Time for Blogging

Take just a few minutes to do a poll: How many of you are planning to get started on a blog? There have been lots of opportunity to take classes, to go out on the internet and see what other libraries have done so, are you ready to jump in and try it? Don't let the form intimidate you. Blogger, especially, has tried to make it as simple as possible. The hard part is really in keeping up with the writing every day or week or whatever you have determined will be your blogging schedule. But get your staff involved. Or patrons. NWILS has put up a page to link to all the Northwest Iowa libraries who are doing blogs. Be sure to check that out, too. They'll be an encouragement to you. We would love to put a link to your blog on this page as well. So be sure to let us know when you've got one up! Then, write away.

Sanborn Public Library holds Open House

Check out these pictures from Sanborn's open house for their new library this week. Kay Larson of Spencer took the pictures. It looks like it was a great day, and congratulations to Sanborn on their great new library! For those of you who are using digital cameras in your library be sure to check this photo slide program out. This is such a fun program to use to share photos. Thanks to Milford Public Library who has also used this program to post photos on their blog. If you're interested in trying it all you need to do is click on the box at the bottom of the photos. In the meantime: Enjoy the photo show:

Library Use Value Calculator

Just as you are beginning to think about getting a new budget proposal put together this pops up from the Maine State Libraries. How cool is this? A library value calculator! And, you can use their template to adapt the calculator to your own library! (just scroll to the bottom of the page to find out how to do that) Though it does require some html it can also be used 'as is'. I envision some fun uses with this one: put it on your website for your patrons to use so they can easily see how much they're getting out of their local library. Or... email a link to your city council members so they get the full implication of exactly how much you provide. When presenting a budget request to your council, board members, etc. you could have them use something similar to this even in paper form. You probably have plenty of ideas of how this could be used. Please share!

National Friends of Libraries Week

Friends of Libraries groups now have their very own national week of celebrations. FOLUSA (Friends of Libraries U.S.A.) is coordinating the second annual Friends of Libraries Week, October 21-27, 2007. The celebration offers a two-fold opportunity to celebrate local Friends Groups. Use the time to creatively promote your group in your community, raise awareness of their activities, and promote membership. This is also an excellent opportunity for your library and board of trustees to recognize the Friends for their ongoing help and support.

One of many ideas from the FOLUSA website is to ask your patrons, board, or staff to write "love letters" to your Friends Group and post them throughout the library.

Here’s a neat idea from Dubuque. The Friends of the Carnegie-Stout Public Library in Dubuque have embarked on an eBay auction program for some of the older and more collectible items they receive. As with all other Friends' funds, the proceeds from eBay sales will be used to support library programs, collections, and other needs not currently met by the library’s operating budget. To see a list of items currently up for auction by the Dubuque Friends Group, click here: Current Items for Auction on eBay.

Armstrong PL has done a variation of this idea, but with an individual patron offering to sell the books on eBay and return the profits to the library. No doubt others have gotten in on this action, too. For more Friends Group promotional ideas, visit the national website FOLUSA (Friends of Libraries U.S.A.)

Marketing and PR

Seemingly, the demise of the library--or at least its irrelevance--is on the horizon. According to Technological Change, Universal Access, and the End of the Library at : http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3858/is_200303/ai_n9223911)

Libraries have to find ways to attract new patrons, keep the faithful ones, and continue to remain relevant in the digital world. There is an even greater need today for information than ever before, so it's critical for libraries to be advertising what they have. There is much to brag about!

So, amid all the worrisome noises technology is making about the "the end of the book", what are libraries doing to promote themselves and their involvement in their communities? There has always been a need for publicity, but there seems an urgency now--we need to be more proactive.

Libraries need to do more than a simple list of new books published in the paper. Use websites and blogs. Start online book discussion clubs. One of the session at this year's ILA conference in Coralville will be "Shoot out at the PR Corral."

If you're in the market for display ideas, a good compliation can be found at http://www.scholastic.com/librarians/printables/index.htm as well as http://www.sjrlc.org/tradingspaces/toolkit/index.shtml

Be sure to check out WebJunction resources this week, because their tip of the week is about advertising your library: http://ia.webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=14860

Let's hear some ideas for keeping the library's face "out in front." What props, signs, displays, and techniques are N.W. libraries using? What blogs, websites, tips, and techniques are you using to promote the library to center stage--and how successful are your efforts?