Librarians wear a lot of hats, but one little-known fact outside of librarianship is how much research and writing takes place in our profession.
We’re delighted to announce that one of the newest books on the shelves at the William H. Hannon Library was written by none other than our very own Serials & Electronic Resources Librarian Marie Kennedy. We invited Marie to answer a few questions about her book, Marketing Your Library’s Electronic Resources : A How-to-do-it Manual for Librarians.
Tell us a little bit about your book.
Our book is designed to assist all kinds of libraries in creating a solid marketing plan for their electronic resources. It’s a step-by-step manual, with four examples of actual marketing plans that my co-author, Cheryl LaGuardia (Harvard University), and I like.
As more of what the library collects has shifted to the digital format, the “new books shelf” has become virtual, and libraries have been hard pressed to find ways to connect their patrons with content that they don’t physically bump into in the library. In the book we talk about ways that a library can help facilitate the discovery of that digital content through strategic communication.
Why is this important to libraries?
Libraries have always built their collections with their patrons in mind, and we’ve got a great reputation for relating to patrons. Our book is a guide to help libraries assess if their current communication strategies about databases, e-journals, streaming videos, and e-books are working.
In researching and writing the book, what did you learn that you hope we can implement here at our library?
One of the components in the marketing cycle we’ve developed can be loosely described as “getting to know your user community.” The library at LMU has already created a communication culture in which our faculty, students, and staff know that we’re interested in what they have to say about services and collections. Developing a marketing plan for electronic resources will allow us to add in an assessment component to know if the decisions we’re making are giving the best experience to the LMU community.
What’s next for you?
When I’m not thinking about e-resources I’m in the kitchen at home, experimenting. I recently made this beet ravioli, and next I’m dying to try this recipe for avocado-coconut ice cream.
See Marie’s other publications & projects.
Follow her on Twitter (where she writes about libraries, organization, monkeys, and delicious delectables.)
Check her book out for yourself!