During the week of March 6, the University of Texas Fine Arts Library was emblazoned on the main page of the UT website as a feature story. The story received approximately 11,000 hits and provided an incredible means for publicizing the library.
As so many of us know, marketing and publicizing our services and collections helps increase usage and encourages both moral and financial support. Since I began in the role of Head Librarian, my goal has been to take advantage of as many marketing opportunities as possible. Twice a year the staff of the Fine Arts Library volunteer at the pledge drives of the local National Public Radio affiliate KUT and the local Public Broadcasting Station KLRU. Over the last year, the Fine Arts Library has been featured on KUT's ArtsEcletic and now the UT Spotlight. I am still eager to have features written about us in the Austin Chronicle and the Austin American-Statesman's XLent.
Unfortunately, getting this kind of publicity is not as easy as calling up the radio station or UT's Office of Public Affairs and simply asking for it. I have really had to sell the concept and make it sound exciting. That is what is so terrific about the feature story on the UT website--it made the library sound like a great place. I had so many patrons tell me that the story inspired them to come into the library more often and take advantages of our entire suite of services.
The bottom line is that if my library is going to make a difference in our local community and our global community, I need to let as many people know about it as possible. Our goal is to promote education, literacy, and creativity. My job is to make sure that the Fine Arts Library is inspiring as many citizens as possible. That is what it is all about, isn't it?
Laura Schwartz