Search Engine Marketing at Neuse Regional Libraries
Neuse Regional Libraries (NRL) have adopted a new way of reaching the community beyond library walls. In 2021, NRL began using Google Ad Grants for Non-Profits to advertise campaigns for library services, events, and programs. An ad for the myLIBRO app resulted in high optimization scores and over 7,000 clicks, making it the most popular ad when searching using the keywords “free library books” “library app” and “library study rooms.” The Library has also had success in marketing larger programs such as the annual Juneteenth celebration and Summer Reading Programs and have utilized its Google Ad account to advertise its new Digital Media Lab. Google Ads has been a beneficial tool in reaching the community through targeted advertising.
Soil Remembrance Project in Buncombe County
As part of the community efforts to help raise local consciousness of racial history Buncombe County Special Collections, in partnership with Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County and the Equal Justice Initiative, is preparing to mount a permanent exhibit about racial terror violence in Buncombe County. The central focus of the exhibit is soil samples collected at sites where Black men were lynched in our area presented together with information about each one of the victims and the events surrounding their murder.
A series of programs that focus on race relations in the Jim Crow South and how historians have interpreted the period over time will mark the occasion. The first event was on November 4th.
Therapy Dogs at Fayetteville State University
Chestnutt Library at Fayetteville State University hosted therapy dogs during finals week. The library partnered with local organization "Love on a Leash: Fayetteville Chapter" to bring several dogs to the library. Therapy dogs can provide comfort and stress relief to others and help individuals achieve physical and educational goals.
Staff Development Curriculum at Iredell County Public Library
The Iredell County Public Library created a 5-year strategic plan that was approved by the Board of Commissioners in March of 2020. When the library was required to modify operations, we knew it would be the perfect time work on Goal 5: Access for All, Objective 4: Provide a Well-Trained, Compassionate Staff and begin creating/developing our staff development curriculum. We formed a committee and were able to structure the core competency curriculum to align with the county’s employee evaluation criteria. In addition, each department within the library has its own section of relevant trainings listed.
The curriculum is made available to staff in PDF format, but is also a living document that is updated regularly with new materials and staff suggestions. It is also checked regularly for dead links and trainings that may have become irrelevant. The goal is to only list training links that are 5 years old or less, so we provide staff with the most up-to-date information.
Each full-time employee is required to complete at least 40 hours per fiscal year and part-time employees are required to complete 20 hours per year. Staff are required to log a specific number of department-oriented training hours, but outside of that are free to pursue any training they feel will help them better serve our patrons.
We let staff know that this list of webinars and trainings is not the only source of staff development and that they are allowed to report in-person trainings, book displays, program planning, articles and professional books. Our Staff Development Curriculum is a collection of trainings to get staff started with their journey to lifelong learning.
Read the full curriculum.
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