Marketing & Promoting Library Services Resources

People often confuse the terms 'Marketing' and 'Promoting.' Although promotion is an element of marketing, it is just one step in the process of developing and implementing a strategy to increase demand and use of your library services. Promotion involves getting the word out to your community about your library services.

Marketing involves a series of steps that include:

• A. Community assets and needs assessment
• B. Development of products and services that support community assets and meet needs
• C. Develop a strategy for implementing the production of products and delivery of services
• D. Develop a plan to promote products & services,
• E. Begin distribution of the products, services, and promotion,
• E. Evaluate the impact of both the products and services and the success of your promotion, and
• F. Adjust products, services, and promotion strategies using evaluation analysis.

The following links provide information and resources for you to consider when developing and implementing your marketing and promotion plans.

Marketing your Library: Marketing the Library Web-based Training for Public Libraries was commissioned by the Ohio Library Foundation in 2003 with financial support provided by the Drew Carey Fund, revised annually 2003-2007, links updated 2008. Project consulting for original development, annual updating and revised content, instructional design, and web design by Deana Noack Web Design, edited by Jennyann Noack. Photo on this page by E. Chanley. http://www.olc.org/marketing/index.html

LexisNexis Promoting You and Your Library This Web Site is a source to help you design programs that celebrate, promote and reaffirm the importance of the library and librarians in today’s world. It also offers suggestions for energizing and inspiring you, your staff and your colleagues! www.lexisnexis.com/infopro/training/toolkits/#marketing