New iteration: How to Market Your Library eCourse

Chicago—ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions announces a new iteration of our popular eCourse, How to Market Your Library. Dana Braccia will serve as the instructor for a 4-week facilitated eCourse starting on Monday, April 16, 2018.

Can you guess one of the most essential components of library operations? It’s marketing! In this eCourse, you will learn all the necessary skills to market your library—from social media and PR campaigns to designing new library programs and enhancing the experience of your library’s users.  You’ll know how to successfully draw patrons in and get them interested in the products and services you provide.

This four-week, hands-on eCourse will take you through integrating marketing into a number of library service areas, including:

• Promotion of your services
• Program planning
• Branding
• Web content
• Public relations
• Analytics
• Social Media
• Overall in-building experience

You’ll learn by reading short articles, watching videos on each topic, sharing ideas and collaborating with other students and your instructor via eCourse bulletin boards and forums. By the time the eCourse is over, you’ll be ready to adapt what you’ve learned and start promoting your own library services.

eCourse outline

• Week 1: Marketing Basics Bootcamp
  • Overview of the 4 Ps of marketing and using analytics & market research to better target library services and promotion
    • Readings
    • Videos
    • Online discussions
    • Assignments
• Week 2: Finding your library WOW!
  • Integrating marketing in service design & in-building experiences to delight patrons with every touchpoint
    • Readings
    • Videos
    • Online discussions
    • Assignments
• Week 3: Spreading The Word
  • Using social media and PR to promote library services
    • Readings
    • Videos
    • Online discussions
    • Assignments
• Week 4: Marketing Partnerships & Assessment
  • Build a broad base for marketing efforts and insure good return on investment of limited resources
    • Readings
    • Videos
    • Online discussions
    • Assignments

About the Instructor

Dana Braccia has more than 25 years of experience in the private and public sectors in the U.S. and Micronesia. Along with over ten years of public library experience, she has worked in municipal services, hospitality, Major League Baseball facility management, retail, and banking. Dana has been an adjunct instructor in the Masters programs for the University of Arizona and University of Tennessee. She is past president of the Mountain Plains Library Association and a former Councilor with the American Library Association.

Registration for this ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions facilitated eCourse, which begins on April 16, 2018, can be purchased at the ALA Store. Participants in this course will need regular access to a computer with an internet connection for online message board participation, viewing online video, listening to streaming audio (MP3 files), and downloading and viewing PDF and PowerPoint files.

ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions (ELS) produces high-quality professional development events and materials for the library profession. ELS events cover modern issues on a wide variety of topics in formats that include live workshops, asynchronous eCourses, and print publications. We help ensure that today’s library employees have access to the professional development opportunities they need, whether they are brushing up on the basics or expanding their horizons with cutting-edge tools. Contact us at elsmarketing@ala.org.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness, and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide.