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Public Relations and Outreach Public Relations and Outreach for School Libraries for School Libraries

Adele Bildersee

Avi Chai Webinar

May 20, 2008

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Introduction Introduction

Definition of marketing: “…purposeful coalescence of people, materials, and facilities seeking to accomplish the same purpose …” Philip Kotter

Should lead to articulating the importance and

value of the school library media center in teaching and learning

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Items for DiscussionItems for Discussion

Why should we publicize?

How can we do it?

What’s in the future?

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Areas to Consider Areas to Consider

Public awarenessDissemination of informationDevelopment of services to meet needs

Measuring effectiveness

How can needs be met?

What are their goals and objectives?

Developing strategic marketing

Who is the audience?

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The School AudienceThe School Audience

Library personnel must project strong helpful image to all in the school building

Include: - K-12 Students - Cafeteria Workers- Teachers - Bus Drivers

- Clerical Staff - Custodians

- Administration - Parents

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School Audience - StrategiesSchool Audience - Strategies

Special Events - Book fairs, Faculty teas, Author visits

Give Book Talks and Reading Discussion Groups Displays: Themes, Posters, Student work Support: Booklists, Newsletters, Bookmarks Website: OPAC, Databases, Pathfinders, RSS feeds Be interactive: Attend PTA and department

meetings, Sponsor clubs Ask for suggestions

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Targeting the StudentsTargeting the Students Build a collection that meets student needs Subscribe to important databases Create Podcasts - Student Book Reviews Teach use of RSS feeds for research use Publish colorful lists of new books and media

– in hard copy and online Have students share their favorite books:

- Librarything.com - Goodreads.com Library Sleepovers Encourage suggestions

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Involve the CommunityInvolve the Community

Connect with the public library Invite volunteers Solicit senior citizens for help and talent Send newsblasts through school newsletters and

local newspapers Publish vacation reading lists Used book sales (good money raiser too!) Put up pictures of library activities on your website Engage other schools - feeder schools

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Parent PresenceParent Presence

Volunteer OpportunitiesFamily Night once a semesterFlyers to be sent homeAttend evening events with parentsWelcome parents when they visit the libraryProvide parent workshopsEstablish reading group

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Parents Use the Library too!Parents Use the Library too!

Give parent workshops– Teach how to help their kids with assignments– Boolean operators– Specialized databases– Responsible use of the Internet– Google - how to make it work well for you!– Research tips for kids (and them)!

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Celebrating the School Library Celebrating the School Library Special EventsSpecial Events

Poetry Festival Movie Night (films from books) Student author projects Storytelling Literary Quiz Book Fairs National Library Week/Special months/Themes Ecology Fair -- books/art from recyclables Volunteer breakfast

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Publicize EventsPublicize Events

Send invitations to administrators, et al Alert local media Take lots of pictures and publish in

newsletter Post publicity on website Frame special items and post in library

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DisplaysDisplays

Colorful and interesting Timely Use catch phrases Student and Teacher art exhibits Bulletin boards Book exhibits

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Positive Image BuildersPositive Image Builders

Changing bulletin boardsParticipating in a helpful manner to all

curricular mattersSearching for needed information in a

variety sources outside the schoolMaking special efforts for students/teachersCreate atmosphere of fun and acceptance

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Avoiding “Negative” ImpressionsAvoiding “Negative” Impressions

Levying finesTaking inventory while school is openReturning “misbehaving” students to the

teacherReacting slowly to student/teacher

requests for service

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Spread the Word – Be AccountableSpread the Word – Be Accountable

Monthly update to principal – Cite circulation figures– Quote budget expenditures– Enumerate additions to the library– Identify special projects

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Annual ReportAnnual Report

Circulation – compare with previous years New items Web site – changes and updates Blogs Wikis Big events, visitors or contributions Participation – community, school, etc.

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The 21The 21stst Century – What to do now! Century – What to do now!

Establish and maintain a web presence– Web 2.0 (Blogs and wikis)

– Podcasts– RSS feeds

Provide databases with remote accessEstablish pathfindersOnline tutorialsUse social networks - MySpace

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Resources for School LibrariansResources for School Librarians

LM_NET AASL ALA Avi Chai Wiki – jewishschoollibraries.pbwiki.com Conferences

– American Library Association -- AASL– Internet Librarian– NECC– Computers in Libraries– AJL – Association of Jewish Libraries

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Sources for Great IdeasSources for Great Ideas Library Lovers Month

www.librarysupport.net/librarylovers

Library Promotion Ideashttp://www.sldirectory.com/libsf/resf/promote.html

Marketing Our Libraries – on and off the Internetwww.librarysupportstaff.com/marketinglibs.html

Motivational Ideas: Children’s Book Week and National Library Weekfalcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/bookweek.htm

School Libraries Improve Student Achievementwww.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin178.shtml

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More Sources for Great IdeasMore Sources for Great Ideas School-Libraries.net – Web Pages Created by School Librarians

www.school-libraries.net

School Library Media Monthly Activitiesfalcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/libslmday.htm

Models for Creating Pathfinderswww.sdst.org/shs/library/pathfindermodels.html

Library Advocacywww.oelma.org/advocacy/default.asp

Assessment Materialswww.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/aaslbooksandprod/aaslbooksproducts.htm#principals