Skip to main content

See All the Fun You'll Have Working at the Library!

For many years libraries have used videos to promote programs, resources, services, community connections, local history, and many other activities.  There is often an underlying implied theme:  the library is a fun place to be!  Patrons and staff have known this to be true forever.  Consider, too, that the library is a fun workplace, and videos can share this side of a library's character.

I work in a small township public library (Mooresville [Indiana] Public Library) where fun is not merely a daily expectation, it is a requirement.  MPL's YouTube channel has a fleet of videos showcasing the smiles staff wear while working.  Let's see some.


Beyond Books Infomercial
by Mooresville Public Library


Go Ask Reference
by Rachel Montgomery & Meghan Adams


Librarians Do Taio Cruz
by Suzanne Walker


We Love Mooresville Public Library
by MPL Staff of 2019



Libraries & Old Dewey
by Suzanne Walker and MPL Staff & Volunteers


It's even possible to see the humorous side of serious subjects, such as this re-opening video MPL created during the COVID-19 lockdown.


MPL Reopening Promo Trailer
by Mooresville Public Library


Your library can attract job candidates through such videos as these (or one specifically targeted toward hiring, such as this one):


Apply for a Job at MPL Promo Trailer
by Mooresville Public Library


Who wouldn't want to share in the fun?  Over the years MPL has had several job applicants who have specifically stated that the reason they applied for a particular position, apart from the obvious desire to perform certain duties, was seeing one (or more) of these videos above and thinking, "That'd be a really great place to work."  Several employees have characterized MPL to prospective colleagues as "the best place you'll ever work."

Videos are wonderful promotional tools for libraries.  Why not use them to promote an essential aspect of library service--hiring new staff?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Avoiding Copyright Law Problems With Your Library Video Readalouds

For decades public libraries have presented readaloud children's programs to encourage reading and early literacy.  The photo (below) presents a typical scenario. Click Image to Enlarge Some libraries videorecord librarians reading children's books so that patrons may read along from the comfort of wherever they happen to be at the time.  Here are a few examples (click the boxes below to play the videos): Story Time Anytime!, by Clinton (Indiana) Public Library (see their Story Time LIVE video playlist ) Read Aloud, by Meghan Adams: Barn Dance, by Bill Martin, Jr., et al. Ms. Casey Reads a Chapter From Mr. Popper's Penguins , by Richard & Florence Atwater Videorecording someone reading an entire children's picture book could constitute copyright infringement, although some have argued that these types of videos fall within the "fair use" exception under Section 107 of the federal copyright act (17 U.S.C. §...
Post a Comment
Read more

Library Spokescritters on Social Media

Does your library have resident pets?  They can become effective "spokescritters" for libraries, particularly when they use social media to express "themselves."  How effective? Consider Thorntown (Indiana) Public Library  (TPL) as an example.  TPL has Chance , library cat-in-training, who succeeded Tober , TPL's library cat from 2008 to 2015.  Thorntown is a community of under 2,000 residents.  Tober's (and, now, Chance's) blog  has 220,061 viewings (as of today), reaching a worldwide audience. Moreover, Chance (and Tober before him) draws many loyal fans through TPL's doors everyday. Resident library animals are patron magnets.  People love to visit them at the library.  They are also effective "bloggers" and "posters" on social media and library websites (with a little help from their human library co-workers).  Here are several examples of library "spokescritters" and their online presences: Morgan the Libra...
Post a Comment
Read more