Marketing @ your library

In today's complex information environment, we have a greater responsibility to communicate the resources and expertise our libraries and librarians provide, both on our campuses and in society. Below are resources to help you develop a marketing campaign for your own library and examples of ACRL's efforts to promote academic and research libraries.

Best Practices in Marketing Academic and Research Libraries @your library® Award

2007 Award. Sponsored by the ACRL Marketing Academic and Research Libraries (MARL) Committee and funded by Springer, the award recognizes academic/research libraries that demonstrate an outstanding best practices marketing program. Eastern Illinois University (EIU) and Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) each received a $2,000 award.
2005 Award. A $2,000 award was presented to American University for first place, and a $1,000 award was presented to Illinois State University for second place. Here are profiles for each university including flash presentations, applications, and marketing materials used.

ACRL Campus Advocacy Toolkit
This site was developed to support "Campus Advocacy: Involving All Staff in Influencing Campus Dynamics," a workshop offered at the ACRL 13th National Conference in Baltimore on Friday, March 30, 2007. Information on ACRL advocacy program funding for ACRL Chapters is included.

Advocacy Toolkit—The Power of Personal Persuasion (PDF)
Frontline librarians and library workers need the tools to develop their personal powers of persuasion to advance the agenda of the academic library. This publication provides basic content on persuasion, techniques for persuading others, applications of persuasion techniques for libraries and recommended processes and examples for persuading others within higher education environments.

Academic and Research Library Campaign
As part of @ your library, the Campaign for America's Libraries, ACRL and ALA have partnered to create a new, national marketing effort to heighten awareness and support of academic and research libraries. Included here is information about the campaign; a toolkit that includes creative strategies, practical ideas, case studies and profiles, customizable press materials, resource lists, and more; additional marketing resources; and downloadable graphics.

Download the @ your library Toolkit for Academic and Research Libraries (PDF, Word, or order a hard copy)
Access manuals and slides from 3M Library Systems and ACRL:
- Strategic Marketing for Academic and Research Libraries Participant Manual (Word document; from 2003 training session)
- Strategic Marketing for Academic and Research Libraries Facilitation Guide (Word document)
- Strategic Marketing Facilitation Slides (PowerPoint presentation; from 2003 training session)
- Train-the Trainer Facilitation Slides (PowerPoint presentation; from 2003 Train-the Trainer workshop)
Download @ your library artwork for academic and research libraries

@your library Campaign Trainer Listing
This web site provides a listing of trainers who are willing to work with your institution to prepare a marketing plan that meets your specific libraries’ needs. Here you can sign up as a trainer or find a trainer in your area.

Academic PR Discussion List
Join this discussion list, created to assist academic and research librarians in sharing ideas and best practices in marketing and public relations.

ACRL's Advertising Campaign
Learn about ACRL's advertising campaign, aimed at campus decision-makers and designed to promote the importance of librarians in teaching and research. Also included are examples from libraries that have adapted the ads to promote themselves at their institutions and dowloadable graphics for use in your own promotional efforts.

A Student's Guide to Evaluating Libraries in Colleges and Universities
This guide encourges students to consider how well a college's or university's library will help them succeed in their academic career and provides a series of questions related to facilities, resources, and services to evaluate the libraries of their prospective institutions. Print copies are also available.