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Transportation Library Quick Guide: Demonstrating Value: Promoting Products and Services

When Libraries Transition to Virtual

Education and outreach aimed at employees and management can help sustain and grow a library or information services program. A variety of methods and tools can be used for these purposes, including events, program-specific outreach, publications, agency presentations and a web presence (see box at right).

Statistics, success stories, positive user feedback, and flyers or fact sheets describing services, as well as logos or other graphic illustrations of branding can help communicate the value of services and functions provided.

Transportation librarians and information services providers can gain a broader perspective from the National Transportation Knowledge Network’s community of practice for library advocacy, where meeting minutes are provided for practitioner discussions that examine how to ensure “the value and contributions of libraries and library professionals are thoroughly understood and widely communicated within the transportation research community.”

Refer to the Outreach and Education Quick Guide for more information about educating transportation library users and ensuring agency and user needs are understood.

A Sampling of Education and Outreach Activities

Events

  • Annual symposium
  • Focus groups
  • Lunch and learns or brown bag presentations
  • Open house

Program-Specific Outreach

  • Attending program meetings
  • Discussing program-specific needs and resources
  • Temporarily or permanently embedding information staff into programs

Publications and Other Communication Products

  • Brochures
  • Display posters or flyers
  • LibGuides or other types of literature searches
  • Library newsletter or input in other agency newsletters
  • Training modules for required agency training

Agency Presentations

  • Orientation for new employees
  • PowerPoint slides for other agency staff use
  • Updates at agencywide meetings

Web Presence

  • Intranet
  • Library website
  • Social media