Reaching Out: Fighting back against a bad public image Natalie Bazan, Director, Hopkins District and Dorr Township Libraries, TN (Pop Served: 7400) Big Talk From Small Libraries 2015 27 February 2015 http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk/

1. Natalie Bazan
Hopkins District and Dorr Township Libraries

2.  Your staff and board members are your first line contact
with your community.
 Make sure they are informed!
 Have staff meetings and give them input into what is
 coming up, changes you are
 thinking about and let them
 know about changes in the library world!
 Keep your trustees up to date by joining your local
trustee
 organization.
Left: Board member, staff member and library cat working together
Right: Staff member: Darth Vader says “Read to take over the World”

3.  How many of you invite and encourage community groups to attend your library
board meetings?
 Create a handout for those interested in your library board
 Be descriptive
 Have at least one time for questions
 School government or civics classes
 Local groups who may attend your meetings
and not understand the terms
Image from the Baldwin Public Library, NY

4.  Not just for statistics
 Promote the library as a community center, place of learning
 What does your community love?
 Examples:
 Beer and Wine making,
 Cheese,
 Fly tying,
 Soap,
 Herbal classes,
 Organic gardening …
Halloween costume contests…

5.  Feature programs – Its not always about the library… but it is about the library
 Summer Secret Project –
 Goal: Improve or bring attention to our community
 Outcome: Positive news coverage, volunteer involvement, excitement for small town living,
increased traffic into town
 Cost: Depending on the year and the project (free - $100)
 Winter Secret Project
 Goal: Make people think about others, build a greater sense of community around a library
sponsored event
 Outcome: Reporting to the library = quantitative and qualitative data for future programming
 Cost: Again depends on donations (free - $50)
 Special programs – A few ideas…

6.  Gardening classes
 Food classes
 Giveaways
 Heirloom seeds and plants
 Seed libraries
 Is your library owned by another entity?
 Do you have any green space?
Photo from the Bridgman Public Library site

7.  How can you use clubs to help break a bad image?
 Clubs are not one size fits all. One of my areas is very excited about hunting,
smoking meat along with arts and crafts, the other is more of a bedroom
community that has different needs.
 Clubs we have or will be starting:
 Gardening,
 Reading,
 Teen Creations,
 Crafting and Arts,
 Travel …
 What is popular in your community? What do people do?

8.  Governmental organizations
 Media
 Churches
 Schools
 Historical groups
 Any other organization in town!
 Make a list of what you can do for
them and what they can potentially
do for you!

9.  Schools
 Churches
 ie. VBS, Libraries, News
 Local governments
 Candidate forums, information
meetings
 Social organizations
 What unique organization
does your library partner with?
Annual Christmas/Holiday Ornaments

10.  Let people know who you are, where you are and what you do from the moment
they move in!
 Costs?
 Why?
 How many of you or your communities have
a Welcome packet for new residents?
 What about Hospital congratulation packets
or recuperation packets?

11.  This doesn’t have to be high tech!
 Do you have a budget?
 Budgeting for print media
 Social media/web advertising
 Advertising giveaways
 How much can/does it cost?
 Biggest impact for your dollar.
 What does your community use?
 Local paper
 Movie theater
 Internet access
ALATT Facebook – 332 likes, 21 shares

12.  Have a plan!
 What do you want to do? What is your goal
on Social Media?
 Draw up a weekly, monthly, quarterly plan.
 Return on investment…
 Twitter –
 Coordinating with but not duplicating other
Social media.
 Facebook –
 Free advertising vs. paid advertising for ‘likes’ and events
 Maximizing your impact
 Keeping people involved

13.  ALA Think Tank group on Facebook
 Photographs (be careful!)
 Get familiar with Word, Powerpoint, Publisher
 Library Marketing group on Linkedin
 Rotating gif makers
 Grants (local, state, federal…)
 Schools! For artistic talent – art shows, new
posters, logos, and so much more
 Webinars are amazing resources and often free
allowing you to connect with professionals with
out the cost of a conference.

14.  Ben Bizzle’s Book -- Start a Revolution: Stop Acting Like a Library
 http://benbizzle.com/
 Facebook and Twitter Advertising
 How many of you have advertised on social media?
 Photoshop (not as expensive as you think)

15.  There will always be people who believe
that libraries are a waste of money, not
necessary any more, etc.
 And there will always be even more people
who believe in what you do, love their library,
and will support you.
 But don’t every stop trying to being
everyone on your wagon!
Photo from Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation

16. Natalie Bazan
Hopkins District Library: hopkinslibrary@hotmail.com
269-793-7516
Dorr Township Library: dorrlibrary@hotmail.com
616-681-9678

17.  Advertising basics from the SBA: https://www.sba.gov/content/advertising-basics
 Tips for building a brand from Forbs:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2013/11/13/5-must-read-tips-for-
building-a-bran/
 Tips and tricks for creating Images for Social Media from Social Media Examiner:
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/images-for-social-media/
 Tips for writing Great Press Release from the Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zach-cutler/press-release-tips_b_2120630.html