Current Methods Use to Promote the Library Collection and Its Effectiveness
ASSIGNMENT 11
A research conducted to highlight the current methods use to promote the library collection and assess their effectiveness.
1. INTRODUCTION
Research has been untaken to assess the current methods used to promote the library collection and to analyse the effectiveness of these methods. The literature has shown that effective promotional methods can increase efficiency, awareness of and the use of the library’s collection. Promotion is one of the elements in marketing which uses persuasive information that targets potential users, it keeps the product in the minds of the customer and stimulate the demand for the product. Baker and Wallace (2002) show how the use of marketing techniques can promote the library collection in today’s high tech competitive environment. The application of such techniques has assisted the School Library and Media Center (SLMC) to effectively promote the collection. The main methods are personal contact, public relations, the use of well designed library publications, displays and the use of electronics tools. In addition to the present promotional methods used others have been examined to assess their effectiveness. The collection encompasses the conventional print and multimedia resources as well as the digital collection that is available to meet the needs of the user community and if publicized effectively will capture the target group attention.
The target group comprises of all registered patrons as well as potential users. Included are the reluctant readers, remedial students, those with special needs, the administrative staff, principal, vice principal, head of departments, all teachers and support staff. The resources to be promoted are;
• Printed resources- books, magazines, periodical, catalogues, newspaper clippings
• Electronic resources- CDs. DVDs
• Digital collection- databases
2. PROMOTIONAL METHODS THAT ARE CURRENTLY USED
2.1 PERSONAL CONTACT
A research conducted to highlight the current methods use to promote the library collection and assess their effectiveness.
1. INTRODUCTION
Research has been untaken to assess the current methods used to promote the library collection and to analyse the effectiveness of these methods. The literature has shown that effective promotional methods can increase efficiency, awareness of and the use of the library’s collection. Promotion is one of the elements in marketing which uses persuasive information that targets potential users, it keeps the product in the minds of the customer and stimulate the demand for the product. Baker and Wallace (2002) show how the use of marketing techniques can promote the library collection in today’s high tech competitive environment. The application of such techniques has assisted the School Library and Media Center (SLMC) to effectively promote the collection. The main methods are personal contact, public relations, the use of well designed library publications, displays and the use of electronics tools. In addition to the present promotional methods used others have been examined to assess their effectiveness. The collection encompasses the conventional print and multimedia resources as well as the digital collection that is available to meet the needs of the user community and if publicized effectively will capture the target group attention.
The target group comprises of all registered patrons as well as potential users. Included are the reluctant readers, remedial students, those with special needs, the administrative staff, principal, vice principal, head of departments, all teachers and support staff. The resources to be promoted are;
• Printed resources- books, magazines, periodical, catalogues, newspaper clippings
• Electronic resources- CDs. DVDs
• Digital collection- databases
2. PROMOTIONAL METHODS THAT ARE CURRENTLY USED
2.1 PERSONAL CONTACT
Bibliography: 1. Baker, Sharon and Wallace, K.L. (2002). The responsive public library how: to develop and market and a winning collection. 2nd ed. Englewood, Colorado; Libraries Unlimited. 167-178p. Retrieved on March 01, 2012. From http://books.google.tt/books. 2. Fox Simmons, Megan. (2008). Promoting the library. Retrieved from http://www.olc.org/marketing/4intro.htm 3. Gardner, C.A. and Dillion, Cy. Openers, the new Media . Virginia: Virginia Libraries. Retrieved on Mar 23, 2012.from http://scholar.lib.vl.edu/ejournal. April/May/June. 2004. Vol. 50 No. 2 4. Nottingham, Julie. Doing It Right: A Reader’s Advisory Program. Reference and User Services Quarterly 41(4):338. http://crl.du.ac.in/ical09/papers/index_files/ical-79_73_172_2_RV.pdf 5. Julie Nicholas. Marketing and Promotion of Library Services. Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K. http://www.eso.org/sci/libraries/lisa3/nicholasj.html