Friday, June 30, 2006, 8:58:16 AM, you wrote:
>> If the library doesn't
>> have meaning or relevancy to the community then it will be much harder
>> to get the millage or budget that one might need to keep "in
>> business". It might be a board that approves things but if the public
>> in general doesn't care, and budgets get tight, then it's an easier
>> thing to cut.
KC> One thing we are REALLY bad at is showing the value of our services.
KC> This is ironic, because our services are hugely valuable.
Of course they are very valuable. But...
We don't do a decent job of selling them.
More important, they're not "sexy" or seen as "vital". It is tough
competing with the police and fire departments, since anyone can watch
TV or read the paper to see those values almost every day. Of course
we're hurt because most media don't cover much in the way of "good
news", but we could still improve our marketing.
Another thing making it difficult is that most people in the community
will NEVER get a library card, and most likely won't no matter how
well we market. This is particularly true since everyone "knows that
all of the information anyone ever needs is on google". And, these
days, a vast amount of the information that libraries have been the
exclusive resource for, is now available for free on the net. Finally,
in many communities the major press that libraries get is for "having
all those dirty books that will make my kid become gay" and all that.
I'm not giving up....but selling libraries will never be easy.
--
Dan Lester, Data Wrangler dan_at_RiverOfData.com 208-283-7711
3577 East Pecan, Boise, Idaho 83716-7115 USA
www.riverofdata.com The Road Goes On Forever....
Received on Sat Jul 01 2006 - 13:06:52 EDT