Here's the Good News!

The good news is ... when the respondents of the OCLC survey were asked about the "Mission" of the library - 53% said information. 

Why is that good news? Because we, as professionals, can build on that recognition in re-branding the library from Books to Information.  Libraries need to be known as valuable service plazas on the information highway. After all, we are in the Age of Information - and Libraries and its professionals should be in the forefront, guiding, educating and expanding the information availability to all.

The other good news is that we already have an excellent study by the OCLC that contains information Very Valuable to all who "Love" Libraries. The marketing database created by the raw information in the surveys can be mined for new information to help libraries excel in the information age (Notice, I didn't say succeed - Libraries already succeed, see Just the Facts.

As we switch from an advocacy role (remember - The Ineffectiveness of Advocacy) to a marketing mode, it will be easier to educate our consumer, the patron, of all that modern libraries contain.  We are more than books - and it we want to continue our success into the 22nd century, we need to let our communities know that.

Remember, Money Talks.  Our communities need to know what a bargain they get for their money. We all love libraries, but we need people to know that it makes fiscal sense to pay for them.

I'd like to share a personal story. Before I was an employee, I was approached by my local library to run for trustee (political office). They all thought I would be a shoe-in because of all of the advocacy, (fundraising) and passion that I bring to the archetype of libraries. My campaign was "I love libraries, they are the center of civilization, (blah, blah, blah - and other high minded rhetoric.) The other candidate won. Why? Because she focused on what she was able to do fiscally for her PTA. Lightbulbs everyone. In today's economy, people are looking for a return on their investment, whether in a 401K or a 501(c)3.

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