Strategies for making meaningful connections and getting the most out of your programming efforts.

Before the Program: General Promotion Strategies
These guidelines are most applicable to programs you are hosting.

• Create an email list to promote your programs. Remember to keep adding people to the list.
  
• Hang promotional posters in strategic places. (For example, if your program is on nutrition, put a poster about the upcoming program near the nutrition books.)
• Make a suggestion to "Bring a friend" who may be interested. This works well because now two people have committed. Also, sometimes people find it easier to attend an event when they are coming with someone.
  
  • Add the "Tell a Friend" option to online program announcements where patrons can submit their friends email address and conveniently forward the information.
• Give a reminder. Send an email or make follow-up phone calls two days before the program.
  
• Collect a registration fee. (This may only be applicable for certain programs, such as trips or events involving food, and could be refundable for those who attend.)
  
• Hand out tickets. Even if they're free, they show a commitment and make it clear that you are holding a space for them.
  
• Send out personalized mailings to patrons or groups who would be interested.
  For example, if you are hosting a mystery author, call or send out a notes like this, "Ms. Doe, I know that you love mysteries, so I thought that you'd want to know of an exciting event... " Having an Italian/American comedy speaker? Send flyers to the Italian center. Hosting a UFO speaker? Send flyers to sci fi clubs and science clubs.
  
• Host programs that make patrons feel welcome and lure non-users into the library.
  The Westhampton Free Library hosted "Hot Chocolate Day" where they set up crock-pots and served different kinds of hot chocolate (in 4 oz. hot cups) along with the recipes.

Have more ideas? Please share them with us!

At the Program: Making Connections with Attendees
These guidelines are appropriate for both programs your library is hosting and/or linking with groups using your community room.

• Interact with people attending the program/event/meeting (welcome them to the library, ask who is a new user and offer them a tour & a library card.)
  
• Give out "goody bags" (plastic bags w/library logo on them) when patrons sign up for library cards. The bags might have library brochures, a magnet, pencil w/library name and phone number etc.
  
• Do a related book/materials display.
  
• Give new patrons an introduction to the library.
• Provide routine users with a quick update on "What's New" or "Coming Soon" in your library.
  
• Place newsletter and calendar of events on the seats of each attendee.
  
• Conduct a survey after each program. (Keep in mind that surveys don't always have to be in paper format, informational interviews with selected participants can be very enlightening.)