Search

Super Library Marketing: Practical Tips and Ideas for Library Promotion

Open Search
Category

Professional Development

The 11 Best Conferences in 2024 for Anyone Looking To Learn More About Library Promotions and Marketing (and Some Are Completely Free!)

Photo courtesy Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County https://digital.cincinnatilibrary.org/digital/collection/p16998coll12?fbclid=IwAR3gV2a2TMW2DFTLlsU0shgVGKzEFtzSJBYpqyAircAHN3eh6wvoE-siipw
Photo courtesy Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library

There is nothing like gathering in a room full of people who understand your struggles and your triumphs.

One of the best ways to find your library marketing soulmates… the ones who will nod sympathetically when you talk about how hard it is to get engagement on your social media posts or how your co-workers expect you to make a flyer for every single program is at a conference.

What topics do you want to see covered at conferences this year?

That’s why I’m putting out my annual list of the best conferences for library promotions a little early this year. I wanted to give you more time to plan.

Here’s what you need to know about this list.

  • The conferences have a robust selection of sessions specifically centered around marketing and promotions. Many conferences on this list are not specifically designed for libraries. But if the conference will teach you techniques or new concepts that you can adapt to your library work, I’ve included it.
  • The conferences offer high value for the price. I am keenly aware of budgetary constraints for libraries. That means some really incredible conferences are not on the list.
  • The conferences are listed in chronological order.
  • Some conferences are virtual, and some are in-person. I tried to offer a range for those who wish to travel and for those who prefer to learn at home.
  • Most of the conferences on my list are in North America. There is one exception. But you can scroll to the bottom of this post for a link to a complete list of library conferences around the world and non-marketing-focused state library conferences in the United States.

A final note: I’ll be at the Public Library Association Conference in Columbus, Ohio this year so if you’re going to be there too, let’s meet up!

The 11 Best Conferences in 2024 for Library Marketing and Promotions

Computers in Libraries 2024

In-person event, March 12-14, 2024, in Arlington, Virginia
Price: Ranges from $249 to $929 depending on how many days you wish to attend and whether you want to participate in workshops.

The Communities track is marketing and outreach-focused. There are also sessions on the future of libraries and the impact of AI.

American Copy Editors Society

In-person event, April 4-5, 2024, in San Diego, California
Price: $775

This conference boosts an impressive program packed with sessions that will sharpen your writing skills for all kinds of library promotion including tools for fact-checking, accessibility, creativity, and how to build an in-house style guide.

Digital Marketing Conference Series

47 separate in-person and virtual events happening between April and October 2024 across the globe
Price: Varies by location. You’ll generally pay around $600 for the bottom-tier in-person pass and about $200 for the virtual pass.

This series includes sessions on customer engagement, social media marketing, video marketing, web analytics, email marketing, content marketing, search engine optimization, geo-targeting, and much more. Each event has its own website and agenda so you can pick the right session for you.

Digital Summit Series

8 separate in-person events between April and December 2024 across the USA.
Price: $495 for a main conference pass

This conference covers content, social media, email, SEO, analytics, and strategy. They also got me with this line from their website: “Size and budget shouldn’t lock you out of good marketing.” The cost is reasonable and the programs all apply to library marketing work. They’ve even got a pre-filled email to send to your supervisor, making the case for attendance. And with 8 conferences across the U.S., there’s bound to be one near to you.

International Public Library Fundraising Conference

In-person event, June 9-11, 2024, in Washington, DC
Price: $372.60

This conference is for anyone assigned to marketing for fundraising at a library. Topics include effective direct mail and digital fundraising strategies, messaging in today’s political and social climate, how to turn fundraising challenges into successes, engaging your board, and Library Giving Day ideas.

Marketing Analytics Conference

Virtual event, June 18, 2024
Price: Free

Every marketer needs to know how to analyze data. And although there’s not a program listed yet, a free conference from the American Marketing Association that promises to deep dive into trends, strategies and innovations in marketing analytics alongside industry leaders and experts is a must. I’m registered!

Podcast Movement

In-person event, August 19-22, 2024, in Washington, DC
Price: Early bird prices range from $239-$539, depending on whether you want access to recordings and VIP status

I’ve added this conference because so many libraries are now producing podcasts. With more than 100 sessions and the opportunity to network with other podcasters, plus a very affordable ticket price, I think this conference is definitely worth your consideration.

Online News Association Annual Conference

In-person event, Sept. 18-20, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia
Price: Prices are not yet released but last year they charged $795 for the in-person conference and $350 for a virtual pass with access to session recordings.

I bet you’re thinking, “What is this conference doing on the list?” Last year’s program was packed with sessions that would be extremely valuable for library marketers, especially if one of your 2024 goals is to improve your writing and storytelling and increase press coverage of your library. If they offer the virtual pass again, I think it’s worth your consideration. Sign up for their conference newsletter to get notified when registration opens and when the program for 2024 is set.

Guru Conference

Virtual event, October 16-17, 2024
Price: Free

A favorite of my team at NoveList, I’m thrilled that the date doesn’t conflict with the Library Marketing and Communications conference this year. This free virtual event is packed with tips for email marketing and advice for promotions. It’s energetic and usually has celebrity keynotes (last year was Martha Stewart!). There are no recordings, so you must set aside time to watch the sessions live. Block your calendar now.

Internet Librarian

Virtual event, October 22-24, 2024
Price: TBD but last year it ranged from $199-$329

An incredibly affordable option for library staff, especially if you don’t have a travel budget. The conference usually includes sessions on social media management, video marketing, and podcasting. Registration is not yet open but you can sign up to get email updates on the event.

Library Marketing and Communications Conference

In-person event, November 12-13 in St. Louis, MO
Price: TBD

If you have to pick one conference to attend this year, make it this one. This is an amazing opportunity to learn so much about marketing, communication, public relations, social media, and outreach in academic, public, and special libraries. The sessions explore issues that are important for this niche of library work. The conference includes time for attendees to network and discuss mutual challenges. Registration opens later this year. Sign up for their mailing list on the website to get more information. Join their Facebook group to start networking right now. I will be there!!!

More library conferences

For more library conferences across the U.S. and abroad, visit Information Today.

PS You might also find this helpful

10 Tips to Make The Most of Your Next Library Marketing Conference

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:

0

Libraries Face a Crisis: Why You Should Throw Out a Full One-Third of Your Planned Promotions To Fight Back

Watch this video now

#LibraryMarketing Show, episode 209

I am proposing that you throw out one-third of your planned marketing and promotions for the next 12 months! I know it’s a big ask.

But I want you to use that space to create marketing and promotions that fight back against the biggest existential threat libraries have ever faced in their existence. I’ll explain why this is absolutely necessary in this episode.

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!

Miss last week’s episode? No worries!

Will I see you soon?

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:

0

Want To Boost Your Library Marketing Creativity? Here Are 10 Ways To Reduce Stress so You Can Do Your Best Work

Photo courtesy Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library

For my birthday, my 23-year-old daughter gave me a gratitude journal. She told me about her own practice of writing in her journal first thing in the morning and right before bed. She gives herself space to list what she’s grateful for and sets her mindset for the day.

In fact, she’s got a whole routine for morning and night that’s incredibly healthy. She eats well, exercises, and tells me all the time that I’m worth taking care of. She’s my self-care inspiration.

I’m trying hard to follow her example. I think people of my generation (Gen X) have been trained to overwork. We were told that productivity equals worth. But that philosophy leaves many of us feeling exhausted, overworked, and underappreciated.

Burnout is real, especially for communicators. Nearly 75 percent of people working in marketing and communications say they experience burnout.

I want to help my readers avoid burnout and love their job in library marketing! These are my personal tips for managing stress.

10 tips to manage stress in library marketing

#1: Create a space where you want to work.

When I worked at the library, my office was in a windowless basement. It was lit by fluorescent lights and was incredibly sterile. It looked like a glass cage.

I was happy to have my own workspace, but it was not a space in which I wanted to work. So, I made a few minor changes.

I hung blue twinkling lights around the perimeter and bought a funky blue desk lamp at Goodwill. I papered the glass windows with cards and notes that I’d received from former interns and co-workers. I bought a tiny portable speaker and played soft music through my iPhone while I worked.

These changes may seem very small. But they worked to create a place where I looked forward to coming each morning.

You can do the same by auditing your current workspace. Is your desk a place that will foster creativity and productive work?

If not, then spend some time working on your workspace. Dim the lighting. Declutter your desk. Store some snacks or your favorite candy in your desk. Bring your favorite mug to work to make coffee or tea time more enjoyable. Hang some artwork.

If you’re working in a shared area, do what you can to add a personal touch to the space. And invest in headphones so you can play music or white noise or whatever you need to help you focus.

#2: Don’t eat at your desk.

Stopping for half an hour to eat gives you a natural boost in productivity and it helps to refresh your mind for the second half of your workday.

Don’t use this time to catch up on emails. Grab a book. Head outside if you can and spend half an hour in the sun.

#3: Don’t try to multitask.

It’s tempting to try and tackle several tasks simultaneously. That seems like a productive use of time. But it’s the opposite because you do none of them well.

Constantly switching focus makes you less productive and strains your brain. Try your hardest to focus on one task at a time.

I’ll often close my email and Teams when I know my focus might be pulled away from an important task. When I worked at the library, I would take my laptop into the stacks or into a conference room. A change of scenery can often help you hyperfocus on a task that needs tackling.

#4: Take breaks during the day.

You want to look away from your computer every 20 minutes.  And every hour, give yourself a few moments to take a mindful break. Stretch, look out the window, or go outside and really pay attention to what you see, hear, feel, and smell.

If you need help with this, there are lots of apps for your phone that will remind you to take time for yourself. Or you can use Tomato Timer on your laptop or desktop to nudge you.

#5: Create a shut-down routine.

When you’re done working, create a routine to tell your brain that work time is over. Turn off notifications on your phone if you can. Shut the computer. Resist the temptation to look at your library’s social media accounts when you’re not on call. This is an especially important step for those of you who work from home.

#6: Give yourself the grace to be imperfect.

Even though I know it feels like it sometimes, no one will die if your email or social media post doesn’t get the engagement you were hoping for.

So much of what impacts our marketing is out of our control. And all of marketing is an experiment. That’s what drives innovation in your promotions.

If your promotion fails, it doesn’t mean you are a failure. Give yourself permission to try something else!

#7: Celebrate success.

Success is a great motivator, and we often focus too much on what we have to do next. We should spend just as much time celebrating and examining the emails, social media posts, flyers, website graphics, videos… etc. that do well.

Why did a specific promotion work? How did that tactic help your library reach its overall goals? Ask yourself this question for every promotion you do. Pretty soon, you’ll start to see your successes pile up!

Before you leave work each day, write down one thing you did well that day. Share your successes with your co-workers (and keep a running list for your performance review.) You can also share your successes every Friday on the Library Marketing Book Club Facebook page.

#8: Find ways to recharge your creativity

You might have noticed that every time I interview a library marketer, I ask them what they do for inspiration. That’s because motivation naturally flags over time. It helps to have sources of inspiration and energy when we’re stuck in a rut.

Go to a conference. Read a book. Listen to a podcast. Watch a TED Talk. Read a blog post. Meet with a mentor. Pick one thing that will get your creativity and productivity flowing again and schedule it as part of your regular work routine.  

#9: Use your vacation and sick time.

If you are having a day where you’re just feeling drained, exhausted, and stressed, use your sick time to take a mental health day.

And plan to take time off from work at least once a year. For me, disconnecting from work for an extended period is the best productivity boost. For the first day, I’m super tempted to check my email. Then, I go into a period of about 2-3 days where work is the furthest thing from my mind. I have a job?? Then, right around day 5, I start to process new ideas for promotions and posts for this blog! I end up sending emails to myself with those ideas so I can tackle them when I get back.

But I firmly believe that I would never come up with those new ideas if I didn’t give myself permission to not think about work. And for me, that means physical separation from the office. Maybe you’re the same way!

#10: Ask for help.

73 percent of people don’t ask for help on the job when they need it, according to Study Finds.  The survey also found that 53 percent of people feel held back from achieving certain goals in their lives because they try to go at it alone.

These numbers are incredibly sad.  And I would hope that you would feel comfortable enough in your library to ask your co-workers and fellow library marketers for help. But if that’s not something you can do, you can always reach out to me. I’ll always do my best to get back to you.

More Advice

How to Get Stuff Done Without Losing Your Mind: My Top 6 Time Management Tips for the Busy Library Marketer

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:

0

I Spent 3 Hours in a Room Full of Curious and Committed Library Staff: Here Are the 4 Things I Learned From Them!

Teenagers and young people in the 1950s in a library. Some are sitting at a table looking at magazines, while others search through the card catalog.
Photo courtesy Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County

This past week, I spent three-plus hours in a room with 38 library marketers.

We worked together on all those pieces of library marketing that we don’t normally have time for.

We identified our libraries’ strengths and weaknesses. (My weakness: spelling).

We named our libraries opportunities and threats. We set SMART goals.

We identified our target audiences (hint: your audience is not everyone!). And we talked about measuring promotions to replicate success.

These are the fundamentals of library marketing. These are the building blocks that ensure your marketing will be successful.

This was the first-ever pre-conference workshop for the Library Marketing and Communications Conference, which returned in all its in-person glory. Shoutout to the dozens of readers who took the time to say hello to me!

I told the group that I knew, without a doubt, that I would learn something from them. And I did.

A room full of library marketers, sitting at tables and waving at the camera.
My 38 new best friends

Here are the four things I learned from this fantastic, dedicated, intelligent, creative, and curious set of library marketers.

Library marketers need time to think.

We are all doing too much.

We must make print collateral, send emails, schedule social media posts, attend meetings, make press releases, do outreach events, and then attend more meetings.

I asked almost everyone I met at LMCC how things are going at their library. And I lost track of the number of times the response was, “It’s been a little nuts.”

The idea of setting aside time to consider what is to be done, how it will be done, who will do it, and how it can be more effective, is an entirely foreign concept to most libraries. 

We don’t give our employees the time to work through strategic planning. There is no rest. At many libraries, the marketing is done by librarians who also have other duties. There’s never any time to breathe.

And then we wonder why it’s so difficult to create successful library marketing and communications.

That happens because we never take the time to do all the fundamental work that is necessary to ensure our marketing is effective. We’re building houses without foundations.

So, the workshop gave these library marketers permission to ignore email, text messages, chats, and outside distractions. They got three hours to focus solely on building the foundations for strong library marketing.

It’s important to create that space for yourself as a library marketer. I know it’s difficult. If you can’t attend a workshop, you can set aside time on your calendar, like you would for a meeting, to do this important background work.

Put your phone in a locked drawer. Turn off your chat program. You can even leave your physical workspace if you need to. When I worked at the Cincinnati Library, I would hide in the stacks when I needed to do this work.😉

Library marketers face the same struggles.

We did a SWOT analysis exercise, where each library marketer identified their library’s strengths and weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. And then we shared as a group.

How many of these do you recognize as your library’s weaknesses and threats?

  • A marketing team made up of one person, trying to do ALL the promotions
  • Difficulty getting people to take an action, like place a hold or register for a program after they engage with marketing
  • Having too much to do
  • Having no identifiable library branding
  • The approvals process
  • Threats to funding

The list goes on.

During this exercise, the library marketers in the room began to realize that they are not working alone on an island. There are thousands of library staffers out there who understand their struggles because they face those same difficulties. They felt truly seen.

Library marketers have a lot to celebrate.

As much as we struggle to do effective library marketing, we also have many, many, many wins to celebrate. We should be proud of:

  • Our social media engagement
  • Our impactful partnerships
  • The fact that people open and read our emails more than they do for any other industry!
  • We have so much great content to promote.

We don’t do enough celebrations in library marketing. That’s one of the reasons I started giving out Kudos in The Library Marketing Show and began recognizing libraries via #LibraryoftheDay.

You can help. When you see a library doing great marketing work, give them a shoutout on social media. Better yet, email them to let them know you noticed their amazing promotion. You can also nominate a library for Kudos on The Library Marketing Show.

A little bit of celebration goes a long way to boosting morale for library marketing. We can be each other’s cheerleaders!

Library marketers thrive when they have a friend.

Most of the attendees of the pre-conference session told me they are introverts. But when I asked this room full of strangers to pair up, the room got super noisy!

There were smiles. There was laughter. There were conspiratorial looks and nods of understanding. It was magical.

And it occurred to me… sometimes we just need someone who understands our work.

You may be wondering how you can find a library marketer to be friends with. One way is to join the LMCC Discussion Group. You can also join the Library Marketing Book Club.

Or you can message me on LinkedIn. Tell me a little about yourself and I’ll introduce you to a library marketing buddy.

Let’s support and encourage each other. When we work together, we strengthen the library industry and, most importantly, do a better job of providing service to our communities.

More Advice

Stop What You Are Doing! Before You Launch Another Library Event or Service, Take These 5 Steps to Define Your Promotional Strategy

Call It What It Is: Toledo Public Library Explains Their New Brand Strategy

Subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email every time I post. To do that, enter your email address and click on the “Follow” button in the lower left-hand corner of the page.

2

Library Conferences Need More Marketing Sessions! 5 PLA Attendees Explain Why a Focus on Promotions is Critical Right Now [ARTICLE]

Photo courtesy the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library

I’ve spent days trying to land on the right words to describe the amazing week I’ve just had.

I attended my first Public Library Association conference this past week in Portland, Oregon. It was glorious, wonderful, exhilarating, inspiring, transformative… and about 100 other adjectives.

Honestly, I felt like a kid attending her first week at a new school.

The sessions at PLA were mainly focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion practices. We also heard from experts about fighting censorship and first amendment challenges.

These are incredibly important and urgent problems facing the library industry. But there was a huge piece of the puzzle missing from the session offerings at PLA, and other library conferences I’m planning to attend this year.

Marketing and promotion are a critical part of all the work we do to be inclusive and to protect intellectual freedom. We need more library conference sessions that provide tips and inspiration for library promotion.

Megan Bratton, Marketing and PR manager for Natrona County Library, agrees. “It would be more valuable than most people realize,” she told me in between sessions at PLA. “Libraries do so much across so many spectrums and for so many demographics. It touches literally everyone in the community.”

We must make sure people know that our spaces, programs, and collections are open to all. We must share the message that we support EDI practices in our hiring process, collection development, and creation of services.

And to protect our libraries in the fight against censorship, we must do promotions to clearly explain the policies we put in place to ensure intellectual freedom is secure.

Marketing is an essential part of this work. It’s the job of everyone working at the library. And every library conference needs a marketing track.

The new friends I made a PLA agree with me. They shared a list of marketing struggles they’re facing that could be addressed through promotional-based sessions at library conferences.

Amy Cantley, assistant branch manager at Seminole County Public Library says she struggles to get information about her library’s services to people outside of her building’s wall. “We do social media promotion,” she explained. “However, we don’t do any outside promotion beyond that. So, unless you’re on our website on our social media channels you’re not hearing about it.”

Lisa Plath of Collierville Burch Library says her library does a great job of marketing her collection to current cardholders. So, this year, she’s focusing on expanding her library’s message.

Lisa says she is working on “… getting the word out to people who don’t use the library so that they know all the good we have to offer. The people who do use the library, knowing what we offer besides the books they come in to check out.”

Megan Maurer of Scenic Regional Library faces a similar challenge. She struggles with “… promoting things that people traditionally think about the library, but we don’t necessarily do a good job of reminding people we have. We don’t promote our collections or our databases.”

Katie Rothley of Northville District Library has seen the effectiveness of good storytelling in the for-profit marketing sector. She wants to replicate that for her library.

“I really want to tell a story about each service, but I want it to be a story of the person (who)… was able to solve the problem by using a library resource,” Katie said. “Connecting with people with stories is the most effective way to spread awareness and increase empathy and prove effectiveness so I want to figure out a concise formula so I can do that. I want to connect with people emotionally and feel empowered in their own life.”

As for Megan of Natrona County Library, she says she would like to see more library conference sessions on creating messages and convincing everyone on her library staff to share them. “Everyone in your organization should be sharing the same story,” she observed. “Libraries are very narrative-driven, and everyone needs to be speaking the same language. But people don’t understand the value of marketing until the marketing doesn’t do something they want it to… like their program doesn’t get enough attendees.”

There is a demand for answers to these big marketing hurdles libraries are facing today. Library conferences need to add more sessions focused on promotion to their agenda. A marketing track should be part of every library conference.

Marketing courses are typically not included in most library degree programs. Library staff needs help with marketing. It’s critical to our industry’s strength and survival.

So, I hope library conference organizers will take note and actively seek out more promotional-based sessions to add to their agendas. There are a lot of libraries of all sizes and shapes doing great promotions. I’d love to see more of these folks sharing their advice and stories at library conferences.

Do you agree? What is your favorite library conference? Share your thoughts in the comments.

You May Also Want to Read These Posts

I Went to My First In-Person Conference in 19 Months: Here Are the 7 Most Relevant Marketing Lessons I Learned and What They Mean for Libraries

5 Surprisingly Easy Ways to Write Email Subject Lines That People Actually WANT to Read

Latest Book Review

All the Feels by Olivia Dade

Subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email every time I post. To do that, enter your email address and click on the “Follow” button in the lower left-hand corner of the page.

6

Six Tips to Make the Most of Your Online Experience During Virtual Conference Season

Man walking through the stacks. Photo courtesy The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County

In November 2019, a conference changed my life.

I attended the Library Marketing and Communications Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, where I met my future boss, Kathy Lussier of NoveList.

On the first day of the conference, we had breakfast together and started talking. And by the end of the conference, she was texting me a job opening that eventually led to my current position with NoveList.

Conferences can re-frame your professional life. You may find your next new job. You might make a new best friend. You may learn a skill that revolutionizes the way you do your job. At the very least, you’ll hear speakers who inspire, energize, and motivate you.

We’re heading into conference season and this year it’s all virtual. (The Library Advocacy and Funding Conference starts today–if you’re attending, send me a friend request!)

As I learned from attending the American Library Association conference in June, an in-person conference and a virtual conference are not the same.

But you can have a fantastic virtual conference experience with the right preparation. Here are the six things I recommend you do this year before you log on.

Get your Twitter and LinkedIn accounts ready

It’s imperative that you have a LinkedIn and Twitter profile, and that you use them to engage during a virtual conference. Networking is a big part of the conference experience. And since we can’t network in person, these two social media platforms are the easiest and safest way to interact with new friends.

There are several steps you should take to prep your profiles. Once the conference ends, you can always change your profile back!

On LinkedIn, check to make sure that your profile is set to “public.”  To do that, click on your settings and look under “privacy.” This step will make your profile easy to find, especially if you are in the market for a new job opportunity.

Customize your LinkedIn profile URL to include your first and last name. This will make your profile easier to find in search. You can also make this adjustment in settings.

On LinkedIn, ask co-workers, partners, and former colleagues for recommendations. This is especially important if you are job-hunting. You’ll want to give them some time to write their recommendation, so ask as soon as you register for a conference.

Make sure your photo on LinkedIn and Twitter looks as professional as possible and use the same photo for both platforms. LinkedIn says a professional photo will make visitors seven times more likely to visit your profile than picture-free profiles. You can take a great photo yourself! My LinkedIn profile photo is a selfie I took in the backyard at sunset on my iPhone in portrait mode.

Check your header image on both accounts. A meaningful image related to your professional experience can drive home who you are and what you do.

Edit your headlines and your personal details. Include a little about your work and what differentiates you from other people at the conference.

To boost search rankings on Google, include keywords that will appeal to your fellow attendees or the conference hashtag. I’ve also seen people temporarily change their Twitter Profile name to include the conference hashtag for the duration of a conference.

Clear your calendar

My coworkers and I agreed that we made a big mistake when we attended #ALAVirtual20. Most of us accepted meetings during the conference week, even though attending a meeting would interrupt our conference experience.

If you were attending a conference in another city, you would be unavailable for meetings. Adapt that mindset and be intentional about giving yourself the space to focus on your conference experience in a digital setting.

Now, during virtual conferences, I mark myself “out of office” on my Outlook calendar.  And I’m clearing my schedule of other busy work.

Take advantage of pre-recorded sessions

Most virtual conferences offer at least some, if not all, of their sessions on-demand. That can impact which sessions you consume.

For instance, this week’s #LAFCON is completely pre-recorded. In preparation, I went through the sessions and highlighted the ones I want to watch. Then I scheduled them, by name, into my work calendar in one-hour increments. That will help me keep track of my choices, watch sessions in an order that makes sense (I can do all the marketing track sessions back-to-back!) and help me stay focused.

Plan breaks

Of course, you know it’s exhausting to stare at the screen all day. At a real conference, you’d take a break to eat, use the restrooms, get coffee, tour the vendor booths, or maybe just chill for a bit. Try to mimic that self-care routine in a virtual world. Schedule those breaks into your calendar if you must.

Be patient with technology

If there’s one constant with the pandemic, it’s that every online event will experience technical difficulties. Many organizations are using streaming platforms for the first time. There may be bandwidth issues.

Be patient and polite. Before the conference begins, check to see where you can report technical issues or get assistance.

Follow the conference hashtag

This is a great way to get involved and tune in to conversations from your session and from sessions you couldn’t attend. It’s also a networking opportunity. Don’t hesitate to reach out to folks if you liked what they had to say by replying, liking their Tweets, or retweeting them.

Join me at a conference

The event page has returned to the blog. If you’re attending a conference with me, please let me know so we can connect.

You might also find these posts helpful

Experts Reveal the Truth About What Your Library Needs to Do Now to Build Support for the Future

Five Relevant Library Marketing Lessons Learned at the American Library Association Annual Conference (#ALAVirtual20)

Latest Book Reviews

How to Be Heard: Secrets for Powerful Speaking and Listening by Julian Treasure

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards

Find more 60-second Book Reviews here.

Subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email every time I post. To do that, click on the “Follow” button in the bottom left-hand corner of the page. Connect with me on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. 

3

Library Marketing During a Pandemic: Tips for Working from Home or the Office and Dealing with the Stress of a Crisis

This week has been super crazy.

Many libraries have closed their doors to help quell the spread of COVID-19. Some have chosen to remain open.

I’m not here to judge one way or another. I’m here to help you work efficiently during this crisis, whether you’ve been allowed to work from home or whether you are compelled to report to the office.

Even before the pandemic struck, remote work was growing in popularity in the library world. At the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, administrative staff could work from home up to two days a week.

That’s a trend in workplaces across the nation. The amount of people working from home has tripled in the past 15 years, according to the Federal Reserve.

But if you’ve never worked from home, the transition can be a little tricky. And there are things you can do to set yourself up for success and weather this strange time in library land.

Working from Home

Treat your morning routine the same as you would if you were heading into an office. Have breakfast, shower, and get dressed, even if it’s not in fancy clothing.

Keeping a consistent schedule will help you get in the right head space for work. It will also make the transition back to the office easier (once this is all over).

Make yourself a designated workspace. It is super tempting to set up shop on your couch or bed. Resist the urge. In fact, never do work in your bed. Your sleeping space is sacred. If you are working in your bed, you mind will start to associate that space with work and its stresses. It can mess with your sanity.

Set up at your desk, kitchen table, the kitchen counter, or some other non-sleeping space. Have all the supplies you normally have at hand. Set up your photos, your plants, and your trinkets. Make it feel as much like your normal workspace as possible.

Be careful what you download. Ask your library’s IT team which platform they prefer you use to work remotely. Google, Slack, Facetime, and Teams are the most popular tools. If you do need to download a new tool or app, stick to well-known companies or ones that have been vetted and approved by your library.

Ask your library about a VPN. A virtual private network can give you access to shared drives at your home library and protect your privacy.

Watch out for scammers. Already, there are reports of coronavirus scammers calling employees. They claim they’re with the help desk, They try to get you to download software or go to a certain webpage. Don’t fall for it.

If you get an email or a phone call from someone claiming to be from IT, especially if the email contains links or documents, send a new email to your IT deparmtnet (so you’re not using the address the possible scam came from). Or call your IT department to make sure it’s legitimate.

Scammers also sometimes claim you library has set up special new call centers and the regular corporate IT phone numbers won’t work. Don’t buy it. Hang up and call your IT department.

Leave healthy food within easy reach. It’s hard to avoid the chips when you can just open the cupboard door. To help combat the constant urge to munch on junk food, I usually wash fruit and veggies in the morning and place them in bowls on my kitchen counter. That way they’re within easy reach when I get hungry.

Don’t fall into a Netflix/YouTube/Twitter/whatever hole. It’s hard for some work-at-home employees to avoid distractions. The best way to keep from binge-watching shows when you should be working is not to start.

I try to have the same mindset in my home office that I had at the library: if my boss walked in right now and saw what I was doing, would she approve?

Over-communicate. The distance created by working from home sometimes can hamper communications. Ask co-workers to tell you the best way to reach them… by text, or chat, or email, or video. Then try your best to respect their preferences.

Ask for clarity on projects from your boss. Get instructions and deadlines in writing.

And don’t be afraid to ask questions. Clarity will help get the work done faster and without mistakes.

Mute yourself if you’re on a conference call. As many of us move to virtual meetings and working from home during this strange time, we need to remember to respect meeting time as we would in the office. That means protecting your fellow workers from the sound of your dishwasher/barking dog/loud neighbor during a conference call.

Create a wrap-up routine for the end of your day. This will signal to your brain that your work has ended.

It sounds silly, but it works. Put away your laptop, pack up your pens, straighten your desk, and maybe talk a walk or lite a scented candle to signal to yourself that it’s time to relax and readjust to non-work life in your home.

If You Must Still Report to the Library

Talk to your boss about what to do if you get sick. Make sure you know who to call if you fall ill and what your rights are in terms of medical leave. Having a plan in place will help ease some of the anxiety of working in a public building.

Clean your workspace before you touch anything. This is particularly true for workers sharing desks. Clean the phone, the desk, the keyboard and the monitor buttons, the copy machine keypad, and any other shared surface with an antibacterial wipe.

Wash your hands or sanitize frequently. No need to be specific here. You’ve seen the recommendations from experts. Sing your 20-second song of choice and do it frequently.

Advice for Everyone

Remember it’s a global crisis. If you feel less productive, it’s natural and you’re not alone.

Managers: please remember that your staff are dealing with issues. They may not be sharing everything with you. Concerns about the health of loved ones, daycare situations, and generalized anxiety may lead to less productivity. Please be patient and generous with your employees.

Our cardholders and community may also be working through anxieties and taking out their stresses on staff. Please support your employees. Make sure they know it’s okay to talk about the additional stresses this situation creates for them.

And if you are feeling anxious, seek professional help. There is no shame in talking with a licensed medical professional about these extraordinary circumstances and the fears they may cause.

Try to get enough sleep. Exercise. Limit your exposure to the news. Talk with friends and family about how you feel. Read a good book.

We will all get through this. Let’s be kind and patient with ourselves and others as we navigate these uncharted waters.

Read More: How Libraries Are Responding to the Coronavirus Threat and How Your Library Can Prep for Any Crisis

Subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email every time I post. To do that, click on the “Follow” button in the bottom left-hand corner of the page. Connect with me on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.  

7

The Top Five Reasons to Set Aside Time AND Budget to Attend #LMCC20! The Library Marketing Show: Episode 22

Watch Now

Straight off the end of #LMCC19, I ran back to my room and rattled off the top five reasons YOU need to make sure you attend the Library Marketing and Communications Conference in November, 2020. The conference will be in Indianapolis, Indiana.  For more about what I learned at this year’s conference, read this.

And kudos to the organizers of this year’s conference. It was top-notch. The venue, the food, the speakers, the app, the registration information, the speaker process… everything was well-organized and smooth. This was the best conference experience I’ve ever had!

Have an idea for the next Library Marketing Live Show? Submit it now.

Stay in Touch

Check the Upcoming Events page to see where I’ll be soon. Let’s connect!

Subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email every time I post. To do that, click on “Follow” button in the bottom left-hand corner of the page. Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.  

0

Six Truths Learned at #LMCC19 and What They Mean For the Future of Library Marketing

The Future of Library Marketing

Well, that was fun!

I am back from a three-day trip to St. Louis, Missouri, where I had the pleasure of attending and speaking at the fifth annual Library Marketing and Communications Conference.

It. Was. Amazing.

I learned stuff, made friends, and I felt supported as I was surrounded by 450 fellow library marketers. Here are the top six things I learned while at this spectacular event.

Library marketers everywhere are struggling with the same problems. We’re all fighting to keep our branding clear and consistent. We’re all stumped about the best way to market programs. We are searching for ways to find success in internal staff communications. And we all feel like we could use more support from senior leadership.

It doesn’t matter if you’re working at a public library or an academic library. It doesn’t matter where your funding comes from. It doesn’t matter how much money you have. It doesn’t matter how big your staff is! We’re all in the same boat.

Many of the people I talked with at the conference found these problems frustrating. But we also found some comfort in knowing that everyone is facing the same issues.

Library marketers are on the forefront of a major push to make our libraries more diverse, accessible, and inclusive. It seemed like every time I made a new friend, the conversation turned to diversity and inclusion. Library marketers are pushing staff and senior leaders to make service accessible to everyone. They are pushing to make sure people of all backgrounds have a seat at the table when it comes to important decisions. They want to make sure their marketing messages and their library’s service are open to as many members of the community as possible. It’s inspiring! And library marketers are tenacious. So, get ready, because we’re going to be changing things!

Library marketers are obsessed with data. I’m so heartened to see how many of my colleagues are in a constant search for data. They want to make sure their messages are getting to the right audience at the right time, and they’re using data to make sure that happens.

They use data to make the case for libraries to add services and to demonstrate the value and impact of programs and services. They’re using data to make work easier for front-line staff, to understand their current users, to find non-cardholders, and to send targeted messaging in various forms to diverse audiences.  It was fun to be surrounded by fellow data nerds!

Library marketers have conflicting emotions about social media. But they’re no longer afraid! Library marketers of all ages are willing and eager to learn how best to use each platform. but they’re also frustrated because most platforms make it so dang difficult to get any organic reach and don’t seem to have any plans to make life easier for nonprofits and social service agencies.

But we’re not giving up! The session on creating memes was one of the most popular at the conference! The insta-stories session also got a lot of buzz. And at my own session on social media success, I got a lot of in-depth questions from the audience. I also talked to some Gen X library marketers who were eager to learn about “younger” social media platforms like Instagram. I’m a Gen Xer! If I can do it, I have no doubt you can too!

And speaking of social media, one of the weird and frustrating things I’ve noticed about most library conferences is the lack of live-tweets, Facebook, and Instagram posts during the conferences. This was not the case at LMCC! If you were stuck in room sick, as a good friend of mine was, you would have still been able to learn from the attendees who used the hashtag.

The proliferation of social media posts were also helpful for attendees who are torn between attending two sessions. I was able to get a lot of tips from sessions I couldn’t attend by checking the hashtag feed.

And when one of the conference board members asked members to turn on a special LinkedIn feature to connect with other attendees, they did it! I made a lot of new connections.

Library marketers who don’t have a library science degree often feel judged and misunderstood by the librarians in their systems. This was really disheartening. I am lucky in that I don’t think the librarians at my library think less of me because I don’t have a masters in library science (or if they do, they don’t make me feel like they do!).

I spoke with a great many library marketers who came to this profession from journalism or from marketing jobs at big companies and brands. They have a sincere desire to do work that is meaningful and to give back to the community. I hope that librarians will begin to view the marketing staff at their libraries as advocates and partners. We are here to help make sure your work reaches a large audience and to help sustain the library industry by communicating its value to the public and to stakeholders. Let’s work together!

Librarians are too humble and don’t brag enough about the work they do. The clear consensus among library marketing professionals is that humility is holding back the industry.

We’re all working hard to make sure the great work of front-line staff gets noticed, applauded,  and rewarded. This important task is made harder when librarians aren’t willing to talk about what they do. We all agreed that librarians are amazing and their work doesn’t get enough recognition. Let us help with you that!

Check the Upcoming Events page for a list of webinars and conferences where I’ll be next. Let’s connect! Plus, subscribe to this blog and you’ll receive an email every time I post. To do that, click on “Follow” button in the bottom left-hand corner of the page. Connect with me on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.  

5

A WordPress.com Website.

Up ↑