Recently it was brought to our attention that libraries in Washington, California, and Utah are successful in promoting their services. In this article, we explore the success stories of these libraries, revealing strategies and best practices for how to promote library services. Discover these resources to transform your library’s promotional efforts.

Engaging the Community: Strategies that Work

Building a strong community connection is vital for successful library promotion. We hope you find something beneficial from Washington, California, and Utah as we explore their proven strategies:

Events and Workshops: Successful libraries host diverse events aligning with community interests, such as book clubs, story times, and coding workshops. Salt Lake City Public Library even offers an Introduction to Sewing program for all ages! These create inclusive spaces, encouraging active community participation.

Partnerships with Local Organizations: Collaborating with library supporting community members expands networks and leads to idea sharing. For example, Seattle Public Library partners with local businesses to help small businesses and entrepreneurs grow. This increases library visibility and provides a unique community experience.

Advocacy for the Community: Many libraries go above and beyond to secure grants to host new programs or make improvements to services or facilities. Just this month Santa Barbara Public Library secured a grant to host a series of programs surrounding sustainability and promote local resources to get involved.

• Salt Lake City Public Library – https://events.slcpl.org/events?r=thismonth
• Seattle Public Library – https://www.spl.org/programs-and-services/business-and-nonprofit
• Santa Barbara Public Library – https://www.independent.com/2024/01/04/santa-barbara-public-library-awarded-grant-for-sustainability-initiatives/

Harnessing the Power of Social Media

Libraries recognize the influential role of social media in promoting services. Platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram provide dynamic tools for engagement:

Active Social Media Presence: Maintaining an active presence allows libraries to share engaging content, fostering a sense of excitement and anticipation. Recently Solano County Library has made big waves under supervisor Mychal Threets gaining 25,000 followers for the library and spreading “library joy”. 

Community Building: Social media platforms facilitate real-time discussions, feedback, and personalized interactions, building strong relationships with patrons. Many libraries even share upcoming events to their Facebook followers and offer online registration for programs.

By harnessing social media’s power, libraries seamlessly connect with audiences, creating a foundation for increased community support.

• Solano County Public Library Story – https://www.marinij.com/2024/01/08/mychal-threets-works-to-spread-library-joy/
• Solano County Public Library TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@solanolibrary

Collaboration: Library Resources

Libraries can amplify their impact by collaborating with state library resources. There is no need to reinvent the wheel with many state libraries offering guidance and best practices for keeping things running smoothly.

Resource Sharing: State libraries from Washington and California provide a number of articles and resources for seasonal and year round programs alike. These are great resources to spark program planning creativity. 

Training and Development Programs: Librarians benefit from collaborative programs, gaining fresh insights and innovative ideas for promoting services. Library Facebook Groups like Library Management Group or Library Think Tank.

State Library Associations: Networking opportunities through conferences and workshops connect librarians across the state, fostering collaboration and support. This is a great way to meet librarians that share unique challenges and solutions in your own state. 

Access to Funding Opportunities: Collaboration with state library agencies opens doors to funding programs, supporting initiatives to effectively promote services. There are a number of funding opportunities listed by most state libraries. 

• You can find a full list of state libraries here – https://www.lib-web.org/united-states/state-libraries/
• California State Library Program Ideas – https://www.library.ca.gov/services/to-libraries/ideas/
• Washington State Library Summer Reading – https://www2.sos.wa.gov/library/libraries/projects/summerreading/

Success Story Insights

The success stories from Washington, California, and Utah offer valuable insights into effective library promotion. By engaging the community, embracing innovative outreach, harnessing social media, and collaborating with state library resources, libraries can create thriving environments for all ages and backgrounds. As you continue to promote your own library services, we hope you can draw inspiration from these stories to make a powerful impact in your community. 

If you’re looking for technology solutions to help you with the promotion and advocacy of your library, WhoFi is helping libraries across the country.  WhoFi offers cutting-edge tools and solutions to analyze your library’s data, understand your patrons’ needs better, and tailor your promotional efforts for maximum impact.  WhoFi empowers you with actionable insights to drive meaningful connections with your community.  To learn more, schedule a demo by clicking the button below.

 

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