Happy Friday! We’ve seen some great ideas come through the LibraryCall and Dial-a-Story email lists this week.
Sharing Audio Recordings That Aren’t Stories
Rebecca from Chino Valley Public Library shared her creative idea to use the ResourceLine for hosting weekly phone trivia this summer, and she generously offered to share her recordings with all of you. Thank you, Rebecca! This made us realize it might be helpful to have a separate gallery of audio files you could use to share recordings like trivia clips, jokes, and other non-story materials. As soon as we have that set up, we’ll make sure to include Rebecca’s trivia questions. Does anyone have ideas about what we should call this new audio gallery?
Promoting Your LibraryCall Services
We loved the ideas you shared for promoting your LibraryCall phone services! Having spent many years working in public libraries, I know how challenging it can be to raise awareness about a new program or service. I hope these crowd-sourced ideas from your colleagues will help you get started:
Promote your phone services via your social media channels.
- Post to Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter promotions when new content is added.
- Create an animated flyer. You can do this using the free Canva graphics platform.
Create traditional print materials, like flyers, bookmarks, and coloring sheets.
- Print and post flyers in the library and on your community information bulletin board.
- Pass out materials to be distributed at schools.
- Visit local businesses and ask them to support you by placing print materials at grocery store registers, post office community boards, etc.
- Include print materials in curbside pickup bags or Summer Reading grab-and-go bags.
- Distribute print pieces during outreach events.
- Print post-it notes that include your Dial-A-Story number(s).
Reach out to (or create!) an email list for marketing purposes.
- Utilize an email list of families who registered for Summer Reading. One library used this method to promote Dial-A-Story as a way for kids to stay engaged with reading before Summer Reading starts and tease the ongoing and upcoming content.
- Just make sure to keep your emails legal!
Ask local publications to help you spread the word.
- Write or suggest an article about your new service in a local newspaper or newsletter. Sometimes local politicians also write their own newsletters.
- Ask for free ad space. For example, Yuma Public Library’s service was highlighted in the local May 2021 YuCount Newsletter. Way to go, Yuma!
Use word of mouth promotion, especially in smaller communities.
- Let families know about the service during in-person or virtual programs.
- Talk to patrons who visit the library--during check-out or casual chats.
- Verbally promote the service during community events or outreach events.
Gamify the service
- Provide trivia questions or secret codes on the phone line each week to encourage patrons to use the service.
Have you had success with any of these techniques? Do you have other ideas? Let us know!