Libraries have not been good at promoting themselves.  A proper national campaign is needed.  Meanwhile, check the facts listed under ESSENTIAL INFO on this website.  And check out these….

FREE DOWNLOADS

Nine posters (six also in Welsh) featuring celebrities: Mary Beard, Stephen Fry, Jah Wobble, Jacob Sam-La Rose, Viv Groskop, Clematine Wamariya,  Ben Thompson, Bobby Seagull, Amy León at CILIP’s Famous Faces.

Wide choice of witty campaign posters based on wartime classics, adapted by librarian Phil Bradley (copyright-free) HERE.

Six colour posters (one in Welsh) making the point that you need a trained librarian to help you navigate the internet, by artist Sarah McIntyre HERE.

Simple diagram showing four areas where libraries make a difference – reading; information & digital; culture & creativity; health & wellbeing – and what these achieve at Libraries Connected (‘Universal Library Offer Framework’ is under under Universal Library Offers).

Leaflet/poster showing how libraries affect four policy areas – economy, education, culture and society. Backed up by (2014) research lists from the Carnegie Trust.

Four brochures on: digital access & literacy; healthier & happier lives; greater prosperity; stronger, more resilient communities from the Government.

Downloadable flyers about Welsh digital services and authors, write-ups/pictures of famous Welsh library fans from Libraries Wales.

OTHER MATERIALS – NOT FREE…

Phil Bradley (above) also sells a range of campaigning posters, badges, mugs, T-shirts, keyrings, ties, baseball caps, bags, bumper stickers, cards/postcards.  You can customise the posters with your name/slogan etc.  Profits go to charity HERE.

Public Library Apparel, designed by librarian Lottie Begg sells library-themed posters, T-shirts, tote bags and more. 20% of profits go each month to a library nominated by users. Website no longer operating but you may be bale to  contact Lottie through the Public Library Apparel Facebook page linked above.

LIBRARIES AT HOME – VIDEOS, BLOGS AND PODCASTS

Library Hacked (see also their tool to find your local library in the Essential Info page), have compiled collections of videos – which they call libraryTV, podcasts and blogs produced by public libraries in the UK. They are a really good resource to show what others are doing and perhaps give you ideas. It’s a live site so repays revisiting from time to time.

DO IT YOURSELF PUBLICITY – USEFUL MATERIAL

Why Libraries? from Public Libraries News. Lots of arguments for libraries, grouped under: education; equality; value for money; internet, e-books and IT; false economy, myth-busting (especially good!)

The Story They Tell. A crowdsourced library of visuals speaking to the power of public libraries.

Personal stories from Voices for the Library.

What librarians do from Voices for the Library.

A librarian’s life from Voices for the Library.

Why the internet is no substitute for a library and librarians from Tennessee State University.

ADVICE AND IDEAS

Very much geared to Scotland but good basic advice from the Scots librarians’ association from CILIP.

ALL HERE from Libraries Connected (under Reports and Guides)

Aimed at library staff, but good clear advice for anyone looking to advance their use of social media.

From a long and very mixed list, pick out: Social media toolkit, Facilitating meetings online toolkit, Facebook Live toolkit, Facebook group toolkit.

More ambitious: Screen capture photos and videos toolkit, Creating a YouTube channel toolkit, How to make a podcast toolkit.

The Libraries Week national promotion is run by librarians’ association CILIP every October.  Worth climbing on board.  Attractive downloadable posters etc for the campaign (also in Welsh) HERE.

And some useful general advice, especially…on marketing HERE and getting media coverage HERE.

Despite the differences in political systems etc there are some useful ideas from United for Libraries (USA).  See particularly the Power Guide for Successful Advocacy HERE.

Advocacy toolkit from Arts Council England HERE.  Material on libraries is mixed in with other cultural stuff but useful facts can be found HERE.

 

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