by Claudia Hannaford and Ruth S. Smith. 3rd Rev. ed. 1996.
64 pages. $11.00, members $8.00.
Need Ideas for Promoting Your Library?
CSLA’s Guide No. 2 Has Lots of Good Ones!
One of the toughest—yet most important—jobs of the congregational librarian is to think of fresh new ways to encourage the use of the library. That’s where Guide No. 2, Promotion Planning All Year ’Round comes in. Guide No. 2 “is meant to be a beginning—a starting point—for relating publicity to events of the year,” the introduction states. “The programs suggested and the activities described are offered as examples of promotion which have been used successfully.”
The authors show the congregational librarian how to develop an effective year-round promotion program by creating a planning calendar that includes not only seasonal themes, holidays and special days, weeks and months, but activities and noteworthy dates in the life of the congregation and the community.
The guide advises the librarian to “plan to be a part of everything that goes on—either directly or indirectly.” Promotion Planning All Year ’Round not only lists themes and dates to consider, but offers plenty of ideas organized by season, including themes, captions, color schemes, and suggested posters and displays—even activities—as well as ideas that can be plugged in anywhere on a library’s yearly promotion calendar.
Guide No. 2 is an essential guide for every congregational librarian—beginning or experienced—who is determined to extend the reach of his or her library ministry, but who needs a little help every once and a while coming up with ways to promote the variety of resources in the congregational library.
Guide #2 is so full of information pertaining to dates and seasons, creative ideas for all sorts of promotion, and practical help and instruction, that I am still discovering new ways to promote my library every time I open it.
