Community

Outreach

at Your Library

By Joan VanSickle Sloan

Blount County Public Library

February 2015

Libraries

Out

of

the

Box

Today’s Libraries Have So Much To Offer:

So How Do We Let People Know What’s “In the Box”—in the Library ?

How does the library become a key community player?

How do we let people know of the great library resources? Make a list of resources to share.

Determine: Target Audience (Users)-- for each resource/service/program?

Market plan--get information to users.

Participate Reciprocally with other community organizations: Serve on boards, attend community meetings & Chamber of Commerce events, keep current with community news & events. (Reciprocity)

The new PowerSpeak Languages in TEL (Gale)

Become familiar with the database and how to access it. Then…

Who is the potential audience?

o Students to supplement an academic language class.

o People who are planning to travel.

o Business people engaging in commerce in another country.

What organizations do we contact?

o Schools (foreign language teachers), AAA & AARP, Chamber of Commerce, Professional Business organizations, Civic clubs.

How do we contact these organizations?

o Emails, Presentations to groups, Direct visits with companies doing international business, Media & Social Media releases & postings.

Effective Media Relations

Designate one staff member to do media relations.

o Make an appointment & meet each local editor.

o Establish friendly, collaborative relationship.

Write & submit news releases.

o Positive, accurate.

o Well-written, “new” news story.

o Meet media deadlines.

For media interviews, create a fact sheet.

Submit photos.

We have to reach out to them; They don’t have crystal balls.

Get People Engaged with the Library

Vallie Collins, survivor of Hudson River Plane Crash.

Informational Speakers & Programs

More Ways to Bring People to the Library

Concerts

Festivals & Special Events

Edible Book Contest

Santa at the Library Cardboard Boat Race

“Nutcracker” Performance by local school.

Teen Mystery Night WWII Navajo Code Talker (Native American Festival)

Special Services

Career Coach: Bus with 3-5

staff who meet with

individual job seekers to

assist with online job search,

online applications, resume

creation or revision &

interview skills. Library Laptop

Computer Lab

Exhibits

Collections

Library staff projects

Fine Arts & Crafts Relevant Information by Service Organizations

Full-size Sailboat – in the library--by Sea Scouts Serendipitous Patrons!!!

Build Partnerships

Print & Electronic Media

http://www.blounttoday.com/photos/galleries/snapshots-

february-10-2011/14628/

Travelogues

Speakers

Community Leaders & Business People

Gov’t Officials

State Senator (& Reps)

Schools

History, Genealogy Groups & Museums

Authors

Foreign Visitors

Nonprofit Groups

Dozens of Organizations; Hundreds of Individuals

Arts, Music, Dance & Theatre

Results!

More people in the library (1,400 people each day).

New people – (476 programs to 20,825 people; about 1/4 new to library).

Gain Volunteers (169 Volunteers equate 12 FT staff).

Prominent community members participate—attorneys, judges, business people, educators serve on Library Board.

Active Friends of the Library—1,000+ members & book sale Fund contributions.

Active Foundation Board--capital funds.

Community is involved with the library & proud of it; it’s “their” library.

The public take care of the building—very little graffiti, vandalism.

Gifts of monetary donations, estate bequests, artwork, a bench (in memory of a dog), even a bear!

Reach Out to the Community… …and the Community Will Reach Out to the Library.

You’ll maybe find—not an elephant…but—FRIENDS! (And TV coverage for the bench dedication!)

The Box

Blount County Public Library

Joan VanSickle Sloan Email: jsloan@blounttn.org

Phone: (865) 982-0981

or (865) 273-1408

Website: www.blountlibrary.org

Facebook: “Blount County Public Library”

or “Joan VanSickle Sloan” Twitter: @Blount_Library