Looking for a workshop?

LCS will tailor workshops to fit the time, special needs and interests of all types of libraries. Exercises and/or role-play are part of all workshops.

What We Offer:

Marketing As A Team Sport (3 hours)

Can everyone on your staff deliver the library's key message? This workshop focuses on what everyone on your staff needs to know about marketing, how it relates to good customer service and their role. Participants will learn basic marketing principles, how to promote good two-way communication between the library and its key audiences, how to develop and deliver an effective message, how to harness the power of word-of-mouth marketing and build the library's "sales force." Exercises aim to build staff's comfort level and skill in speaking for libraries and identify tools needed to support them.

What's A Database Anyway? Basic Training In Strategic Library Marketing (3 hours)

Today's libraries are faster, easier and more convenient to use than ever thanks to Web sites open 365 days a year, 24/7. This workshop teaches basic marketing and communications techniques with a focus on promoting virtual services—Web sites, databases, online reference and e-books. You'll learn how to develop a marketing communication plan, including a positioning statement, key message, target audiences, strategies for delivering the message and measuring effectiveness—also how to use your Web site to promote awareness of other library programs and services.

Beyond Bookmarks: Effective Library Communication (5 hours)

Explore how your library communicates consciously (and unconsciously) from signage to the Web page. Learn the difference between marketing, public relations and advocacy; what three things you can do NOW to improve how your library communicates; how to turn mission into message and how to build a marketing communication plan that works. Participants will leave with a draft marketing communication plan.

Building A Marketing Communication Plan (4 hours)

Learn and apply basic marketing concepts to your library. Designed for a small group of key staff, this hands-on workshop will result in a draft marketing communication plan to help your library communicate more strategically and effectively. Key elements include: Goals and Objectives, Positioning Statement, Target Audiences (internal and external), Key message(s), Strategies, and Evaluation Techniques.

Consumer Conversations © Training (6 hours)

This workshop provides training and background for library staff in leading a library-practical variation of focus groups developed by LCS to support libraries in exploring consumer attitudes, needs and wants. It includes an on-site demonstration of a consumer conversation followed by a workshop, readings and online discussion with participants on strategies and guidelines for conducting library consumer research both qualitative and quantitative.

Getting Your Grant (5 hours)

To remove the mystery and apprehension from grant seeking, we explore how to get started and make a case for your library, identifying funding sources, developing the idea, writing the proposal, submitting the proposal and next steps including project management, evaluation and publicity. Our goal is for every participant to be knowledgeable about the grant seeking process and feel comfortable to "go for it."

The Power Of Word-Of-Mouth Marketing (2 hours)

A workshop based on the premise that all of us who believe in libraries can help get the message across . . . can by our own enthusiasm . . . inspire others to use and support this unique resource. In this age of dot.coms, cell phones, and road rage, caring and conviction still rule. It's time to get passionate about "selling" libraries. Learn about the most powerful form of advertising of all: What it is/Why do it/ Who to do it/How to do it/ and Where customer service fits in.

Start Publishing Already (SPA) (2 hours)

Writing for professional literature is one of the most important ways we have of sharing with our colleagues. At this SPA, participants get time to reflect on their work, what they've learned and how they might share their experience with others. They learn principles of writing for the professional press, brainstorm article ideas, get motivated and prepare to submit an article on a topic of their choosing. The workshop includes an overview of library literature and submission guidelines, how to write in inquiry letter and various types of writing from scholarly to "how-to" to editorials. The SPA can be expanded for 1 or 2 day sessions with one-on-one editing and coaching for writers.

Speaking To Be Heard (6 hours)

What makes a good message? What makes an effective spokesperson? This workshop introduces techniques for crafting an effective message and delivering it confidently and effectively—one-on-one, in presentations to groups and media interviews. It includes when and how to tell stories, use statistics, how to answer tough questions, examples of library spokespeople in action, role play and one-on-one coaching.