How many times do you need to tell them, before your patrons realize they can get information from your website? Do the know that they can actually go to your website and find: what books are in the library, what books they have checked out, the schedule of events, pictures of the summer program, policies (ok, so they're not really interested in what your policies are!) what to read next, book blogs and a whole lot more! Do they know you have a website? Or for that matter, do they know about programs, teen councils, book discussion groups and the whole range of things availible? We must be better at marketing ourselves. You know, and I know, that we have amazing things to offer the public. Unfortunately, for the most part our patrons don't realize it. One thing we as librarians must do is Toot Our Own Horns! Advertise, Market, Inform. We have to do it many times, and in lots of different formats. I think what is the problem for us is how MANY times we are saying the same old thing. And still people don't get it. That is all the more reason for us to keep repeating ourselves.
Here is a fabulous blog that lists a lot of ideas for sharing the library with our public. It gives links to sites with marketing plans, tips for marketing, and ideas from libraries with unusual ad plans. I love the idea about library staff pushing book carts in parades! (Do you think I could get NWILS staff,i.e. Bonnie and Janie to join your parade?)
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