Marketing

This was a fabulous presentation by Sarah Houghton-Jan (librarianinblack.net) and Aaron Schmidt (walkingpaper.org). (Check it out at http://www.walkingpaper.org/outreach.pdf) Noticie I didn't tell you what libraries they physically work in. It doesn't matter because they do so much outside of their library walls. As they said, online, everyone's patrons are your patrons. Free is good.

Notes from the presentation: Make your web page a 2 way street. Let them share opinions, register for a card online. Find out where your customers are spending time and go there too. Be clear on your services and what you are marketing.

Other tips:

Search engine findability. Make sure your site is at the top of the list. Make your url easy and fun. Buy ad words form Google. Move out into the minor search engines.

Make sure you're listed in the online library directory listings. Make sure the info is correct.

List your library information on the Wikipedia page for your town or area.

Put your library on Wikimapia.

Put your programs and events on any community event sites such as Eventful.

Look for local blogs to interact with. Create a local event or group in Flickr.
Act as a person not as a library.

Interact and respond on social review web sites such as Yelp and Judy's Book.

Create a profile for your library on Myspace, Facebook, and Flickr.

Check out the Contr Costa County Library web site at http://ccclib.org/. Give people a reason to come back to your site. Use local talent in creating your web site.

Check out Bookspace at Hennepin County Library. It's really amazing, but it takes 30 people to maintain.

Participate in "Slam the Boards" on the 10th of every month. Librarians join in to answer questions for free.

Push information out and personalize it.

Most importantly, find out what your community is doing online and get involved in that. Second Life? Facebook? Flickr? Make your presence known.