Tooting Your Own Horn: Web-Based Public Relations for the 21st Century Librarian

Toot your library's horn! Promote your library program via a home page on the web!

This practical manual offers a step-by-step approach to marketing your library program by transforming traditional marketing programs into a Web-based marketing tool. Detailed descriptions, planning advice, design considerations and examples are provided for each marketing idea. Sample forms, surveys, Web sites and other resources are also included. The book's organization will allow you to start small, by focusing on ideas that will meet your library's program needs and provide the most visibility for your library. Many of the ideas are a "jumping-off" point, so they can be adapted to fit your library and your school. Sample home pages are included to illustrate each marketing idea presented in the book. Chapters include Public Relations for the 21st Century (setting up a home page, design and copyright issues), Teacher Outreach, Service to Students (ideas and how-to's), Community Outreach (home schooling, public libraries), Promotional Strategies (newsletters, online forms, contests and more), Special Events (Read Across America, National Library Week and more) and Reading Promotion (student book reviews, virtual author visits and more). A bibliography and index are also included.

- Showcase your library program not only in your school, but also in your district and community
- Learn how to easily develop an online reservation calendar, a virtual tour of your library, or a workshop evaluation form
- Establish virtual reference services and promote reading through online book clubs to make your library available 24/7