Bite-Sized Marketing

January 15, 2010
"Marketing goes beyond trying to get people to use your library; it is a concerted effort to articulate your value." So begins this brief escapade into word-of-mouth-marketing (WOMM) and other techniques, including public service announcements (PSAs), press releases, podcasting, and the use of Web 2.0. The text includes highlighted boxes of information, but there are no appendixes, no examples of good PSAs or press releases, and no examples of how one evaluates a marketing plan or its measurement of success (or lack thereof). There are many resources available for those seeking how-to or marketing advice, including web sites and colleagues who have run successful marketing campaigns at their libraries. Either option would cost less. VERDICT As a "bite-sized" offering, this may fill a need as an appetizer but not as an entre. If your budget has room, nibble. If not, pass.B. Susan Brown, Pamunkey Regional Lib., Hanover, VA

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2010
Although the initial aim of this book was to offer 10-minute marketing solutions for libraries, the authors soon realized that nothing worthwhile can get done in ten minutes. Instead, they offer 10 strategies, among them word-of-mouth marketing (WOMM), outreach, advocacy, and branding. Thus, the library can find solutions for different audiences and budgets. One chapter covers The New Marketing Tools such as blogs, Twitter, and podcasts. The book is nicely designed and full of examples, lists, work sheets, and other aids. Although it could be read cover to cover, it is just as useful for browsing chapters or skimming the headings for ideas, such as creating a story bank or a wiki. This useful guide helps libraries tell their story and make their best practices known.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)