Promoting the Library's Online Collections: 10 Surefire Ways to Increase Usage Statistics

Date : Jun 09, 2004
Start Time : 12 p.m. Eastern
Length : 00:53:29

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How do you get your patrons to use all of the wonderful online subscriptions the library pays so much for? This practical workshop will show ways your library can promote awareness of its knowledge databases and conduct a marketing strategy that fits into budgets of all sizes.

Participants will learn how to:

• Explain to customers how library resources differ from free Web sites
• Learn ways to promote databases on their Web site and in their libraries
• Learn about services and technology that can increase usage
• Create a promotional strategy that can be used for each database

Though the cost of electronic subscriptions continues to rise, their actual usage is often quite sluggish. Equally alarming is the fact that many print materials once found in libraries are no longer visible?either on the shelves or in the library catalog. Many times they are buried several clicks away from the library's home page.

Because staff from a variety of areas (collection development, information technology, public services, administration) take part in the subscription process, it is often difficult for libraries to fully understand the various ways, both electronic and traditional, to market and promote awareness of these valuable, but often-overlooked collections.

This workshop will provide step-by-step techniques to make sure library customers find their way to the library's premium informational databases, whether they are in your library or logging in remotely.