Brand Diary – Our Services Make Us Special

This week , my home library launched a new publication  called “the Link”. I have worked within public libraries for the past decade and it seems to be common place that we (libraries) put a lot of our marketing resources (print promotions, web promotions, ads, other media) into our events and less  marketing resources into promoting our services.  When it comes to branding and identity, part of a successful identity is knowing your niche. What makes libraries different from places like bookstores and what makes us different from the Internet and other organizations is our  services. Who else gives customers free access to books, DVDs, music, ebooks, audio books? What other places give access to hundreds of databases or provide online support and expert research advice, again, for free? No one but libraries.

We should play up our uniqueness when promoting; in our printed materials, in our environment displays, online, in our social media and in our day-to-day communications. This publication is one of many ways  we will promote our services and by doing so, strengthen our brand.