Discussion, sharing experiences and questions on how to improve visibility and promote services

As librarians and information specialists, we have been witnessing an evolving information infrastructure. In recent years, many of us heard people question the need for libraries in the future. Some have questioned the need for libraries as a physical space. Many potential library users believe they can independently find the information they need. We have watched big information centers and academic libraries downsize. Smaller libraries have closed or have been left to volunteers to run.

We as professionals, each in a particular environment, know the potentials of our services. Many of us have designed and implemented different strategies to increase users awareness of our services. In spite of the possible differences there might be similarities.

I would like to invite you to participate* in a discussion, sharing information and questions on how to improve visibility and promote services.

* Your name will appear with the comment you post, but your email will remain private.

 

1 thought on “Discussion, sharing experiences and questions on how to improve visibility and promote services

  1. Carmen Huddleston

    In a hospital-based consumer health library, promoting services to inpatients can be challenging. Librarians at Sharp Memorial Hospital & Healthcare came up with a creative way of bringing the library services bedside. Librarians there implemented a ‘Health Information Ambassador’ program(1). After reading the article, our library decided to pilot a similar program to reach patients who would otherwise be unable to utilize our services. The program is still relatively new, but already has shown promising results. One positive has been the increased contact with nursing staff. Many of the nurses were unaware the hospital had a consumer-health library for inpatients. Hats off to Sharp Memorial Hospital librarians for a brilliant idea.

    (1) Davis, J. June/July 2012. “Health Information Ambassador: Hospital Community Health Library Partnering with the Volunteer Department to Bring the Library to the Patient”. MLA News 2012.

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