ELT Meeting and Community Relations and Development

We started our day by presenting an overview about Yarra Plenty Regional Library at the ELT(Executive Leadership Team) meeting. Some of the agenda items included reviewing Policies and Procedures, update on IT projects such as rolling out Microsoft 2007 for staff and Customer Experience Interaction, Measurement and Reporting. It was interesting to sit in on the meeting and see how ELT work as a team and make decisions together with input from all members.

CR&D

We also met with Community Relations and Development (CR&D) who deal with Marketing and fund raising for CML. Friends of the Library(FOL) is managed by CR &D , FOL have over 900 members. The foundation was started in 1992 and their board consists of 18 members. All donations go directly to the foundation. "Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation was founded with a mission to build resources to advance the library for generations to come. The foundation supports the library as it "promotes reading and guides learning in the pursuit of information, knowledge and wisdom" and relies on the contributions of individuals, businesses and foundations to help Columbus Metropolitan Library work towards its vision of a thriving community where wisdom prevails."

CML have over 400 volunteers plus 1000 volunteens. There is a general job description for volunteers and newly appointed members receive a welcome handbook and training. There is a volunteer recognition program and a yearly event for all volunteers, generally there will be an author talk, awards. They also receive a gift at the end of the year. Some of the adult volunteers work for an organisation called American Association of Retired People(AARP), they are paid by AARP to work at the library as a volunteer. CML accept donations and have a range of ways you can give to the library. Their last fundraising event raised over $200,000us and is a corporate event with sponsorships and over 350 attendances. Individual donations range from $100 up to $25,000.

Marketing

CML Staff

Library Cards with key cards

CML Branch External Signs

CML Primary Colours

CML Staff

6 Skills for "Ready to Read"

Brochures

Brochures

Recently CML went through an extensive change with their marketing. Their logo was changed. The library started using their staff on all their advertising. They noticed that their borrowers could relate to the brochures when they saw the staff member on it. The staff went to a professional company where they were made up and the professional photos taken. The Manager of Marketing Alison, writes a blog about successful marketing. An article Alison and Kerry(Director Relations and Development) at CML wrote in Library Journal talks about The House Brand and what CML did to change their brand.

Another great idea was their online marketing catalogue. All staff have access to the catlogue through the staff intranet where they can order any print material through CR&D via a shopping cart. They can specify which print item they need and how many, an email is sent to person in charge of printing (in-house) and then she sends the items to the branches.

Branches are encouraged to promote multiple copy items on their book displays and near self check stations. This is great for the browsing customer and a great way to increase circulation.

CML concentrate mostly of core activities. With their programs it is quality not quantity, they run an event twice and if it does not suceed they will not run it again.