Publicity Ideas

The link to the AskNow Publicity site - http://www.asknow.org/special/index.cfm - is also in the Wistlist.

Here are some more publicity ideas from DIG-REF:

Local Promotion Ideas

The following is a list of ideas that were potentially or already being
implemented by our local [Maryland] libraries (including colleges) in late 2003.
Since about 50% of our customers find out about Maryland AskUsNow! just
By seeing it on the web pages, I would suggest a focus in this area more
than others. (Of course this is also dependent on people already knowing
That the library has a web site!)

On the web:

* Ask the following groups to add links to their web pages using your
library's virtual category:
o Local government
o School web pages
o Local economic development groups
o Local non-profit groups
o Community associations
* Add links to other pages within your library's web site, including:
o Reference Resources & Information page
o Kid's, Teen & Homework pages
o Seniors page
o Business, Law, & Health pages
o The library catalog ("Didn't find what you need?" page)
" Move your library's home page link 'above the fold' so people
would not need to scroll down to see it.


In person:

* Visit the school media specialists and public school teacher
orientation
meetings in August
* Invite school teachers to your library for orientation to services.
* College orientation for students and parents
* New faculty orientation
* Library instruction classes
* Computer classes: Make it a part of Intro to Computers or Intro to
Internet
* Mention during library's closing announcement


In your library & community:

* Student newsletter or school newspaper
* Printed calendar of library programs
* E-mail newsletter
* Student union or cafeteria
* Place bookmarks into every book on Sale Book shelves
* Video loop playing in branch, with bookmarks available
* Book stores & computer stores
* Phone message while people are on hold
* Notice on print or e-mail on hold books pick-up message (But word
text
carefully so that we don't encourage people to write in regarding their
books for pick-up)
* Merge with other outreach already being done, such as bookmobile and
homebound services
* Hold a local anniversary celebration recognizing one year of
providing
Maryland AskUsNow! on March 17, 2004 (or other achievement)
* Hold a local contest
* Public access or cable television
o Interview programs
o Homework show
* Suggest as great local story to regional, neighborhood, or campus
newspapers

Joseph Thompson
Project Coordinator, Maryland AskUsNow! Information
Services
Department, Baltimore County Public Library 320 York Road, Towson, MD
21204
(410-887-6124)


From: Jennifer Duvernay <http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/dig_ref/post?postID=CW_ffvoOH71wm7ODlqjh2qsQga9STO8vfkbAhhWy0ytFufvBS-YeNfyyqBM70tr9m3VG6xFhI4xy2WibRAxQU6s> Date: Fri Dec 3, 2004 1:22 pm
Subject: Re: [DIG_REF] Promoting VR services?

We've done a variety of things this semester to promote our VR service. We've been making a particular effort to do so because this was the first semester we offered 24/7 service.1. Placed "Ask a Librarian" info on promotional highlighters and post-it notes distributed during the first week of classes (seehttp://www.istl.org/04-fall/article3.html)2. Created color postcards featuring our "mascot", a large inflatable yellow chicken/duck (very eye catching). We made several versions as semester progressed3. Had personal appearances by chicken/duck mascot outside libraries – staff talked about service to students stopping to look at chicken4. Worked with Distance Ed to get links to 24/7 service from their student support pages5. Placed signs by library workstation with slogan "Get help without getting up"6. Added short text message to bottom of all circulation receipts7. Promoted heavily by individual reference librarians at the desk and in instruction classes. Some classes were given postcards with other class hndouts.(You can see pictures of the chicken featured in our VRD presentation titled,"Taking the plunge to 24/7":http://www.asu.edu/lib/library/eref/presentation/vrd2004.ppt)-Jennie
Jennie Duvernay Science Reference Librarian
Noble Science and Engineering LibraryArizona State University
480-727-7636 jennie.duvernay@a...

From: Sara Weissman <http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/dig_ref/post?postID=GOU-tVG0-LIMRRk6CGWWjNnolwSYgw8DmNHdryZnk7De1gJykLbsGpDDPnFDnvWab1nG0oj3yYTFtf1S9lFEL8mX> Date: Mon Nov 29, 2004 6:41 pm
Subject: Re: [DIG_REF] Promoting VR services?

I made up business cards two weeks ago...just on Avery stock, from the Word biz card template. They read simply:
Morris County Library
http://www.mclib.info
(973) 285-6930
mocolib1@g...
At all service counters (colleague pointed out that an audio cassetteplastic case flipped open and over is a great card display unit). I also and one to each person who comes up to desk and pays for copies.
Also finally changed over text link to our e-ref service to a graphic http://www.mclib.info/askdot.gif Deploying that all over the site, moving it up from bottom of pages where t languished.Have you taken out an ad in school paper? Put poster in dining hall,etc?

We've promoted our live chat reference service by methods similar tothose you've mentioned (bookmarks, library instruction sessions, link inSFX interface). Here are some other steps we've taken:- month-long exhibits in library display cases (during Feb. and Nov.2004);- ads in the online student newsletter (4-6 ads per term);- collaborating with LIS faculty, who direct students to the service;- prominent placement of links on home page and contact page;- addition of the phrase "live chat" to links;- redesign of email and live chat web pages; and- extended live chat hours from the reference desk (over 40 hrs/week),The redesign of our home page during the past year may have alsoincreased the accessibility of this service. In any case, our chattraffic has increased from an average of 8-10 per month last year toover 20 in each of the past three months. -Tim
___________________________________
Tim Bryant Reference Librarian & Bibliographer
Rod LibraryUniversity of Northern Iowa
1227 West 27th StreetCedar Falls, Iowa 50613
Email: tim.bryant@uni.edu Tel.: 319/273-3703 Fax: 319/273-2913

We had posters and mouse pads made using our bright green logos. They'vebeen placed at public service pcs throughout our Library building and incomputer labs throughout the campus and at the 2 remote site campuses. Thedesign was created by a former student assistant who was an graphic artsmajor, and it seems to be eye catching and appealing to students.
Beth Stahr Reference/Distance Learning Librarian
Distance Learning Library Services
Sims Memorial LibrarySLU
10896Hammond, LA 70402
dllib@selu.edu 985-549-5056 877-746-5463 (877-SIM-LINE)
985-549-3995 (fax)online request form: http://www.selu.edu/Library/forms/distancereq.html
Get online help when you "chat with a Librarian":http://www.selu.edu/Library/forms/askref.html

At UNC-CH's Undergraduate Library, we distribute business card-sizedstickers at the Reference Desk and in instruction sessions with ourbuddy name on it (we use AOL's IM). These stickers are a huge hit withstudents because they can stick them right to their laptops or ontonotebooks. We also use the same graphic to advertise the service on ourhomepage.
-Suchi Mohanty
--Suchi Mohanty, Reference and Instruction Librarian
R. B. House Undergraduate Library, CB# 3942
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890
Phone: (919) 962-1355 Fax: (919) 962-2697 Email: smohanty@email.unc.edu

Our director recently talked to a focus group of students about how they find out about library news & services. One of the most popular ways was through banner signs in the upper windows of the library. Signage around campus is definitely one way to go. Also, our student newspaper ran an article about our chat service when we first launched it. Does your campus have a radio station? Maybe they'd bewilling to do brief promos on the air for you. It sounds like you are on the right track. Web page, bookmarks, andword-of-mouth will help get the ball rolling. I've found that promoting theservice in library instruction classes almost always results in 2 or 3questions from members of that class within the next few days.It will take time. Our service is still fairly new (~ 6 months), and usage started out *very* slow, but we're happy to note that it is increasing quite a bit as the semester goes on. We use AOL IM for chat reference.Hope this helps. Good luck with your service.Emily Alling
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Emily AllingReference LibrarianBabson LibrarySpringfield CollegeSpringfield, MA 01109(413) 748-3848(413) 748-3631 (fax)AIM: fondueparty