The Survey of Public Library Reputation Management & Public Relations Practices 01/2014

Book excerpt: This report looks closely at how public libraries monitor and asses their public reputations and market their services to the broader public. The study looks closely at how public libraries study and assess their reputation with their constituency reach out to them in the library, over the internet, and through all the means available to them. The study presents detailed quantitative data on public library spending on public relations, as well as their use of internet sites and tools such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and other sites to engage their audience. The study also presents its findings on a communications and website strategy and traditional means of reaching out such as children’s storytelling, theatrical and musical events, library newsletters, library friends’ groups, book sales, contests and other means of reaching out and engaging the public. In addition, the report presents detailed data and commentary on library use of focus groups and surveys. Data in the report is broken out by size of library budget, size of service area, per capita income of service area and other criteria.