Archives for Marketing:
September 18th, 2007 Brian Herzog
Sparked by a discussion in the ning Library 2.0 forum, I recently revamped my Library’s 404 error webpage (what displays when the webpage someone is looking for is not found).
Until earlier this year, we just had the standard “404 error: file not found” page, which is common and boring. I had made it a little more interesting just by adding our logo and some helpful information. But Darlene’s call for injecting humor and casualness in this situation got me to rethink it, and I came up with our current page.
Libraries are always fighting the traditional stuffy stereotype, and little things like this can make the patron experience more interesting and memorable. Also, it really was fairly easy to do, and I think in this case, a little effort goes a long way (of course, ideally, this page would never be seen).
But let your 404 page be seen - Darlene also started a flickr Library 404 Page group, so please add your screenshots. Also, some live, non-library examples are available at sendcoffe.com.
And before anyone asks: I didn’t put too much thought into the books in the photo. This is just the shelf closest to the Reference Desk. But really, I think these titles lend themselves pretty well to the process of discovery of something missing - plus, this is the “self-help” section.
404, 404 error, chelmsford, chelmsford library, error page, librarian, librarians, libraries, library, public libraries, public library, web page, website
Tags: 404, 404 error, chelmsford, chelmsford library, error page, librarian, librarians, libraries, Library, public libraries, public library, web page, website See Also
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August 14th, 2007 Brian Herzog
Readers Advisory has been quite the topic for me lately, and the fun continues.
There’s a current thread on ME-LIBS about what libraries do to connect books with readers, and I thought I’d pull together some of the examples provided (please excuse any editorializing on my part - I was trying to just pull out the highlights, so any mistakes below are mine):
Molly Larson, Rockport Public Library
- We have a “Rockport Readers Recommend” display that is ongoing and we encourage patrons to recommend titles…[and] write a comment in the notebook. We also post this list on our website including patron comments
- We also have “BookLovers Cafe”…an informal gathering on Saturdays once a month when patrons can just come in and talk about what they’re reading. [Staff] compiles the list of recommended books and we also provide the list at the book display
- [Staff] created a handy series book that is right at the Circ desk. Patrons like this because they don’t have to look it up in the OPAC or somewhere else to find the next title in a series (popular adult fiction)
- We have various themed displays that change regularly. Patrons love the different displays
- In our monthly newsletter…staff members will contribute “good reads” suggestions. I’ve seen patrons bring in the list of recommended reading and look for the books
- We have done “if you like” lists on occasion as bookmarks
- Ongoing display of new children’s books and Maine Student Book award books
- I use NoveList almost on a daily basis and offer to print article from that for patrons
Kathy Foss, Camden-Rockport Middle School Library
- A series “notebook” which we used to have in hard copy but now have at our website
- A set of shelves just for what I call “Foss Favorites” in the school library which kids can browse as they know I’ve read each title and recommend it
- A variety of reading lists on our website so that if a student wants another book, for example, with animal main characters, they can browse these and print out the lists that interest them most by clicking on Foss Favorites on that page
- We also use Novelist all the time
- This fall we plan to start encouraging our students to podcast their own book reviews so that other kids can hear them
Barbara L. Keef, Windham Public Library
- Our patrons love eye-catching displays, especially if they are in a bit of a hurry to grab a couple of books for their vacation time (the popularity of a display is easily judged by the amount of time you spend in re-stocking those titles)
- Some successful display ideas from our library include:
- “Most checked-out book lists” from Library Journal to showcase the popular fiction and non-fiction titles
- A display of “what we read last summer” (the NY Times Best-sellers from the summer of 2006)
- A “Read, White, and Blue” display of -guess what- books with red, white and blue covers
- A “Get a Life” display for biographies
- Read-alike display (right now it’s Jodi Picoult)
- Other Popular Author display (at the moment, it’s Clive Cussler)
- We also have created read-alike bookmarks as well as a list of what our Book Group has been reading/discussing
- There are also displays in our Teen Area for new titles and other popular subjects (pirates, for example)
- Novelist is a valuable tool along with all those other lists found on public library websites. It is fun to hear what other libraries are doing for Reader’s Advisory and it helps to browse websites and visit bookstores to get ideas
I don’t know why, but it was kind of funny to see that everyone mentioned NoveList (I use it myself, and patrons seem to enjoy NoveList after I demonstrate it). I also liked that these libraries dedicate displays to younger readers; I know that depends on staff and space availability, but it’s a group that shouldn’t be ignored.
In my library, we rely heavily on displays, read-alike bookmarks, informal staff suggestions, and our Readers Corner webpage. We also use NoveList quite a bit, as well as BookLetters. My concern is trying to present all of these suggestion sources in a coherent and useful way.
Another source for ideas is the Readers Advisory section of the Library Success: Best Practices Wiki. If your library has found something that works well, please share.
books, libraries, library, public libraries, public library, reader advisory, readers advisory, reading, recommendations, suggestions
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July 17th, 2007 Brian Herzog
I read about a cool idea on BoingBoing the other day - a “choose your own adventure” story stenciled onto city sidewalks.
Players can start in either of two locations - I think either as “him” or as “her” - and then progress through the story making decisions and following the directions. It’s a love story, so if both players choose the right paths, they end up together at the same place.
I thought this would be a great thing for a library to try - not only does it involve reading a story, but also the community. It would get people out and interacting with each other and their neighborhood, and it really sounds like fun.
I suppose any story would work, but it would be even better if it could be place-specific - perhaps following the path of a prominent local historical figure, or the growth of a local enterprise, or even highlighting local attractions or businesses. I think there are many way to make this work, but the bottom line (as I see it) is that it is a way for the library to get outside the building and doing something that people can have fun with.
boing boing, boingboing, community, libraries, library, public libraries, public library
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July 10th, 2007 Brian Herzog
The Freakonomics blog has an excellent post today, entitled “If Public Libraries Didn’t Exist, Could You Start One Today?” Certainly worth a read, and the comments are good, too.
And interestingly, I saw Sicko yesterday, in which a very similar principle was brought up: if something as socially-important as health care can be privatized, then why not privatize other public services: fire stations, police departments, libraries? Why should we hold onto our old-fashioned, socialistic, help-thy-neighbor way of running these services? Surely we should be looking for ways to make money off of these things, like good little capitalists. Or are some things more important than money?
Thanks Chris.
freakonomics, libraries, library, privatization, public libraries, public library, role of libraries
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July 3rd, 2007 Brian Herzog
I don’t know if this is bad luck, along the same lines seeing a bride before her wedding, but here are a couple “before” photos of my library’s float for Chelmsford’s 4th of July Parade [pdf].
Since we did a One Town, One Book program this year featuring Richard Russo’s Empire Falls, that’s the theme chosen for the float. It is supposed to look like the inside of the Empire Grill, a diner featured in the story, and people will be dressed in character passing out copies of the book, pins and magnets.
On the right side of the picture is the diner’s door, and on the far left is a backdrop painted to look like an average scene from a New England mill town (the backdrop is also a wooden Very Large Book). The dinery part will be in the middle, complete with counter, table, chairs, menus, ketchup bottles, etc.
I’m sure it will look better at the parade tomorrow.
And for my part, instead of riding on the float, I made the “Empire Grill” sign. It is supposed to look like a neon diner sign, but I think it looks like what it is - some plastic tubing spray-painted neon orange nailed to a piece of plywood spray-painted black. But at least people will be far away, and it’ll be moving.
Happy Independence Day, everyone.
chelmsford, chelmsford library, chelmsford public library, empire falls, empire grill, float, libraries, library, one book, one town one book, parade, parade float, public libraries, public library, richard russo, chelmsford public library
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