To (too?) Public: library Marketing and Public Relations in Public Libraries Today. Presentation by Leigi Kütt, Senior Librarian, Lääne-Vire County Central Library, Department of Library Services, Estonia
It is wise to use all the possibilities of internal publishing If a library wants to have an excellent relationship with the media it should adopt a reporter or better couple of them from the local newspaper What is newsworthy? new or unusual library services, library building projects, Celebration of major library anniversaries, Public training programs sponsored or co-sponsored by the library-major success stories, Exhibits and displays-special programs 2) Get some airtime in the local radio to talk about library services, events, new literature 3) Public service announcements on the radio will reach an additional audience
1)On the 21st century it is expected that culture institutions have a functional webpage with all the useful information about the library and the services 1)If the city webpage has an event calendar then libraries exhibits and events should reflect there too. www.kultuuri.net www.virumaainfo.ee
Our library is keeping two separate blogs- on Lääne-Viru County Central Librarys’ Blog we focus on local and national librarianship- news, developments, problems and on events what have got our attention
As the title already says- this blog consists of book suggestions from books what have impressed or moved us
Besides libraries newsletter information about our exhibitions and events is also available through Rakvere culture mailinglist
every library should have so called highlight event Different events for interest groups- simpliest way to market is to offer guided tours in the library cooperation projects- in a community there are endless possibilities to market library in cooperation with other local institutions like museums, city goverment, schools, theatre We marketed estonian literature with Rakvere Theatre help- every library reader who lent estonian literature got a special password which abled to get 10% discount from theatre tickets
Rakvere book fair has been a part of Rakvere city days programm since 2005
Free second hand book fair- citizens can bring books what they dont need or want anymore, library organizes them and opens the second hand fair
We all know that usual (book)exhibits and dislplays doesnt attract anymore-
Nordic poetry exibition on the windows of library
Islandic writers in Lääne-Virumaa County Central Library on a Nordic Libary week
1. All the written marketing material should have professional appearance (brochures, flyers, posters etc) 2. Annual report is the best way of marketing library to the local government and library board
Provocative marketing campaign- in march 2011 there were parlament elections in Estonia , like we all know all the media is concentrating on politics and politicians then and we tried to take advantage of that. We created our own election campaign- we recycled the slogans and promises of main political parties in Estonia, rephrased them more librarianlike.