Library Business Marketing Initiative

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

The Library Business Marketing Initiative is an effort by the public libraries in Waukesha County and the Waukesha County Federated Library System (WCFLS) to establish and maintain relationships with business leaders to impress upon them the importance of libraries to their communities, to increase their use of libraries and library services and influence their friends and family to use the library. The initiative grew out of the 2004-2007 WCFLS Marketing Communication Plan objective to develop tools to promote a strong image for libraries countywide. Several marketing tools were developed for member libraries and WCFLS to use to promote library resources and services to the business community. Banners, brochures and business resource cards aware created to promote business resources available. A Business Resource Center web page was developed on the WCFLS website so people can find all the library business online resources, business links and their local public library all in one site. Member libraries and WCFLS provided demonstrations of Reference USA—a business online resource geared toward those who are in sales and marketing—to various chambers of commerce in the area. This has been presented to over 250 individuals. In 2009, the system reported 72,400 individual usages, a dramatic increase from the previous high of 29,844 usages.