The Power of Communication: Increasing Patron Engagement Through Outreach and Assessment

Abstract

National trends suggest that many library services are under-used due to lack of effective marketing, as opposed to lack of community interest. This paper uses Dibner Library’s instructional workshop program as an example of a low-attendance library offering transformed by assessing a number of communication efforts. In order to tailor outreach to Dibner patrons, librarians tracked patron surveys, Bitly clicks across all forms of digital publicity, and registration and attendance statistics. The resulting increase in engagement shows that customized communication is at the root of successful library programming.