Making the Case for Your Library: A How-to-Do-It Manual (How-to-Do-It Manuals for Librarians, No. 104)

Citation

Reid, J. (2001), "Making the Case for Your Library: A How-to-Do-It Manual (How-to-Do-It Manuals for Librarians, No. 104)", The Bottom Line, Vol. 14 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/bl.2001.17014dae.005

Making the Case for Your Library: A How-to-Do-It Manual (How-to-Do-It Manuals for Librarians, No. 104)

Making the Case for Your Library: A How-to-Do-It Manual (How-to-Do-It Manuals for Librarians, No. 104)

Reed, S.G.Neal-SchumanNew York, NY2001Keywords: Public relations, Advertising, Libraries

Librarians need to become key players in the political lives of organizations, not just at budget time. Libraries are important and librarians must say so, over and over again, to targeted audiences, and in clear, succinct ways.

Sally Gardner Reed is Director of the Norfolk (Virginia) Public Libraries, and has worked in and with libraries in New Hampshire, Vermont and Iowa. In Making the Case for Your Library, she draws on her experience and expertise to offer a blueprint for structuring advocacy strategies campaigns designed around specific goals. Drawing from her own successes in marketing and public relations for her libraries, Reed enthusiastically shares techniques and tips.

The chapters give guidance on creating a succinct, clear message, then delivering the message in an articulate, comprehensive way that reaches a wide audience. She discusses standard ways to present messages to the public, and written communication tools including newsletters, proclamations. The author makes the point that there are cheap, effective communication tools.

The book highlights specific examples for executing a targeted campaign. Samples and sources for free clip art, styles for flyers, brochures, posters are included. Tips for TV and radio presentations, and how to get newspaper coverage, including letters to the editor and opinion of the editor pieces. Another chapter provides guidance on creating visual presentations, articulating the message using slides and PowerPoint.

Being an effective advocate for libraries is a long-term endeavor that takes skill and persistence, and measures of success are often ambiguous. Over and over again, Reed emphasizes how important it is that librarians develop a compelling message. This is a handbook about developing political clout, power and influence in library organizations and communities. This accessible book would be a good primer for new administrators and new public relations staff in any kind of library – public, school, academic or special.

Janine ReidDistrict Librarian, Delta County Public Library System (CO)