The Ames Library Joins Public Education Campaign

Dec. 5, 2002

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Sue Stroyan, director of The Ames Library at Illinois Wesleyan University, was among 40 academic and research librarians invited to participate in a strategic planning and marketing retreat hosted by 3M Library Systems this fall.

Stroyan’s invitation to the retreat is part of The Ames Library’s participation in a national public awareness effort to promote an understanding of the value of college and research libraries and librarians in the 21st century. The initiative is part of a national program sponsored by the American Library Association and entitled @ your library™, The Campaign for America’s Libraries.

@ your library will launch the academic and research library component of its national initiative during the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) National Conference in Charlotte, N.C., April 10-13, 2003.

Developed in collaboration with ACRL, the campaign has several key external goals. These include promoting an understanding of the value of academic and research libraries and librarians in the 21st century; promoting awareness of the unique role of academic libraries and their contributions to society; increasing visibility and support for academic and research libraries and librarians; helping librarians better market their services on-site and online; positioning academic and research librarianship as a desirable career opportunity; and fostering a greater connection with other types of libraries. The campaign also will position academic and research libraries and librarians more prominently in the American Library Association (ALA) national public awareness efforts.

The campaign will target undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, administrators and staff as primary audiences. Secondary audiences to be addressed include alumni, individual donors, institutional funders, trustees, policymakers, parents, the general community and media.

Stroyan and librarians from across the country who participated in the retreat discussed key issues concerning library marketing and publicity efforts on campus, including how to identify key users or "customers," how to develop appropriate messages, what vehicles of communication should be used to promote academic and research libraries, and how to prepare long-term marketing plans.