MINUTES of the PLN Marketing Group Thursday 26 November 2015 Gordon Library Meeting Room, Ku-ring-gai Library Service 12noon – 2pm

Present: Maya Mausli (Randwick), Eric Connerton (Randwick), Rebecca Dale (Ryde), Lynne Frances (Ku-ring-gai) Douglas Pine (Ku-ring-gai) Cathy Hammer (SLNSW) Monique Akauola (Sutherland) Kelly Wilson (Sutherland) Jody Rodas (Waverley) Simon Welsh (Waverley) Meg Dunworth (Willoughby)

Apologies: Gladwyn Pataig (Marrickville) Ruth Kotavich (Marrickville) Kim O’Grady (Ryde) Barbara Todes (Randwick) Maria Allue (Manly) Catherine Bryant (SLNSW) Louise Dolle (Auburn)

· Business arising from previous minutes - An update from Eric for Google drive link for addition of welcome brochures, etc.http://goo.gl/IkUAa1

· Discussion : What Promotions do each library use within the library? (processes that each library uses to create flyers/posters/TV screens, etc.) Ruth Kotevich, Marrickville

Round table discussion on how each library gets promotional material printed and created and the manner in which this is done. Several libraries have different approaches to design depending on their resources.

Ryde – Comms team does all design elements. Sutherland – Graphic Designer in-house in the council and print room. Ku-ring-gai – Comms team and internal print room. SLNSW – In-house marketing team and print room. Willoughby – In-house graphics and printing (some outsourced). Randwick –marketing team takes care of all the library materials both print and digital and print room. Waverley – In-house graphics and print room.

While all libraries still use printed material in the form of brochures, posters, flyers and a majority have TV screens for promotional use, the lead time is often quite difficult to manage. Those who work with a council Comms team often have to be prepared with a 2 month lead time. Trying to manage deadlines and changing information is a difficulty most libraries working with external teams have when creating marketing collateral.

Pull – up banners are used – Ku-ring-gai uses plain ones with branding along top and sides so posters can be attached for each individual event / display / promotion. Other libraries have banners made for each event or promotion. Willoughby produces their own and Council prints them inhouse.

E-newsletters and what’s on are used quite heavily and some tap into their Council’s e-news lists as well.

Bookmarks are printed and hidden in Ryde Library for treasure hunts J

· Information exchange

Roundtable discussion on what each library has been doing in terms of author events, displays and also upcoming events. Congratulations to Randwick and Waverley who won awards and to those libraries who were highly commended at the recent SWITCH conference - Marketing Awards for Public Libraries (MAPLs) - http://nswpla.org.au/

· General business – Eric C updated everyone on the PL Facebook page –

- As of Wednesday 25 November 2015, we currently have 393 likes, a growth of 16.81% since the date of our last Marketing Subgroup meeting on Wednesday 26 August 2015. - For the period of Thursday 27 August – Wednesday 25 November 2015: o We served 177 posts (an average of 1.96 per day) with a total reach of 50,051 users and a total impress count 98,550. o Discussion of most popular Facebook posts.

· Question on cost recovery and charges each library impose for events and activities - Most libraries only charge to cover costs for paid performers/presenters Some have set charges or nominal charges Most don’t charge for the majority of events Cancer Council Morning Tea or other charitable events donate money raised.

If any libraries would like to upload posts or share information on the Facebook page please email your personal Facebook email to Maya.Mausli@randwick.nsw.gov.au and she will add you for access to the Secret Society of Social Librarians Facebook group.

Meeting Closed at 2pm.

Meetings for 2016

• 25th February – Randwick Library
• 26th May – TBA
• 25th August – TBA
• 24th November – Sutherland Library

Marketing and Social media usage

• The strategic planning of marketing at libraries – do we all have our own marketing plans? Marketing strategies must be library specific, not just apply to the council.
• Types of Social Media used – What are we allowed social media?? Which libraries are having success? Fairfield discussed their upcoming Instagram account and engagement. Randwick discussed pinterest success. Social media usage must work to specific LGA’s. Picture based mediums are more accepted by council.

Future Meetings

• Location discussed, from previous meeting Burwood wanted to host in late October.
• For the agenda; how do we market to the non-user and Social Media progress.