success of Others…

Keep fonts uniform and easy to read

Keep text light so reader sees key message first

Include an RSVP with a name

Build on the Success of Others…

Eye Catching Image

Enticing AttendanceGenerators

• Less Text • Select most

meaningfulitems

Encourage RSVP

for both you & attendees

Be careful of color on

color

It’s Not All About the Flyer….

Clever way to bring traffic to libraryFun and originalPrizes, foodTies in with other campus activitiesAdd intrigue…tour an off-limits secret tower!

IEEE Fully Customizable Event FlyerFree and Easy!

Eight Designs to Choose From!

http://www.ieee.org/web/publications/subscriptions/clientservices/promote/tools_print.html

Create Buzz with a Quiz! (and Prizes)

Highlight Valuable Giveaways

Blogs

Have funDon’t be afraid to show your personalityInformativeAccessible

Blog @ University Wisconsin - Whitewater

Twitter

• Make it interesting

• Be clear about what you’re sending

• Works best with brief information

University of London

College of DuPage Librarian “Library Secrets”

University of North Carolina

Facebook

• Facebook currently has more than 175 million active users worldwide.

• Facebook recently surpassed MySpace in amount of visitors, making Facebook the most popular social network, followed by MySpace and Twitter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook

Little Ideas with Big Impact

“Flyers in places people can’t avoid” (restroom)

Mel DeSart, University of Washington

Deliver requested articles to faculty in person

Rachel Berrington, formerly Mentor Graphics, now IEEE

Slide flyers under faculty doors Anonymous

“Tear off tab” concept Audrey Jackson, UCLA

“Tear Off Tabs” Make Remembering Easy

Measuring Promotion Efforts

Has usage gone up?More attendance at events?More research requests?Did it make new contacts, such as:– Invited to speak at classes– “Friends of the library”– Library Board

Value of Collaboration

Become part of the student and faculty communities …When students include librarians (email, meeting minutes, etc.), in their planning activities:– communication (both ways) improves – collaboration becomes truly fruitfulParticipating in student planning meetings (depending on the time and availability) also helps

Jay Bhatt, Drexel University A Successful Collaborative A Successful Collaborative Partnership among the Faculty Partnership among the Faculty and Librarians at Drexel and Librarians at Drexel University with the IEEEUniversity with the IEEE

Questions ?Questions ?

Ruth WolfishIEEE Client Services Managerr.wolfish@ieee.org

Attribution Oberazzi, Flickr