Our library team is wanting to make our library relevant and vibrant for our church members who have become daily users of technology and digital resources for their information. In addition to our continuing to offer physical books, we want to make some changes so that the younger generations see a reason for a church library to exist and have reason to enter to find the resources that will bless their lives.
We would love to hear your thoughts as to how to update both the environment and the resources available. This could include decor, seating area, computers and subscription programs, digital ideas, etc. Ex. Does your library have a dedicated TV screen for looping announcements about new releases? We are open to out-of-the-box ideas!
Our main adult library at present feels overstuffed with books and bookcases, often leaving a patron feeling overwhelmed and indecisive. We are purging and weeding to present a more tranquil, clean feeling. That's our beginning, but what suggestions would you have for a Big Dream?
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My outreach is similar to what Babs Harris described: website, Librista app, weekly digital announcement has a featured book, Sunday bulletin (paper) has a featured book, and there is something on the looping screen.
I keep a spreadsheet of the books or services that I have featured each week and I have a column for target audience (youth, adult, all, etc), subject or topic of the book, and the response (checked out). Initially I was only advertising in the Sunday bulletin but once I listed something in the digital bulletin books got checked out. Lesson learned!
Also -- the spreadsheet helps because I can review it and see what has been featured and the target audience. I discovered that while I had advertised books for chilldren, parents, and adults I hadn't highlighted anything that a young adult or teenager would like. So that showed me where I was exculding an audience segment and where I needed to direct some advertising.
Yes, our members can browse on the church website, as well as the Librista app.
The church sends out a weekly email notifying church members of that week's announcements, which we have a spot on that. These same announcements are on a looping screen within the church hallways. We also have a FB page, but that only reaches the people who have joined our page.
We do have a spot on the Sunday bulletin, but it is small.
Is your library incuded on the church's web site? Can your collection be browsed on the web site? Putting a frequent article on the website or in the weekly bulletin can attract attention.