Library Promoting Ideas

 

We live in a socially digital world, were content is thrown at us left and right. How can libraries use this to their advantage? There are a variety of platforms that are available for organizations to utilize for promoting programs and service. Access to the many social media platforms and digital services, allows librarians to share information. Making it possible to engage with the public on many levels. Communication is key to promoting successfully and librarians have to use every available resource to reach as many loyal and perspective patron.   

 

Social Media - The use of social media platforms allows libraries to reach a wider audience. Different platforms can reach different age groups with different content. The content can be designed to garner engagement with the different groups. 

 

Hashtags – Using current trending hashtags can help promote a library campaign. Creating catchy hashtags to describe upcoming and current events and library challenges can draw attention and interest to the library functions. Hashtags like #ResolvetoRead #GeorgiaReads can create community involvement. 

                

 

Staff Interest - Sharing staff interests can ease the stiffness and meanness that many perceive is displayed by most librarians. Hobbies, collections and interests of staff members could be featured on the library’s blog or social media to show the diversity and personalities of the individuals that work in the communities. This could be used to dredge up new and exciting library interest groups in the community.  

 

Pinterest – This platform is used by many people and organizations to share information and ideas. Gathering content and creating visual digital boards for private use or to share with others. Libraries can use this platform to share craft ideas, hobbies, displays and books. They could use the statistics from the board that have the most interest to create more content and programs. 

 

Access to the many social media platforms and digital services, allows librarians to share information. Making it possible to engage with the public on many levels. Communication is key to promoting successfully and librarians have to use every available resource to reach as many loyal and perspective patron. They can also use these platforms to let the public know how great or successful the events and service have been. This informs skeptical individuals that it may be worth wild to attend the next event or to seek out the services. Some may see it as “tooting your own horn”, but library’s need to promote however they can for success. My find that I enjoy creating eye catching and sleek designed graphics to help promote my library. Canva is my tool of choice and I love looking at different organizations and influencer Instagram accounts to see what is trending and catchy.

Specialized Library Programs and Services

·         Explain which specialized programs and services are offered by your library.

Another popular program is the Reading Empowers All People (REAP). This unique program is for residents who require literacy skills. This innovative program has taught hundreds of immigrant families, adults, and children basic English skills since 1999. This program has grown, expanded but maintains its focus on assisting patrons to develop skills to improve their lives. REAP is a ten year effort to promote literacy skills to connect with immigrants and refugee families. Teaching the families English, helping them to become more aware of what our public library offers them.
The service insist that working with the whole family will ensure that adults and children have this experience as well as the pleasure of sharing it together.

 

DeKalb Votes Challenge is another initiative offered by DCPL. This program provided a fun way for participants to learn about the voting process. Participants earned challenge badges while learning about the history of voting in the U.S., voter registration information and resources, election dates, new voting machines, absentee ballots and much more. Dekalb Votes Challenge was selected by a panel of expert judges with the Urban Libraries Council, for a Honorable Mention Winner for Civic and Community Engagement. During the course of the program, the DeKalb Votes Challenge has been very well received. New challenges and badges are added as opportunities to partner with civic organizations in support of the national Get Out the Vote initiative become available.

• Registered Participants: 1,261
• Completed Activities: 5,316
• Badges Earned: 4,624
• Challenge Completions: 231

 

DCPL has established the Take the Internet Home with You initiative, this service offers 200 mobile hotspots devices for patrons to check-out who may not have access to the internet at home. The DeKalb Library Foundation received a $25,000 Community Impact Grant from New York Life to implement this initiative to its communities. DCPL

 

·         Discuss which of the programs and services you found in your research would be a good fit for your library.

The Fulton County Library System offers Class Pass. The Atlanta Public School System and the Fulton County Library have partnered to allow Atlanta Public School students and employees access all the resources provided by the Fulton County Library. All APS students and teachers identification numbers have been linked to the library’s database and can be use in lieu of a library card. This partnership can be very beneficial to the Dekalb County Library to aide in students and educators easy access to materials and e-resources.

Girls Who Code was another awesome programs that is offered at different system that could cohesive program for my library. With computer science skills being at the base technology careers, Girls Who Code offers coding classes to teen girl in an effort to close the gender gap in the computer science and technology fields.

·         From your research of similar libraries, propose two new specialized services and/or programs for your library (including the purpose and intended audience), and explain why these would support the library’s mission and goals.

 There are many special programs and services out there for libraries to share with their communities. I would like to implement a teen film making program that would offer teens equipment and resources to master the art of putting together short films. Then we would end the program with a watch party.

A family cooking program would be beneficial. Offering a class like, Cooking for health for families to become more familiar with healthier cooking techniques and resources could aide in everyone of any age in making better and healthier food choices. 

 

 

Dekalb County Public Library, (n.d.). Retrieved December 18, 2020 from https://dekalblibrary.org/  

Evans, G.E., Saponaro, M. Z., Christie, H., & Sinwell, C. (2015) Library programs and services: The fundamentals (8^th ed.). . Santa Barbara, Ca: Libraries Unlimited

 

Library Programs and Services

Library Programming

Currently, libraries have had to broaden the scope of what programs they can offer and how to deliver them effectively. They have also had to subtract some vital in-person services that were available to the public it services. The Dekalb County Public Library in Decatur Georgia offers a wide array of great programs and services. But, here are few additional programing ideas that can be very beneficial its patrons. 

●  Coding for kids - STEAM programming has become more prevalent. STEAM is the combination of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. With technology and gaming play such a large part in today's society for young people, it is important to offer programming that is geared towards their current interest. Coding gives them the tools to succeed in many different technological areas. A coding program will utilize software, games and apps to teach the participates about different aspects of coding. They can also learn how to use coding to develop games, software and program robots and computers.

●  Financial Literacy - Finances have always been a very challenging subject for most individuals. A financial literacy program can aid patrons in learning the importance of creating a functional financial plan for better money management, budgeting, banking, saving and retirement planning.

● Storytime with actual book authors - Storytime is a fun program that helps to build vocabulary and teach diversity, life lessons and many other important things. But, it creates a different atmosphere when the stories are read by the authors and they can elaborate more about the characters and themes. 

These programs support the Dekalb County Public Library’s mission because they have the potential to be fun, engaging and educational. These programs will  enlighten and enrich the lives of the library’s community members.

 

Library Services

Here are three additional services that the Dekalb County Public Library could add to their line-up, that can aide the community.

● Faxing - Faxing services are not a convenient service to find in a most areas. Everyone can not afford or live near copying centers that offer this service.

● Health and Wellness Kits – The kits would contain important toiletry products for the less fortune individuals that are in need.

● Best Buy Teen Tech Center – The Best Buy Teen Tech Center is  designated engaging safe space for teens. It offers hands-on experience with tech, such as digital media, robotics, virtual reality and 3D printing. The center  helps to cultivate the next generation of inventors, engineers and entrepreneurs. The center is equipped with technology and multimedia tools that can be used for music and video production, interactive programming, graphic design and much more.

These services will allow community access to some hard to reach service and equipment.