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Super Library Marketing: Practical Tips and Ideas for Library Promotion

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Content Marketing

Your Community Is Treating Your Marketing the Same Way Journalists Treat Bad Pitches. Here’s How to Fix That.

Historic black-and-white library reading room with patrons focused on books at a large table, surrounded by shelves. Text overlay reads: "How to Make Your Library Promotions MORE RELEVANT!" with the words "MORE RELEVANT!" emphasized in yellow.
Photo courtesy Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library

In this post, you will learn:

  1. Relevance matters more than frequency. Libraries don’t need to send more messages. They need to send more relevant ones.
  2. Data makes library marketing more newsworthy. Statistics and outcomes can transform promotions into compelling stories.
  3. Trust is a strategic asset. Libraries can stand out by being a reliable source of information and expertise.

I recently downloaded Cision’s State of the Media Report so that my library could adjust our media strategy to get more positive press. But I found myself looking at the report as a larger lesson for my library marketing.

Cision surveyed nearly 1,900 journalists worldwide about how they work, the challenges they face, and what they need from public relations professionals. At first glance, it might seem like a report intended for public relations agencies and large, well-funded corporate communications teams.

But as I read through the findings, I kept thinking about libraries (of course!) Thatโ€™s because the challenges journalists face look surprisingly similar to those library marketers face every day when reaching our communities. 

People are overwhelmed with information. They’re short on time. They’re sorting through more content than ever before. And they are constantly trying to determine which messages deserve their attention.

The things that cause a journalist to ignore a pitch are often the same factors that make a community member ignore a library marketing message.

Here are the top five things I learned from the report about making my library’s message stand out.

Takeaway #1: Relevance Beats Volume

The report found that the number one factor that makes journalists respond to a pitch is relevance. Nearly 80 percent said they are most likely to consider a story when it aligns with their audience and coverage area. Likewise, more than 80 percent said they reject pitches that aren’t relevant.

That should sound familiar. Libraries often assume that getting attention is a volume problem.

  • “We need to post more.”
  • “We need to send more emails.”
  • “We need to promote this event harder.” (What does that even mean, really?)

But attention isn’t usually a volume problem. It’s a relevance problem.

The question isn’t whether your community saw your message. The question is whether they immediately understood why it mattered to them.

A generic announcement about a program might get ignored. But a message that clearly connects to a person’s needs, interests, goals, or challenges has a much better chance of breaking through.

Takeaway #2: People Are Drowning in Messages

Most journalists in the survey reported receiving more than 50 pitches every week. Many receive more than 100! Yet most say only a small percentage of those pitches are actually relevant.

That sounds familiar too! Your patrons are also sorting through dozens of emails, social media posts, text messages, videos, advertisements, flyers, signs, and notifications every day. They don’t have time to figure out why something matters. They need clarity and connection.

I recently implemented a new messaging strategy for my team to address this issue. I told them that we are going to stop leading with what we are doing and start leading with why our community should care. We are now going to be focusing less on announcements and more on why our work matters and the problems it solves for our community. 

Hereโ€™s a simple way to reframe your libraryโ€™s message to focus more on the value.

Instead of: “The library is pleased to announce…”

Try: “Parents looking for free summer activities can now register for…”

Or: โ€œThe Library is proud to offer resume workshops and mock interviewsโ€ becomes โ€œGet the tools and support you need to actually land the job.โ€

One messaging strategy starts with the organization. The other starts with the audience.

Takeaway #3: Data Makes Stories Stronger

One finding that really stood out to me was that journalists said they want more data and research. Why?

Because data provides context. It helps explain why a story matters.

Libraries have access to more useful data than we often realize.

  • We know what people are reading.
  • We know how technology is being used.
  • We know what programs are growing.
  • We know where community needs are emerging.

Yet many libraries continue to market programs without sharing the larger story behind them.

So, don’t just announce Summer Reading. Show how participation has grown. Don’t just promote your digital resources. Show how community usage has changed over time.

Data transforms promotion into storytelling. And storytelling is more memorable than push promotions because it activates emotions, which makes the story stick in a personโ€™s mind.

These data stories are particularly impactful for messaging aimed at elected officials and donors.

Takeaway #4: Trust Is Becoming More Valuable

One of the biggest concerns journalists identified was accuracy and misinformation. Credibility matters.

This is an area where libraries have a tremendous advantage. Libraries remain among the most trusted public institutions. But trust is only valuable if we actively use it.

That means sharing accurate information, citing sources, providing context, and helping community members make sense of an increasingly complicated information landscape.

Takeaway #5: Make People’s Lives Easier

Perhaps the most important lesson from the report is that journalists want sources who make their jobs easier. They want clear information, quick responses, and they want their subjects to respect their time. So do our community members!ย ย 

The best library marketing doesn’t demand attention. It earns attention by being useful.

When your content helps people solve a problem, answer a question, save money, learn a skill, or improve their lives, your library marketing stops feeling like marketing. It becomes a service.

Final Thoughts

The State of the Media Report wasn’t written for library marketers. But it contains an important reminder for all of us.

Whether you’re pitching a reporter or communicating with your community, success doesn’t come from sending more messages. It comes from creating messages that are relevant, trustworthy, useful, and easy to understand. 


Want more help?

How Libraries Can Get Better Press Coverage: Real Tips From Former Journalists

Subscribe to this blog, and youโ€™ll receive an email whenever I post. To do that, enter your email address and click on the โ€œFollowโ€ button in the lower left-hand corner of the page. You can also follow me on the following social media platforms:

 

What Iโ€™ve Learned in 13 Years of Library Marketing: People Support What Makes Them Feel Something

Black-and-white historical photo of a smiling woman standing in front of a mobile library vehicle filled with books. Overlay text at the top reads: โ€œWhy People Support Libraries That MAKE THEM FEEL SOMETHING!โ€ with โ€œMAKE THEM FEEL SOMETHING!โ€ in large purple letters.
Photo courtesy Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library

In this post, you will learn:

  1. Emotion drives action. People are more likely to act on your library marketing if it makes them feel something.
  2. Real stories on video don’t need to be polished. Authentic patron and staff experiences are some of the most effective marketing tools libraries have, and all you need is a cell phone!
  3. Emotional marketing is not manipulation. When done ethically, storytelling helps communities understand the real impact of library services.

A few years ago, a library patron accused my library marketing team of โ€œmanipulating emotions.โ€

Honestly? She wasnโ€™t wrong. We absolutely wanted people to feel something!

At the time, my library was building support for a facilities plan. Several of our historic Carnegie branches were not accessible to people with disabilities, and we knew we needed the community to understand why modernization mattered.

So we told a real story. We interviewed a veteran who physically could not enter the branch library in his own neighborhood.

We shared his experience in a short video campaign designed to help our community see the problem through a human lens instead of through budget spreadsheets and building reports.

After we published the video, one viewer messaged us: โ€œHow dare you manipulate my emotions and try to make me feel sorry for this guy?โ€

My response then โ€” and now โ€” is this:

Libraries should never apologize for telling meaningful stories.

Why Emotional Marketing Works for Libraries

One of the biggest mistakes libraries make in marketing is assuming facts alone will persuade people. We think that if we simply explain our services clearly enough, people will understand our value.

But audiences donโ€™t make decisions based purely on logic. They make decisions based on emotion and then use facts to justify those feelings later. Thatโ€™s especially true on social media, where algorithms reward content that sparks reactions, conversations, shares, and engagement.

People engage with content when it makes them feel:

  • Hopeful
  • Inspired
  • Seen
  • Empathy for someone else
  • Proud of their community
  • Connected to something bigger than themselves

That emotional response is what moves someone from passive scrolling to active engagement. And here is more good news.

Libraries Already Have Powerful Stories

You do not need a massive budget or a professional production crew to create emotional marketing. You already have the raw material.

Every library has:

  • A teen who found belonging through programs
  • A job seeker who got help building a resume
  • A parent who found support during a difficult season
  • A senior who depends on library staff for connection
  • A child who discovered a love of reading
  • A staff member who went above and beyond for someone

These stories are your most effective marketing!

Too often, libraries default to promotional language like:

  • โ€œRegister now!โ€
  • โ€œCheck out our new database!โ€
  • โ€œJoin us Tuesday!โ€

But audiences connect more deeply with:

  • โ€œThis program helped me make friends after moving here.โ€
  • โ€œThe library gave me confidence during my job search.โ€
  • โ€œI didnโ€™t feel alone anymore.โ€

Thatโ€™s the difference between information and impact.

Emotional Marketing Is Ethical When Itโ€™s Honest

Thereโ€™s an important distinction between emotional storytelling and emotional manipulation.

  • Manipulation relies on exaggeration, fear tactics, or dishonesty.
  • Ethical emotional marketing tells true stories that help audiences better understand real community needs and real library impact.

Libraries are uniquely positioned to do this well because our work genuinely changes lives every day. If your library helped someone succeed, feel safer, feel connected, or solve a problem, sharing that story is not exploitation. Itโ€™s advocacy.

The Best Way to Capture Emotion: Video

Video remains one of the most effective formats for emotional storytelling because audiences can hear tone, see facial expressions, and connect with people “face to face.”

But hereโ€™s the good news: your videos do not need to look cinematic! Some of the most effective library videos are filmed on a phone. What counts is not the production. It’s the authentic conversations.

If you want to start gathering emotional stories, try interviewing:

  • Loyal patrons
  • Volunteers
  • Staff members
  • Program attendees
  • Community partners

Ask open-ended questions like:

  • Whatโ€™s your favorite memory involving the library?
  • How has the library impacted your life?
  • What would your community lose if the library disappeared tomorrow?
  • Tell me about a moment when the library helped you unexpectedly.
  • Why does this library matter to you personally?

Then stop talking and let them tell the story.

Donโ€™t Forget Your Staff Stories

Library staff are often an untapped source of emotional content.

Staff members witness transformation every day:

  • helping someone apply for benefits,
  • finding the perfect book for a struggling reader,
  • assisting someone through a difficult life transition,
  • or creating a welcoming space for people who need connection.

Those stories matter.

Some of the best questions to ask staff include:

  • Tell me about a patron interaction youโ€™ll never forget.
  • What moment made you proud to work at the library?
  • What keeps you motivated in this work?
  • Whatโ€™s something the public doesnโ€™t always see about library service?

These interviews can become:

  • Short social videos
  • Newsletter features
  • Website testimonials
  • Annual report stories
  • Posters and digital signage
  • Advocacy campaign content

One good story can fuel months of marketing content.

The Hidden Benefit of Emotional Marketing

Something interesting happens when libraries start telling emotional stories consistently: More stories start showing up.

When we launched our own customer impact video series years ago, staff and patrons immediately began sharing additional experiences with us.

People wanted to participate because they felt recognized and connected.

Thatโ€™s one of the most powerful outcomes of storytelling: It builds community identity. People stop seeing the library as just a building or service provider and start seeing it as something deeply personal and valuable.

Final Thoughts

Libraries are emotional spaces. They represent hope, opportunity, safety, curiosity, nostalgia, belonging, education, and community.

Trying to market libraries without emotion is like trying to market music without sound.

So no, libraries should not feel guilty for creating marketing that makes people โ€œfeel all the feels.โ€

That emotional connection is often exactly what inspires people to support, advocate for, fund, and engage with the library in the first place.


Want more help?

How Libraries Can Use Storytelling to Build Community Support (4 Practicalย Tips)

Subscribe to this blog, and youโ€™ll receive an email whenever I post. To do that, enter your email address and click on the โ€œFollowโ€ button in the lower left-hand corner of the page. You can also follow me on the following social media platforms:

 

How Libraries Can Use Storytelling to Build Community Support (4 Practical Tips)

Black-and-white photo of a vintage library card catalog drawer pulled open, with rows of labeled drawers in the background. A translucent banner at the top reads โ€œSTORYTELLINGโ€ in yellow and โ€œFor Community Supportโ€ in white text.

My high school history teacher never assigned a textbook for class. Instead, every day, Mr. David Ulmer would pace back and forth in front of a room of students, explaining the events of the world in vivid detail as a story.

He would wildly gesticulate when the action got heated or dangerous, use voices to bring historical figures to life, and punctuate points with hilarious statements written on the chalkboard.

My classmates and I sat in rapt attention. We tried to take notes. But frankly, it was hard to tear your eyes away from Mr. Ulmer. We didnโ€™t want to miss a single detail.

No one failed tests in Mr. Ulmerโ€™s class. Thatโ€™s because his teaching method was storytelling. Rather than pushing a bunch of facts, figures, and details at us, he made historical events personal, vivid, and memorable. Everyone remembered the details.

Your library will have the same impact by including storytelling in your promotional strategy. ย 

โ€œPeople are looking for a connection.โ€ โ€”John Michael Morgan, Business Leadership Coach

Here are the four things you need to know to start incorporating storytelling into your library promotions.  

#1: You donโ€™t have to do all the work.

When a cardholder talks about the way your libraryโ€™s collection, programs, and services have impacted their lives, people will listen. Let your community share their story about their experience at the library.

One year during my time at the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Library, we sent an email to a target group of library users. We asked them to tell us why they loved the library. I thought maybe 25 people would respond. I was so very wrong.

We got more than 400 responses! Some people wrote a few sentences, and some wrote paragraphs. That one โ€œaskโ€ was a gold mine of storytelling for more than a year.

We contacted many of the responders later to ask them to elaborate on their stories on camera. We used those interviews for fundraising, blogs, and newsletter blurbs. We pulled some of their quotes and had our librarians read them on camera, which we shared during Library Workers Week and other big events.

We used some of those stories to lay the groundwork for a levy, which eventually passed. And we used stories on social media. That drove our organic engagement rates higher and made our other organic posts more effective.

Your community is eager to share testimonials with you. All you have to do is ask.

#2: You can gather stories every day.

Make it a practice at your library for front-line staff to be on the lookout for stories as they work โ€” not in a forced or formal way, but simply by noticing when a patron has a meaningful moment.

When those moments happen, give staff an easy way to jot down a sentence or two about what happened. And if they feel comfortable asking the patron directly, they can use simple language like, โ€œIโ€™m so glad we could help! Would you mind if we shared a little about this interaction? It helps other people discover what the library offers.โ€ Most patrons appreciate being asked

If you frame this work as optional and low-pressure, staff donโ€™t have to feel like theyโ€™re intruding. When I worked at the Cincinnati Library, I asked front-line staff to call me if they had an interaction with a patron that they thought would make a good story. One day, I got a call from a branch manager who said she just worked with a 12-year-old boy and his father, and they were willing to talk about their experience. That interaction led to this incredible video.

You can also ask volunteers, board members, and library friends groups to share their stories, as Deschutes Public Library did. These folks are often really passionate about their love for the library, and their stories will inspire others to volunteer, donate, and use the library.

#3: Stories donโ€™t have to be long or complicated.

Your library stories can be a few sentences, a few paragraphs, or a few pages. Thereโ€™s no formula for length. If youโ€™re not a confident writer, or your patron feels uncomfortable sharing in detail, you can still find a great story within a few sentences.

Jacksonville Public Library shared the story of a father who got his high school diploma with the help of the library. It’s less than 400 words, but it’s powerful.

#4: Your library can share stories everywhere you do promotions.

Start by including one story in each of the places where you normally promote your library.

For instance, if you send a monthly library newsletter, include a story. You donโ€™t have to delete any of the other things you normally promote in your newsletter. But slip a story into the mix.

Tease the story in your subject line to increase your open rates. A story will appeal to a wider audience. Once the subscriber opens your email and reads the story, they’ll be responsive to other promotional content in the email.

If your library has a blog, include at least one cardholder story on your blog every month, like Oak Park Library did with this extraordinarily moving piece. Your blog will grow in traffic and subscribers, which is good news for the other content you post.

One of the best places to share content marketing is in a video. And your subject doesnโ€™t even have to be human, as youโ€™ll see from this video by Broward County Library.

You can create a newsletter filled with stories. You can create a landing page on your website. You can share stories on your blog, on social media, in your videos, and in your print pieces.

โ€œIn a time of rapidly compounding technology generations, the most successful businesses will consistently deliver high touch to customer with one of our oldest traitsโ€”the telling of a story.โ€ โ€”Jim Blasingame, Small Business Advocate, Radio Show Host, Storyteller

One final note

As I was writing this blog, I came across this article by Martin Oโ€™Connor of University College Cork Library that I encourage you to read. Itโ€™s full of great tips on sharing the story of your library!

I also teach a course on library storytelling that is available as part of a Learn with NoveList Plus subscription or as a live or virtual session at library staff development days. You can contact me for more details.


PS: Want more help?

How Storytelling Is Revolutionizing One Libraryโ€™s Video Strategy

Subscribe to this blog, and youโ€™ll receive an email whenever I post. You can also follow me on the following social media platforms:

๐Ÿค”How To Choose Between Short or Long-Form Content Like a Pro

Watch this video now

#LibraryMarketingShow, episode 291

Have you ever stared at a piece of library marketing content and thought, should this be a quick update or a deep dive? Let’s settle that today! Here is how to know if you should use short-form content or when it’s time to go to long-form content in this episode of the Library Marketing Show.

Plus, we’ll give kudos to the subject of a past Super Library Marketing profile who just won a huge award.

Do you have a suggestion for a topic for a future episode? Do you want to nominate someone for kudos? Let me know here. Thanks for watching!โ€‚

P.S.: If you wish, you may download a transcript of this episode.


Miss the last episode? No worries!

Will I see you soon?

Subscribe to this blog, and youโ€™ll receive an email whenever I post. To do that, enter your email address. Then, click the โ€œFollowโ€ button in the lower left-hand corner of the page. You can also follow me on the following social media platforms:

The 5 Best Free Keyword Research Tools To Find the Perfect Keywords for Your Library Promotions (With Video Tutorials)

Photo courtesy Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library

A war is being waged 10 feet from my office window.

I love watching birds feed and listening to them chirp, squawk, and sing. I have a feeder that I’ve positioned so I can see the birdies enjoying their meal as I work.

But something is ruining my relationship with my feathered friends.

Some mornings, I come outside to find my oversized bird feeder, which I always fill the night before, COMPLETELY EMPTY. The seed is scattered all over the ground. And a scurry of squirrels are gorging themselves on the spoils.

The first time this happened, I did what anyone does in this modern era. I turned to the internet for help.

I typed “how to keep squirrels off my bird feeder” into Google. Suddenly I found myself down a rabbit hole (pun intended) with all the squirrel battle content you could ever want.

Repellant. Special bird feeders. Tips for installing slinkies on the pole to prevent climbing. SPIKES. Videos, advice, and products galore.

Why is it so hard to find tips on fighting squirrels?

The internet is a giant swirling vortex of content. According to Master Blogging, there are 7.5 million blog posts published every single day. (Thanks for reading this one!)

When you factor in social media posts, videos, website content, emails, etc., it’s no wonder your library has a hard time breaking through the noise. A search by anyone for anything is likely to turn up hundreds of results.

So how do you make sure your library content reaches the people who need it most?

Keywords are the key

When a community member is online, trying to find the source that will help them write a research paper, add branches to their family tree, or make a decision about whether to purchase a car, they need us to speak their language.

That’s where keywords come into play.

Keywords help search engines and social media algorithms understand what your content is about. They use those keywords to categorize your content and then match your content to people who are searching for it.

The right keywords make it more likely that the content you write will end up on the computer or mobile phone screen of the person who needs it most.

But you don’t have to guess at what keywords to use! There are tools to help find keywords to weave into your content. Here are my five favorites. They’re reliable, efficient, and free. I’ve made a video tutorial for each to show you exactly how to use them.

Spyfu

This website has a robust, free keyword research tool. You can use it without setting up an account or handing over your email.

Google Search Bar

The Google search bar allows you to see what content is rising to the top of Google’s algorithm. You can work keywords or phrases from those top-performing content pieces into your promotions.

Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom to see “people also search for,” which I find to be extremely valuable as a source of more keywords.

Google Keyword Planner

You can also use Google’s more robust Keyword Planner to search for keywords. The Keyword Planner is intended as a tool for buying Google ads but I find it to be an insightful way to find keywords for my website and social media.

Here’s a quick video to show you how both the regular Google search bar and the Google Keyword Planner work for sourcing keywords for library promotions.

Wordstream

This free tool gives you 25 keywords… more if you’re willing to provide them with your email. They’ll also show you the search volume for the phrase and the level at which you’ll compete with other content for attention. Type in your opening phrase and choose “All industries” for the best results.

Moz

This free keyword tool shows top suggestions, monthly volume, organic click-to-open rate, and difficulty ranking for any key phrase you search. You can get more robust suggestions if you hand over your email.

Whatever tool you use, the keywords you uncover should be placed in your blog headlines, in the text on your website, and in your social media posts.

But Angela, did you defeat the squirrels?

Yes, I did with the help of three slinkies, a 7-foot pole, and a baffle, which is a cone-shaped device that stops the squirrel from climbing up your pole to your feeder. I knew of the existence of baffles, but I had no idea that’s what it was called. But thanks to keyword research and placement by the vendor, I found it. Now my birds can eat in peace.

Note Mr. Squirrel, who is now relegated to picking up seeds from the ground.


P.S. You might also find this helpful

Finding the Perfect Name for a Library Program: A Checklist and Tips for Using AI

Subscribe to this blog and youโ€™ll receive an email whenever I post. To do that, enter your email address and click on the โ€œFollowโ€ button in the lower left-hand corner of the page. You can also follow me on the following social media platforms:

Is It Possible for Your Library to Overcommunicate? ๐Ÿ›‘ Here Are 4 Ways To Tell if You Are Flooding Your Community With Too Many Promotional Messages

Watch this video now

#LibraryMarketing Show, episode 239

You may wonder, is it possible to over-communicate with my patrons?

Can you send too many emails, do too many social media posts, and put up too many posters and flyers in your library?

There are some telltale signs that you’re overdoing it! I have four tips to help you determine if you are flooding your community with too many messages in this Library Marketing Show episode.

Plus kudos go to a library that received press coverage for the return of a long overdue book with a funny note inside!

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!โ€‚


Miss the last episode? No worries!

Will I see you soon?

Subscribe to this blog and youโ€™ll receive an email whenever I post. To do that, enter your email address and click on the โ€œFollowโ€ button in the lower left-hand corner of the page. You can also follow me on the following social media platforms:

Interviewing Techniques Anyone Can Use To Land a Powerful Quote for Your Libraryโ€™s Blog, Video, Social Media, or Press Release

Photo courtesy Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library

Interviewing a stranger about their library experience is intimidating for many people. If the thought of having an intentional conversation to elicit a sound bite you can use in a blog, video, social media post, press release, or other content sounds daunting, the post is for you.

Why a powerful quote is important.

Your audience wants to hear directly from the people impacted by your library’s work. Whether that is your staff, director, board members, or patrons, a good quote can drive home your work’s value.

A quote can convey passion or a strong point of view. It can turn a story about statistics or complicated concepts into something understandable and relatable. A quote can also establish an emotional connection with the reader or viewer.

And, if your goal is to catch the attention of local media, a good quote can make your press release, blog post, or email stand out. Because…

The media knows when your quote is fake.

I worked in a local television newsroom for nearly 20 years before I became a library marketer. And Iโ€™m here to tell youโ€ฆ journalists can tell when youโ€™ve made up a quote for a press release.

I understand why it happens. Your director or coworkers may tell you they trust you to put words in their mouths. It seems less time-consuming than doing an interview.

But the media can tell when youโ€™re making it up. Thatโ€™s why an interview, however short, is key to getting an authentic quote. So here are tips to make the interview process smooth and successful.

Prepare as much as possible.

If you are interviewing a co-worker, a board member, or the director of your library, take a few moments to see if there is any documentation that gives you clues about their background. Search their LinkedIn profile and board minutes. Do a Google search to see if theyโ€™ve ever done an interview. You may learn new facts about them and their speaking style.

Think about how you might structure your piece before you even write it.

That structure may lead you to questions to ask.

For example, readers may notice that I often start library profiles on this blog with some facts about my subjectโ€™s life before they worked in marketing. I ask people to tell me about their childhood library and their work before libraries, to build the scene and give a deep background on my subject. Use this technique for any interview leading to a blog post, social media post, or video.

If you are interviewing to get a quote for a press release, I suggest writing the press release before doing the interview. Leave spaces where a quote or two would grab the media’s attention and add context and emotion to the story youโ€™re trying to pitch. Now youโ€™re ready to write your questions.

Craft targeted questions that elicit insightful responses.

  • Use simple sentences and language.
  • Add intention to your questions. If you want someone to share a firsthand experience or observation, craft your sentence to gently lead your interviewee to that answer.
  • Ask open-ended questions. If you must ask a yes or no question, follow up with โ€œWhy?โ€ to give your subject the nudge to elaborate.
  • Still stuck? Use your tools. ChatGPT can help you craft questions for your interview.

To show how this works, I typed into ChatGPT: โ€œI am interviewing my library director about a new partnership that will help community members land a job or advance their careers. Can you give me some sample questions I might use to get a good quote?โ€

Here is the list of questions ChatGPT gave me.

  • Can you please provide an overview of the new partnership aimed at helping community members with job placement and career advancement?
  • What motivated the library to pursue this partnership?
  • How do you envision this partnership benefiting members of our community?
  • Could you elaborate on the specific resources or services that will be made available through this partnership?
  • In what ways will the library be collaborating with the partner organization to deliver these resources and services effectively?
  • How will the library measure the success of this partnership in terms of its impact on community members?
  • Are there any demographics or groups within the community that stand to benefit most from this initiative?
  • How does this partnership align with the library’s broader mission and goals?
  • Can you share any success stories or examples of how similar partnerships have been effective in other communities?
  • What steps will the library take to ensure that community members are aware of and can easily access the resources and services offered through this partnership?

That is a huge list! It’s a great start. All I would need to do is go through and tweak the questions to match the tone I want to set and to sound more like something I would say.

Now comes the fun part: the interview!

6 tips for conducting the interview

  • #1: Record the conversation.
  • #2: Talk a little about yourself to get the conversation started.
  • #3: Ask an easy first question to calm everyoneโ€™s nerves.
  • #4: Encourage elaboration on interesting points.
  • #5: Let the person talk. Donโ€™t be afraid of silence.
  • #6: Paraphrase or summarize key points to nudge the interviewee towards a quotable response.

P.S. You might also find this helpful

Library Marketer Shares Brilliant 4-Step Plan for Getting Press Coverage and Building Personal Relationships With Media

Subscribe to this blog and youโ€™ll receive an email whenever I post. To do that, enter your email address and click on the โ€œFollowโ€ button in the lower left-hand corner of the page. You can also follow me on the following social media platforms:

A Viewer Asks: Should You Go Back and Rewrite Your Library’s Old Social Media and Blog Posts?

Watch this episode now

#LibraryMarketing Show, episode 213

A viewer wants to know: “Do I need to go back in time and update all my social media posts and my blog posts”

That’s a great question! Is it a good practice or a waste of your time? I’ll give my best advice in this episode.

Plus someone will receive kudos!

Do you have a suggestion for a topic for a future episode? Want to nominate someone for kudos? Let me know here.

Thanks for watching!


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