Academic+Resources+-+Journals

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**Click on the word 'edit' on the tab in the upper right hand corner. Add your resources to the list by locating the correct placement according to alphabetical order. You can also click on the ''discussion tab' above and add a message related to your postings. Once you have posted all of your annotations to the wiki, paste qll of your annotations in one email and send it to Dr. Edwards.** =====  2005. "The Electronic Welcome Mat: The Academic Library Web Site as a Marketing and Public Relations Tool." //Journal of Academic Librarianship// 31, no. 3: 225-228. The article describes the potential for academic libraries to use websites as vehicles of public relations. Specifically the articles discusses placement of public relations links on the homepage. Of 106 libraries surveyed, around half had links to news but only a few had links to exhibits or library events. Though the article did not attempt to prove a link between increased user use and understanding of the library, it did state that in a time of cut budgets, using the library’s webpage to explain the services and public relations type campaigns of a university library is essential.

//Babafemi, Grace Olabisi.// 2002. Public relations activities in an academic library: the roles of the circulation librarian. //Library Review.// 51(9): 464-468. The article suggest a circulation librarian anticipate the needs of the user, be proactive, friends to users, and be energetic and enthusiastic. Babafemi suggests public relations is important because "no matter how libraries respond to the needs of their users, their values will not be appreciated without an aggressive, systematic and determined program of publicity to stimulate, inform and attract the information seekers/library users"(464). The article focuses on the role of the circulation librarian because of their direct experience with the user. This librarian must serve both the external and internal audience, as noted in our weekly discussions and readings. It is the job of the librarian to orient and make the user aware of activities. No mention is made by Babafemi, however, about how the librarian should go about discovering these needs of the user.

Bajjaly, S. T. 2005. “ Contemporary Recruitment in Traditional Libraries .” //Journal of Education for Library and Information Science// 46, no. 1: p. 53-8. This journal discusses what employers are looking for in information professionals that have a master’s degree in library and information studies. The data was collected for three months in 2000 reviewing the MLIS-required job position advertised in two print publications and two websites. The researchers sent surveys asking questions about the approach taken in advertising and what the quality of applicants was. The three most important factors were found to be post-graduate work experience, personality and service orientation. This article was incredibly eye opening on the hiring process and how they use the venues for job advertisement. Barber, P. 2003. “ Mickey Mouse, Miss Piggy and the Birth of ALA Graphics [ALA Read posters] .” //American Libraries// 34, no. 5: p. 60-3. This article explores the use of posters in promoting libraries as utilized by the American Library Association. It traces the establishment of the promotions branch of the ALA that resulted from this initial campaign. It is a good article for anyone approaching the work of public relations because it is a real life story of a fresh graduate learning how to work within their budget and network with celebrities to increase public face. I would recommend this article for its approachability and practicality.

Empey, Heather, and Nancy Black. 2006. Marketing the academic library. //College & Undergraduate Libraries// 12(1-2): 19-33. This article suggests that though academic libraries do not usually launch public relations campaigns, even university libraries are in need of such campaigns. The campaign of University of Northern British Columbia is investigated and outlines how the university used posters, giveaways, exhibits, and university publications to reach its community of learners. Suggestions were made about future directions the school and other schools could go based on the campaign results. The campaign showed the a budget was required for future endeavors, much of the first campaign was done through free resources. The school also plans to create a marketing plan based on its experiences. Marketing is essential to raising the awareness of the library and its services but also to educate the users. Organization and cost-effective tools are important to create a successful campaign.

Forrest, Charles. “ Academic libraries as learning spaces: Library effectiveness and the user experience .” //Georgia Library Quarterly// 46, no. 3: 7-10. This journal article addresses the evolution of the library from a place where information transactions take place into a place where patrons collaborate with the staff, creating an experience. The author assumes that libraries are losing patrons as information is more readily accessible outside of the physical location. The data used to collect information on the customer experience is from the ARL Statistics and Measurement program. The author encourages libraries and librarians to create a full customer experience for users that will last in the minds of the users to encourage repeat returns. This article would be good for an overview of the customer changes libraries are facing.

Werts, C. E. 2009. “ Conference Swag, Goodies, Tchotchkes, and Collateral Materials: Marketing Information, Services, and Products .” //Online (Weston, Conn.)// 33, no. 3: p. 24-7. This journal article proposes five questions to internally ask when selecting what freebies to give away at events like conferences. Werts also gives examples of the best giveaways at the Special Libraries Association. Her stressing of usability and the imprint of information such as websites and company names is practical. The article is full of illustrative pictures and the five questions would be great to use in any PR campaign involving giving away items.

Zhang, L. 2008. “ Foreign Language Skills and Academic Library Job Announcements : A Survey and Trends Analysis, 1966-2006 .” //The Journal of Academic Librarianship// 34, no. 4:  p. 322-31. This article discusses the trends in the necessity of foreign language knowledge in library positions. Knowledge of languages is especially useful in academic libraries where the librarian may have to translate materials for cataloging, speak with foreign patrons or communicate with libraries around the world. The demand has been decreasing though as software has become more sophisticated and has taken over some of the work that demanded the foreign skills. The article is useful to giving academic librarians an idea of what positions will most likely require foreign language experience.