orangerful (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
orangerful) wrote2017-06-11 11:39 pm
orangerful) wrote2017-06-11 11:39 pm
Entry tags:
what a couple weeks it has been
So, I've fallen behind on pretty much all things internet because I have been running myself ragged promoting the library's summer program.
I always say that the one thing the library is the WORST at is self promotion. We tend to advertise in our building and then hope people on the outside miraculously find out about what is going on. So I tried to put my money where my mouth was and visited the schools that are in the service area for my library...
...which means I spoke to around 3000 kids over the past two weeks.
And did I make it easy and just do an assembly for the whole school? OF COURSE NOT! I set up my presentation so I could speak to every class, every grade.
I actually prefer that though, it is more personal. I can cater my talk to specific age groups instead of trying to make it appeal to a 7 year old and a 11 year old.
Anyway, I think it went well, we've had a lot of kids stop by to say hello (they always act so surprised to see me at the library, even though I told them I worked there!) so I hope our registrations reflect that.
I really do love outreach, it is my favorite part of the job, getting people excited about what the library has to offer, from books to research resources. BUT DAMN IT IS EXHAUSTING! I mean, I had to be "on" for the entire school day. I actually took a half day off on Thursday because I was just so freakin' done with everything and too tired to work on things at my desk. I'm so glad I did because I needed to just sit at home and chill.
So, yeah, needless to say checking blogs fell by the wayside. To top it off, Tim discovered a new MMORPG called 'Black Desert Online' and he bought me a copy too so we've been playing together most nights. #gamerproblems
TL;DR - go to your local library and see if they have a summer program you can register for. They are most likely giving away prizes of some kind and probably would love to have some adult in their stats and not just kids. I mean, kids are great, but it is also nice to see adult readers participating.
And now I'm going to pass out. Good night goodnight!
I always say that the one thing the library is the WORST at is self promotion. We tend to advertise in our building and then hope people on the outside miraculously find out about what is going on. So I tried to put my money where my mouth was and visited the schools that are in the service area for my library...
...which means I spoke to around 3000 kids over the past two weeks.
And did I make it easy and just do an assembly for the whole school? OF COURSE NOT! I set up my presentation so I could speak to every class, every grade.
I actually prefer that though, it is more personal. I can cater my talk to specific age groups instead of trying to make it appeal to a 7 year old and a 11 year old.
Anyway, I think it went well, we've had a lot of kids stop by to say hello (they always act so surprised to see me at the library, even though I told them I worked there!) so I hope our registrations reflect that.
I really do love outreach, it is my favorite part of the job, getting people excited about what the library has to offer, from books to research resources. BUT DAMN IT IS EXHAUSTING! I mean, I had to be "on" for the entire school day. I actually took a half day off on Thursday because I was just so freakin' done with everything and too tired to work on things at my desk. I'm so glad I did because I needed to just sit at home and chill.
So, yeah, needless to say checking blogs fell by the wayside. To top it off, Tim discovered a new MMORPG called 'Black Desert Online' and he bought me a copy too so we've been playing together most nights. #gamerproblems
TL;DR - go to your local library and see if they have a summer program you can register for. They are most likely giving away prizes of some kind and probably would love to have some adult in their stats and not just kids. I mean, kids are great, but it is also nice to see adult readers participating.
And now I'm going to pass out. Good night goodnight!
no subject
There's also a game involving earning points and then trading them for prizes. There are codes in multiple places in each of the branch libraries and codes at special events all summer, and one can earn points by posting reviews or solving puzzles.
The reading programs for kids are reasonably well advertised to parents in as much as the schools announce them multiple times. Elementary school librarians also tell kids about them. The getting a free book aspect is a pretty big draw.
But a lot of things at the library aren't very well publicized. I follow the library blog, but that tends to announce things after they happen, and the library website is difficult to navigate in that respect. The catalog is pretty straightforward, but getting anything else is like dealing with a maze in terms of dead ends.
no subject
We have a new social media team who's been trying to get the word out that way, but it's hit and miss. The blog is part of that, obviously, and I'm on it, also obviously, but yeah, it's hard to figure out exactly how to reach people.
no subject
Good on you! You're right about libraries being generally terrible at self-promotion (whether it's on a campus or in the general community). That sounds pretty tiring but good news about those kids coming in and recognizing you. It's a costly way to do outreach but it can have pretty direct effects.
no subject