Presentation for Internet Librarian 2015. Discussing the current trends of social media in libraries and the future trends require a stronger foundation of data.
For speaking engagements please contact PC Sweeney at https://pcsweeney.com/speaking-at-your-event/
9. Civic Attitudes
● 94% of Parents say libraries are important for
their children. 79% say “very important”. 2
● 58% of Americans have a library card. 3
● 62% of card holders have visited the library in
the last year at least once.4
2. Pew, May 2013
3 and 4. Harris Interactive | ALA, January 2011
Building voter support for libraries
10. Voter Attitudes
Nationwide, of all voters:
37% will Definitely vote yes for the library
37% will Probably vote yes for the library
26% will Probably or Definitely vote no or
may vote either way.
Building voter support for libraries
98% of library funding comes from the local level and completely dependent on local ballot issues and local politics. Your local voters matter most. When votes are that important, why aren’t we talking about it?!?!
Voter perceptions report – From awareness to funding
Pew report 2008
Today is the first day of your library campaign
Which can we expect to get? People – how do we get more people on our side?
This is why I talk about library marketing in terms of community organizing and not in terms of sales. This doesn’t follow a sales cycle this is about continued engagement in libraries – a belief system
Same reason nobody messes with the police – enough people believe that policeman save lives
80/20 paretto principle
What data
Why is data so important?
What Data Doesn’t Matter- Not circ stats, not library use, not cardholder rates, none of that matters. What are you going to do with that information anyway?
Emotions about the library – Data that tells you what to do and how to do it. feeling about the library is what matters. People vote and respond to emotions. Measure their feelings about the library. Why do they think it’s important? Stop asking people to come to the library, convince them that the library is important for society
Who is using your library, where do they live, what kinds of people are they,
Also, ask WHY! Why do people come to the library or not
What to do with your data - Targeted Messaging
Give history of Community organizing platforms
CRM’s take individual people through a sales cycle.
Political databases measure local community support and community engagement with your organization. Helps segment populations