LMCC24

Discover the secrets behind Worcester Public Library's worldwide phenomenon, March Meowness. Uncover what made this program so engaging and how you can replicate its success at your library.

When WPL proposed fee forgiveness, we aimed to impact our community directly. Our innovative concept of accepting cat pictures as payment sparked lively discussions everywhere!

Join us to explore inventive approaches to presenting programs and initiatives at your library. Discover how to highlight essential services while crafting enjoyable experiences for your patrons. Let's make your library the talk of the town!

What happens when you have a library brand that is stuck in the past? You try again - this time with an eye to the future and a growing community. That’s what Clearview Library District (CLD) did in 2023, when they developed a new brand identity and naming standards for their expanding district. Hear from CLD Communications Specialist Christine Henschler and Consultant Cordelia Anderson about why CLD’s past brand wasn’t working anymore, how they designed a stakeholder feedback process that helped everyone feel heard, and how the new brand reflected the values of their community.

Is your library wallpapered in signs and flyers that are meant to be helpful but are a confusing hodgepodge? Does your website need an update? Have you been thinking about creating a brand guide but don’t know where to start? This session is for you! Learn how one library updated its brand guide (including a new primary and secondary color palette, designated fonts, and design and photography guidelines) then used it for a systemwide wayfinding and signage project and web redesign project. The result? A consistent experience for customers, whether visiting online or in person.

Elevate your organization's internal communication game with actionable strategies straight from Spokane Public Library's playbook. Communications leaders from Spokane Public Library will walk attendees through the past, present, and future of their internal communication strategy, highlighting successful tactics and pointing out continued areas for improvement. From hierarchical dissemination of information by management to the grassroots input and feedback from frontline staff, learn how to manage internal communication using key strategies like weekly all-staff emails, a comprehensive internal website, and an easy-to-maintain internal resource structure. This session also includes a coaching strategy for how to upskill communication skills in frontline leadership.

In this session, an academic journalism librarian at the University of Florida - whose research and instruction statistics have increased nearly every year since 2013 - will outline how she markets and frames these services in a way that generates interest from a wide variety of audiences – even beyond her liaison area. She will also describe how she has “sold” public and academic library research services to former students who are now practicing journalists, and to other groups outside academia. Tips and tricks (and lessons learned) will be discussed along with how these approaches can be applied to multiple library settings and sizes.

Short form video has dramatically increased in popularity over the past few years and the graphics and photos that we used to post no longer get decent organic reach. We all know that video is the way to go but how can we change our mindset to be video first when developing ideas and how is it even possible to increase video content creation with an already packed schedule? In this talk attendees will learn practical tips on idea development and video production to speed up the workflow while increasing engagement.

Navigating change can be challenging—especially for beloved, historic institutions like libraries. If you’ve struggled to get staff or community buy-in for a change, this is session is for you. Learn strategies for navigating transitions in the library landscape. Explore practical approaches to guide your team and community through internal and external changes alike. See examples from one public library that has transformed their internal processes and digital presence in the three years since opening their first dedicated marketing position. You will leave with actionable ideas and renewed inspiration for managing change within your own institution.

You’ve heard what can’t go on a homepage, but what CAN go on a homepage? In this session, we’re deconstructing elements of a library homepage from both a visual and content perspective, including main navigation. Next, we'll discuss how to develop your homepage goals when you prioritize your library's audiences, mission, and initiatives. Then, we'll need your help to design a homepage together, using poll-based audience participation to rank homepage elements and watch a homepage be brought to life. Tada, you've reviewed and created a homepage with an exercise you can scale at your library.