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Why Your Library Website Should Include a Press Room

Learn the benefits of building a press room on your library website to enhance media coverage and establish positive relationships with journalists. Discover how to set up and optimize a press room, including essential elements and examples from other libraries.

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Why Your Library Website Should Include a Press Room

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  1. Why Your LibraryWebsite Should Include a Press Room With Kathy Dempsey of Libraries Are Essential (#LibsAreEss) PLAN webinar, 5/21/19

  2. Hi, I’m Kathy Dempsey

  3. Traditional Media

  4. The Pinnacle of Media Coverage http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/new-librarian-congress-value-free-information

  5. Basic News Coverage

  6. Benefits of Building a Press Room • Be prepared for coverage! • Won’t need to scramble, sound disorganized, delay answering reporters • Have what reporters need when on deadline • You’re more likely to get coverage • Prove you’re media-savvy • Build relationships; become a trusted source • Ready even if you don’t have a press person

  7. Why the Media Wants This • Makes their jobs easier, especially when working on tight deadlines • Puts basic info & photos at their fingertips • May keep them from having to make a phone call or send an email • Gives them a sense of your organization • Tells them you’re savvy & willing to work with them; you welcome & encourage coverage

  8. But I’m in a Tiny Library … • All the more reason to be prepared! • No dedicated media contact = slow response = potential loss of coverage • Nobody has time to serve the media on demand, so set up for self-service • Once and done = saves you time later • Getting coverage can lead to fame & funding

  9. Setting Up Your Press Room • Call this “Press Room” or “Newsroom” or “Media Info” or “For the Media.” • Put that name / link / tab in as prominent a place as you can get it. (Home page if possible, under “About” if necessary) • Make sure your webmaster enables as much SEO (search engine optimization) as possible, filling in all fields with keywords.

  10. Make It Easy to Find

  11. Here’s What to Include • Contact info of PR person / spokesperson • All of your press releases • Titles & links to past news coverage • About the Library (link to other page?)

  12. Greenwood PL in Indiana

  13. Here’s What to Include • List of Board members, with contact info for a spokesperson (photos?)

  14. Mid-Continent PL, MO

  15. Here’s What to Include • Director: High-quality photo & short biography • Contact info of Director, Assistant Director, CEO

  16. Examples of What to Include For the director (or all top leaders): A high-quality photo, contact info, and short biography

  17. Here’s What to Include • Photos of your library: General building shots, & some of activities, with credits, captions, & usage permission / instructions. All high-resolution files • Your logo: high-quality, downloadable • Brand or logo standards: approved usage, colors, etc.

  18. Examples of What to Include • High-quality, downloadable photos of your library and activities • Buildings & activities • Captions & credits • Permissions! • Brand standards • Annual reports

  19. Here’s What to Include • Pithy quotes • Testimonials

  20. Here’s What to Include • Basic statistics • Interesting stats • Infographics GPPL, AB

  21. Here’s What to Include How to cover you: • GPS / driving address / directions • Where to park • Which entrance to use • Will they need ID/credentials • Photo policies • Public records or FOIA requests

  22. Examples of What to Include • Parking • Credentials • Wi-Fi • Public records requests

  23. Examples of What to Include • Your Mission & Vision Statements • Library history https://providenceathenaeum.org/ about/history/

  24. Any Questions?

  25. Once You Build It, Tell Them Treat the media as a target audience. They’d like a good user experience too. So tell them about your new press page and ask for their opinions. • Email them • Send a press release • Record a short video tour / tutorial • Better yet, meet in person & show off the press room

  26. Communicating With the Media • Ask who covers libraries, tech, social, education. • Make a phone call! Meet for coffee, maybe? • Find out exactly how they prefer to receive PRs. • Find out what the deadlines are for each medium

  27. Create a Media Contact Chart

  28. Any Questions?

  29. Kathy Dempsey Kathy@LibrariesAreEssential.com Facebook: Facebook.com/LibrariesAreEssential Author: The Accidental Library Marketer www.LibrariesAreEssential.com Editor: Marketing Library Services newsletter www.infotoday.com/MLS Blogger: The M Word: Marketing Libraries www.themwordblog.blogspot.com

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