Angela Hursh leads an outstanding team of marketing and training professionals at NoveList, a company dedicated to helping libraries reach readers. A 2023 Library Journal Mover & Shaker, she has also created courses on LearnwithNoveList.com designed to help library staff learn how to create effective marketing. Before her job at NoveList, Angela led the content marketing team for the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. She also has more than 20 years of experience as an Emmy-award-winning broadcast TV journalist.
Instagram has made four major changes to its algorithm! One of these changes might be a deal-breaker for your library, especially if you are a team of one person. We’ll unpack the four new things you’ll have to keep in mind when posting to Instagram and how those changes impact the work of your library marketing in this episode.
Plus we’ll give kudos today to a library that won’t have to worry about changing their Instagram strategy because they’re already following best practices for one of these four new Instagram algorithm changes.
Do you have a suggestion for a topic for a future episode? Want to nominate someone for kudos? Let me know here. And thanks for watching!
Subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email whenever I post. To do that, enter your email address and click on the “Follow” button in the lower left-hand corner of the page. You can also follow me on the following social media platforms:
There is a phrase that pops up quite frequently in library marketing which has bothered me for quite some time: “More than books.” Other than a few people I work with at NoveList, I thought I was the only person who felt this way. But I’m not! A librarian wrote an eloquent piece about it this week, and we’ll talk about it in this episode of The Library Marketing Show.
Plus kudos go to a library for their perfect response when trolls took over a Facebook post about their in-library Pride Month display.
Do you have a suggestion for a topic for a future episode? Want to nominate someone for kudos? Let me know here. And thanks for watching!
Subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email whenever I post. To do that, enter your email address and click on the “Follow” button in the lower left-hand corner of the page. You can also follow me on the following social media platforms:
Photo courtesy Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library
The first thing I do when I visit my parents is greet their dogs. The second thing is to look for my list.
My parents are aging, so I like to help with things they can no longer do. I wash windows, weed the flower beds, and sew on loose buttons. As I work through the list, I get a certain satisfaction in checking things off.
Lists have always been a part of my life. My mother wrote a daily list for when I got home from school. Feed the dogs. Make a salad. Start your homework. It’s almost as if she thought I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I didn’t have a list to follow.
And she was right. I now make lists for everything. Lists for packing. Lists for groceries. Lists of tasks I need to complete during the workday. Gift lists at the holidays.
Lists help you focus and prioritize. So, when one of my readers asked for a list of the ten best tips and practices for library marketing, I dug in. (Imagine me cracking my knuckles, blowing on my fingers, and setting my fingers on the keyboard here.)
Top Ten Tips for Library Marketing and Promotions
#1: Send email to your community.
Email is the most effective marketing tactic. You don’t have to battle algorithms. And 99 percent of people with an email address read their email daily, usually first thing in the morning.
Starting a consistent library email program can be intimidating. But I put it at the top of the list because it’s the best use of your time.
You can start small by sending a newsletter. Work your way up to targeted email segments, where you’ll be sending shorter, more focused messages to specific groups of people. Don’t worry that you’re leaving people out with more niche emails… you are not.
#2: Post no more than once a day on your social media channels.
Social media for libraries works to create brand awareness and affinity. But they’re also ruled by algorithms that determine who sees your posts. The algorithms value quality posts, not quantity. So, posting often does nothing to boost your reach. Once a day is plenty.
Make a schedule to create quality posts and give your social media feeds consistency (which the algorithms love). For example:
Monday: Promote an item in your collection.
Tuesday: Share a video.
Wednesday: Ask a question.
Thursday: Promote a program.
Friday: Share something about a library staff member or something behind the scenes of library work.
Saturday: Promote a service, like your seed library, a database, streaming videos, or your MakerSpace.
Sunday: Share something funny, inspiring, or thoughtful about the joy of reading or the importance of intellectual freedom.
Each year, beginning in November, I publish a best practices guide for each of the major social media channels. To see the guides, type the name of the platform you want to research in the homepage search bar.
#3: Put a bookmark in every hold and checkout that leaves your library.
Your collection is a marketing tactic! No library visitor should ever leave the building without a piece of promotional material.
To get started, pick three areas of focus for your bookmarks. Make one bookmark for each of your three focus promotions. For example:
A booklist
An online item like streaming music
A recurring program.
Teach staff to add a bookmark to every hold and checkout. They use context clues to decide which of your three focused promotional bookmarks will resonate most with each library visitor.
#4: Write a general marketing script and have staff recite or read it before every program.
Your programs are also a marketing tactic. Use the first minute of each program as a “housekeeping moment”, so share a marketing message to this captive audience.
The message should be short, 3-4 sentences. And it should be tailored to the audience.
Here’s an example. Let’s say your library just purchased a set of after-hours holds lockers. You want people to use them. You can create a script for staff to read before programs.
For children’s programs your script might say:
“Hello everyone! I wanted to let you know about a new service we have at the library – our after-hours holds lockers. You can pick up your reserved books and materials anytime, even when the library is closed. It’s a convenient way to get the books your family needs, on your schedule!”
For adult programs, your script might say:
“Hello everyone! Before we begin, I want to tell you that our library now has after-hours holds lockers. Maybe you saw them as you walked in: they’re just to the right of the front doors. You can pick up your reserved books and materials at any time, even outside of our regular hours. So if you work a late shift or you’re going to have a particularly busy day and can’t get to the library before we close, you can still get your books!”
#5: Talk to one community group every month.
Reach out to the Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce, Junior League, and local professional groups. Ask for five minutes during their next meeting to talk about what is available at the library and to sign up members for a library card.
#5: Analyze your promotional metrics each month.
Schedule 30 minutes once a month to look at the past month’s performance on social media, email, and your website.
Watch for trends. Did your social media impressions spike this month? What may have caused that? Did your email open rate plummet? Take a look at the emails you were sending to determine what may have caused the dip. Did attendance skyrocket at your monthly book club after you posted an Instagram Reel promoting it? Do more Instagram Reels!
This work will help you spot issues and opportunities. You can replicate the things that your audience responds to. And you can stop doing the things that don’t work for your audience, and have the data to back up your decision! It’s time well spent.
#6: Create an editorial calendar for the next 6-12 months.
Planning your promotional schedule gives you time to thoughtfully create your promotions and get approvals. Plus, you can share your plans with your coworkers and supervisors, so everyone at the library knows what’s been marketed and when.
Schedule your emails, when you’ll change your website graphics, your book displays… even the signs in your library lobby.
Some of this planning will be easy. You know when summer reading, Library Workers Week, National Library Card Signup Month, back-to-school, and holiday events happen.
Leave space in your calendar for those unexpected things that come up. If your director announces his or her retirement, your building needs renovations, or your library buys a new database… you’ll have space in your calendar to accommodate those promotions.
#7: Ask for time at the next all-staff meeting to discuss library marketing.
One of the most common things library marketers struggle with is their coworkers. They don’t understand how promotions work!
Transparency is always a good idea. You want everyone, from the front-line staff to your senior staff, to understand what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.
Talk about your goals. Talk about how you work to accomplish them, and why you use certain marketing channels for certain promotions. Then, share successes to show that your efforts are working and share failures to drive home the point that marketing is an experiment and you’re always learning.
The media is an audience you must court, like any other target audience! The easier you make their job, the more positive press coverage your library will enjoy.
I used to work as a television news producer and I have many friends still in the business. Here are the top six tips they give for garnering press coverage for your library. Here are more tips from another former journalist turned library marketer.
And, I hope you’re planning to attend the 2024 Library Marketing and Communications Conference because this is the focus of my session this year! I’ll be moderating a panel with three former journalists turned library marketers who will share their top tips for building positive relationships with your local media.
#9: Start a blog.
A blog is one of the best ways to share information about the library and drive visitors to your website. It allows your library to tell your story, create brand awareness, and promote your library to your audience for free, without having to deal with the rules of someone else’s platform.
Marketing is changing all the time. You can keep up with the latest social media news and marketing tips by dedicating time to this work.
Hey library marketing friends: Remember, every promotion you put out into the world can spark a lifelong love of reading in someone. Your work makes a difference!
Subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email whenever I post. To do that, enter your email address and click on the “Follow” button in the lower left-hand corner of the page. You can also follow me on the following social media platforms:
We are going to put a common library marketing fear to rest, once and for all.
Here’s the concern: Are you inadvertently leaving people behind when you target people with your email marketing? Let’s get into it in this episode of The Library Marketing Show.
Plus kudos go to a library that was the focus of a blog post by a local country radio station DJ!
Do you have a suggestion for a topic for a future episode? Want to nominate someone for kudos? Let me know here. And thanks for watching!
Subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email whenever I post. To do that, enter your email address and click on the “Follow” button in the lower left-hand corner of the page. You can also follow me on the following social media platforms:
Sometimes in these videos, I give you a list of tips to help set you up for library marketing success.
But in today’s episode, I’m only going to share one task you’ll want to do once a year (yep, that’s it!) to ensure that your library’s email marketing continues to be successful.
Plus I’ll give kudos to 27 libraries who won a major award, and I’ll tell you where you can meet them in a few weeks!
Do you have a suggestion for a topic for a future episode? Want to nominate someone for kudos? Let me know here. And thanks for watching!
Subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email whenever I post. To do that, enter your email address and click on the “Follow” button in the lower left-hand corner of the page. You can also follow me on the following social media platforms:
Photo courtesy Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library
During the pandemic, Claudine Bennet was stuck at home, and trying to adjust to her new role as External Relations Manager at Dayton Metro Library, she came up with a fun game.
“At the time, I had a map next to my desk at home,” remembers Claudine. “I would glance up and see a city and boom! I was searching for their website and social media presence.”
“Not only did I learn a lot about what libraries across the country were doing during a pivotal time in our country, but it helped to affirm we were on the right track with our strategy.”
Claudine has come a long way from her childhood days spent in the basement of the Peru Free Library in upstate New York.
“The children’s section felt like a magical hide-out,” recalls Claudine. “Adults were never in that space (a paradise for a kid!) and I could read and look at all the books I wanted!”
Nowadays, Claudine oversees media relations and marketing for DML, located in south central Ohio. The system has 17 physical branches, 350,000 active card holders, and a service population of 533,892 residents.
A few months ago, Claudine contacted me to nominate her library for kudos on The Library Marketing Show. She wanted to share a newsletter her library sends to lawmakers and legislators.
Claudine and the External Relations (ER) team realized they needed such a newsletter in 2023.
“News releases in the local media, flyers in branches, our website and social media platforms – those are great ways to get information out,” explains Claudine. “We also have a general digital newsletter that reaches more than 65,000 subscribers. But those methods are broad brushstrokes.”
“When Austin Railey III joined DML as the new Government Relations and Advocacy Director we started brainstorming how we could strategically tell our stories to decision-makers. After weighing the pros and cons of various methods, we decided the most targeted and economically efficient way was through a quarterly email.”
Claudine says the newsletter, Beyond Books, is a collaborative effort. Her department works with others to select stories that reflect how the library collaborates on community initiatives such as economic and workforce development, building regional partnerships, and creating innovative services and programs of value to all community members.
“The stories we tell in Beyond the Books aren’t about the who, what, when, and where of events and programs, but about the why,” says Claudine. “Why did we create a program? Why is the program or service helping our patrons? Why should it receive support? Why is DML a valued community partner?”
“We always put photos in the newsletter also. Reading a story is great, but seeing the story is incredibly valuable too!”
Claudine says the audience for this specific newsletter is a curated list of 200 elected officials and government sector leaders. DML tailors the information to reflect the topics of utmost importance to these readers.
“Because the topics are relevant to the readers and we limit the content to two to three stories, it is an easy and digestible way for elected officials and community leaders to stay connected with how the Dayton Metro Library is achieving its mission, vision, and values,” asserts Claudine.
The collaboration involved in Beyond Books is key to its success.
“When looking for communication solutions for a niche audience, bring everyone to the table,” advises Claudine.
“For myself and my team, it is incredibly helpful to understand what is trying to be communicated, to whom, and why. Those answers will help to identify which communication tool we need to optimize and what information should be shared.”
“Once that is explained and expectations are established for everyone, the creativity flows! Now, as a team, we often suggest stories for Books and Beyond because we understand what we are trying to achieve.”
Claudine’s team is also working on a new branding campaign called Free to Belong. Working with a nationally recognized local advertising agency, the library sought input from staff and the public about its brand and marketing tools. The new campaign is in its second phase. The library will release television commercials, social media spots, print and radio ads, and billboards.
“The second set of spots cement DML as a destination where everyone is valued,” explains Claudine. “They will feature the library meeting people where they are, including the Bookmobile at festivals and our library tent at special events such as the annual Pride celebration in Dayton.”
“The spots will also feature members of marginalized communities as they use library resources including collections and technology. Everyone needs to see themselves in our spaces!”
When she’s looking for inspiration, Claudine turns her eyes to other libraries in the Buckeye State.
“Libraries in Ohio are incredibly inventive and impactful in their marketing efforts,” says Claudine. “I’m always inspired by what they are doing!”
“We’ve created a state-wide committee of library communications and marketing professionals, and we share our “aha” moments, ideas, resources, challenges, and successes. I have learned that libraries are truly a profession that subscribes to the philosophy of ‘When one rises, we all rise.’”
Hey library marketing friends: Your work is important and you are making a difference. Keep it up, you’re doing great!
Subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email whenever I post. To do that, enter your email address and click on the “Follow” button in the lower left-hand corner of the page. You can also follow me on the following social media platforms:
Subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email whenever I post. To do that, enter your email address and click on the “Follow” button in the lower left-hand corner of the page. You can also follow me on the following social media platforms:
One of my viewers is struggling with consistent messaging. They are wondering how to promote something across multiple channels without rewriting the text every single time!
This is a great question. And there’s a little trick you can use to save time and effort. I’ll share it with you in this episode.
Plus kudos go to a library for press coverage they received for their new RFID checkout stands. I’ll explain.
Do you have a suggestion for a topic for a future episode? Want to nominate someone for kudos? Let me know here. And thanks for watching!
Special note for viewers: The next episode of The Library Marketing Show will be released on Wednesday, June 5.
Subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email whenever I post. To do that, enter your email address and click on the “Follow” button in the lower left-hand corner of the page. You can also follow me on the following social media platforms:
Photo courtesy Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library
One of the hardest tasks in library marketing is naming programs and events.
The name of a program can significantly impact attendance. The name must capture attention. It needs to be clear and memorable. And it needs to be discoverable for community members searching online.
In this post, I’ve created a checklist. Under each point on the checklist, I’ll give you an example of how to use AI tools like ChatGPT, CoPilot, Perplexity, and Gemini to check that your library program name meets the criteria.
If you’ve already come up with a name, you can check your choice against each of these considerations. If you’re beginning from nothing and have no clue what to name your program, use this checklist to find the best name and drive lots of attendance!
Checklist for Naming Your Library Program
✔️Relevance
The name of your library program should accurately reflect the program’s or event’s content and purpose. It should give attendees a clear idea of what to expect.
Example
I asked Google’s Gemini: “I am putting together an early literacy library program. In this program, babies and caregivers can read books together, but the babies are encouraged to move around during the reading time. I want to name the program “Young and Restless”. Is that a relevant program name?”
Gemini’s answer
“Young and Restless” might not be the best fit for an early literacy program.
“Young and Restless” is the title of a soap opera, and the connotation leans more towards drama and adult themes. It doesn’t immediately convey the idea of early literacy. While “restless” could be seen as a playful reference to a baby’s energy, it might also suggest a negative connotation of being unable to focus.
Here are some alternative program names that better capture the essence of your program:
“Wiggle While We Read”
“Rhyme Time & Playtime”
“Storytime on the Move”
“Littlest Learners & Lively Laps”
“Bookworms in Motion”
✔️Appeal
The name must attract your target audience. Consider that people often scroll online and when they read print. Your library program name must stand out from other programs or events in your community.
Example
I asked Perplexity: “I am putting together a library program where crocheters of all skill levels can come to work on their projects, give help to others, and get help building their skills. I want to call it Hooked on Crochet. Does that program name have enough appeal to capture attention?”
Perplexity’s answer
The name “Hooked on Crochet” for your library program has several appealing qualities that could help capture attention:
Pros:
The name plays on the double meaning of the word “hooked,” referring both to the crochet hook used in the craft and the idea of being enthusiastically engaged or “hooked” on crocheting.
The alliteration and rhyming nature of the name make it catchy and easy to remember, which is essential for a program name to stand out.
By not specifying skill levels in the name, it implies that the program is open to crocheters of all abilities, from beginners to experts.
The word “hooked” has a positive connotation, suggesting a passionate interest or enjoyment in crocheting, which could resonate with enthusiasts of the craft.
Potential Cons
While wordplay can be effective, some may find the “hooked” pun a bit overused or clichéd in the context of crocheting.
The name may be too specific to crochet and could potentially exclude other fiber arts or crafts that you might want to incorporate in the future.
✔️Clarity
The name should be easy to understand and remember. You’ll want to avoid complex, obscure, or cutesy names that might confuse people.
Example
I asked ChatGPT: “I am organizing a library program where people can bring a plant to swap and learn about composting, and sustainable gardening. There will also be crafts and games. This program is for all ages. Can you help me come up with a name that clearly states what will happen at my program?”
ChatGPT’s answer
That sounds like a fantastic and engaging program! For a name that captures the essence of your event while being concise and appealing, consider the following options:
“Sustainable Garden Swap & Fun Day”
“Green Thumb Plant Swap and Activities”
“Eco-Friendly Garden Day”
“Plant Swap and Garden Fun”
“Sustainable Gardening Fair”
✔️Length
The name should be short and concise. Long names can be difficult to remember and may be difficult to fit on your marketing materials.
Example
I asked ChatGPT: “I am putting together a library program at an academic library. The program will be interactive and will help students to better understand the databases and research resources available to them at the library. I want to call the program Interactive Workshop on the Integration of Research and Retrieval Skills, but my manager thinks that name is too long. Is it too long?”
ChatGPT’s answer
Yes, “Interactive Workshop on the Integration of Research and Retrieval Skills” is quite long for a program name. It might be better to shorten it to make it more concise and easier for students to remember. Here are a few shorter alternatives:
“Research Skills Workshop”
“Interactive Research and Retrieval Workshop”
“Library Research Skills Workshop”
“Research Resources Workshop”
“Effective Research Techniques Workshop”
✔️Accessibility
The name of your library program must not exclude any potential participants.
Example
I came up with a name for a technology program called “Advanced Technological Workshop for Digital Natives.” I asked ChatGPT to evaluate the accessibility of the name.
ChatGPT’s answer
“Advanced Technological Workshop for Digital Natives.” is an inaccessible library program name for several reasons.
Community members might interpret the term “Digital Natives” to mean only younger people who they assume are highly proficient with technology. This excludes older adults or those without regular access to technology. It’s also a very obscure term. Did these people live in the digital world??
The term “Advanced” might also deter people who do not consider themselves advanced in technology from attending, even if they are interested in learning more about it!
And the whole tone of the name is very formal, academic, and intimidating.
✔️Searchability
Many of your community members are looking for help online. You want your program name to come up in search! So be sure to include keywords that people might use in search.
Example
I asked Copilot: “I have a library program named “Opera Appreciation.” Are there any keywords or phrases that I need to add to the program name or description to make this more discoverable in search?”
Copilot’s answer
Certainly! To make your “Opera Appreciation” program more discoverable, consider incorporating relevant keywords and phrases in the program name or description. Here are some suggestions:
Opera: This will directly associate your program with the art form.
Music Appreciation: This can help convey the educational aspect and attract those interested in learning about this genre.
Classical Music: Opera is a subset of classical music, so including “classical music” in your program’s description can broaden its reach.
Arias: Highlight that your program explores opera arias—the beautiful solo pieces performed by singers. Mentioning “arias” can attract opera enthusiasts.
Composer Names: Incorporate the names of renowned opera composers.
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Super Library Marketing: Practical Tips and Ideas for Library Promotion 