Romancing your library users

Its Valentine's Day!  This seems like a perfect opportunity to talk about how we might go about romancing our library users.  How do you go about charming your library users to visit your library and feel welcome coming back?  I like to first and foremost have a welcoming presence in my library with plants, blankets, and good signage. I check to make sure the library has pens, scrap paper, and that the photocopier and printer are filled with paper.   I also like to provide a warm and friendly welcome to any new library users to encourage them to return.  When I teach library workshops, I usually come armed with  pamphlets about library resources to hand out after the teaching session.  Sometimes I follow up via email with the class attendees thanking them for attending.  I also like to get out of the library to remind the staff and physicians at my hospital that I am alive and well and willing to take literature search requests in the hall or cafeteria.  If I have a chance, I deliver some articles directly to users, especially those staff who cannot easily get out of their units.  The other day I offered to deliver articles to a nurse in emergency.  In the process of doing this, I had an opportunity to meet some other doctors and nurses I serve and ask them about life in the ER.  They started telling me about research projects they are exploring.  Hum, there must be an article for that! 

How do you romance your library users?  Email me at Linda.Howard@fraserhealth.ca

Linda Howard, President, HLABC