Traditionally, library technical services work is behind the scenes. Thus, their role and importance to the library and related institutional organizations may be overlooked. Marketing and advocating for the importance of technical services to internal and external audiences is necessary to receive funding, staffing, and other support. This forum will look at how technical services librarians and staff interact and collaborate with others in their institutions (formal committees, informal work groups, social activities, etc.) and explore what traditional and non-traditional marketing techniques have or have not worked to increase their visibility.
Learning Outcomes
In this e-Forum, attendees will explore:
- How to identify and address the challenges in marketing technical services
- How to identify and address stakeholders and audiences
- Identifying the strengths and “story” of technical services
- Learn techniques and tips for marketing and advocating technical services to internal and external audiences
Who Should Attend
All librarians and staff in technical services interested in increasing their outreach, Library administrators seeking to learn how to market and advocate for their staff, Outreach and marketing librarians who speak to outside support, funding, etc.
Hosts
Meghan Kowalski is the Outreach and Reference Librarian at the University of the District of Columbia. Previously, she worked in both public and technical services at the Catholic University of America’s John K. Mullen of Denver Memorial Library. She is interested in engaging communities through online and offline outreach initiatives. One of her other current focuses is to increase library professional skill development by breaking down traditional silos, learning from other industries, and encouraging personal career management. You can learn more about her experiences and see some of her work on her website meghankowalski.com.
Emily Sanford has been the Serials Catalog Librarian at Michigan State University Libraries since 2011. She also has a quarter-time appointment with the Libraries’ User Experience (UX) Unit where she contributes to usability and assessment projects. Her interests include technical services (TS) advocacy and collaboration, the intersection between UX and TS, and TS procedure documentation. She earned her MSI from the University of Michigan in Library and Information Services and Archives and Records Management in 2010.
Rebecca Uhl is the Principal Cataloger at Arizona State University. She has over 30 years’ experience cataloging materials in all formats, including books, serials, electronic resources, maps, videos, scores, sound recordings, and government documents. In addition, Rebecca has served as a co-manager of ASU’s technical services department and as head of cataloging/metadata services, advocating for cataloging and technical services to anyone who would listen, and some who didn’t. She has trained many new catalogers at all levels and served on ALCTS and PCC (Program for Cooperative Cataloging) committees during her career.
Registration
Cost
Free
How to Register
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ALCTS Code of Conduct
Please review the ALCTS Statement of Conduct before registering.
Tech Requirements
Internet connection with email address. You can manage your subscription to this list following the online instructions.
Credits
None
Contact
For questions about registration, contact ALA Registration by calling 1-800-545-2433 and press 5 or email registration@ala.org.
For all other questions or comments related to the webinars, please contact alctsce@ala.org.