Marketing the Library

DESCRIPTION

The school library offers students innumerable resources, but sometimes students, faculty, and administrators aren't fully aware of all the materials and programs available to them. Businesses have long benefited from the advantages of marketing their goods and services—now it's time for you to apply these strategies to your library! Marketing can encourage participation in your library's programs and services and ensure that the collection gets noticed and used. In this course, you'll learn easy-to-apply steps to grow a marketing strategy from scratch or to bolster your existing one. Get tips on how to write an effective marketing plan, how to incorporate branding into your strategy, and specifics on marketing programs, services, events, and collection resources.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

• Learn how to effectively structure a school library marketing plan, including how to set actionable goals and objectives to improve awareness of your library's offerings
• Learn how to skillfully brand your library, from mission statement to logo
• Learn the nuts and bolts of traditional marketing strategies
• Learn how to take advantage of social media to draw in library users
• Learn specific methods to market your collection and programs, events, and services in your library

COURSE OUTLINE

Each course lesson includes video content and at least one follow-up activity to help you apply and show evidence of your learning.

Introduction Video

Lesson 1: Marketing Plans

Activity 1: A Marketing Plan for Your Library

Lesson 2: Branding

Activity 1: Make It Your Mission

Activity 2: Logo Land

Lesson 3: Traditional Marketing Techniques

Activity 1: Learning from Business

Lesson 4: Social Media

Activity 1: Fully Connected

Lesson 5: Marketing the Collection

Activity 1: From Bookstores to Library Shelves

Lesson 6: Promoting Programs, Services, and Events

Activity 1: Complete Your Marketing Plan

Closing Video

Course Certification Quiz

CREDIT HOURS

Earn 3 professional development clock hours for completing this course's videos, readings, activities, and quiz. Consult with your supervisory organization about applying these to your professional development requirements.

EVIDENCE OF LEARNING

To show evidence of learning for this course, complete and share the following:

1. Completed Marketing Plan Template
2. Course Quiz Results / Certificate of Completion

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN TEAM

Rebecca J. Morris, MLIS, PhD, earned her master's degree and doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh and her undergraduate degree in elementary education at Pennsylvania State University. Rebecca teaches graduate courses in school librarianship and youth library services. Rebecca has published articles in journals including School Library Research, Knowledge Quest, School Libraries Worldwide, Teacher Librarian and the Journal of Research on Young Adults in Libraries. She is the author of School Libraries and Student Learning: A Guide for School Leaders (Harvard Education Publishing Group, 2015). Rebecca is a former elementary classroom teacher and middle school librarian.

Stony Evans, MS, is a teacher librarian at Lakeside High School in Hot Springs, AR. He earned his master's in library media and information technologies from the University of Central Arkansas. He was selected as AAIM Library Media Specialist of the Year in 2013. Visit his blog at librarymediatechtalk.blogspot.com, email him at stony_evans@lakesidesd.org, or follow him on Twitter @stony12270.

Jennifer Gibson, MA, earned a teaching credential and master's in technology from Chapman University, where she was an adjunct faculty member for over seven years. With over 20 years of education experience, Jennifer fuels her vision, innovation and leadership by blending educational experience with professional development, educational policy, eLearning, and standards-based design to support educators in professional learning.

Jane Cullina, MSEd, is the professional development specialist for School Library Connection. A former children's librarian and humanities teacher, Jane earned her master's degree from the Bank Street College of Education in New York City and has taught in Boston, New York, Maine, California, and South Africa.

ABOUT LIBRARIES UNLIMITED

School Library Connection is a publication of Libraries Unlimited, a publisher in the field of academic, public, school, and special libraries since 1964. Libraries Unlimited's mission—to cultivate and maintain a supportive community where librarians, archivists, and information specialists can learn about and discuss leading-edge trends and acquire new skills through every phase of their careers—is supported by over 2,000 publications. Since 2008, Libraries Unlimited has been an imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC, an award-winning publisher of digital and print products in the realms of reference, contemporary thought, and professional development. With both a long-standing reputation for authoritative and trustworthy materials and a current prominence in delivering cutting-edge content in diverse and innovative forms, ABC-CLIO continues to be driven by pursuit of its core mission: to serve as source, catalyst, and support of lifelong learning.

CONTACT INFORMATION

To make inquiries about this workshop, please email WebinarSLC@abc-clio.com.