MINUTES Statewide Marketing Project Monday 1 March, 9.45am – 12noon H4.02 Meeting Room, State Library of Victoria, 328 Swanston St. Melbourne Attendance: Statewide Marketing Project Advisory Committee Lorraine Seeger (Chair) (LS) Community Liaison Manager, Eastern Regional Libraries Corporation Christine Denis (CD) Service Librarian, Hume Global Learning Village Library Service Michael Hogan Christine McLaren (MH) (CM) Client Services Librarian, Mildura Rural City Council Library Service Library Operations Manager, West Gippsland Regional Library Corporation Pru Menzies Wendy O’Hara (PM) (WO) Customer Service Manager, Casey-Cardinia Library Corporation Customer Services Librarian, Campaspe Regional Library Larissa Oldham Annie Opray (LO) (AO) Ararat Branch Librarian, Central Highlands Regional Library Corporation Marketing Coordinator, Bayside Library Service Lesley Fell (LF) Public Libraries Unit Marketing & Program Librarian, Monash Public Library Nicole Lowndes (Minutes) The Marketing Bank (NL) Project Officer, Public Libraries Unit, SLV Marlo Branagh Apologies Michelle Wallace (MBr) Account Director, Bristow, Prentice, Lambaart, Budd (Items 1-2) (MW) Corporate Programs Manager, Whitehorse Manningham Regional Library Corporation Anne-Marie Otley Michael Byrne Lisa Naphtali Samantha Houston (AMO) (MB) (LN) (SH) Community Relations Coord., Yarra-Melbourne Regional Library Corporation Coordinator Library Operations, Monash Public Library Account Manager, Bristow, Prentice, Lambaart, Budd Partner, Bristow, Prentice, Lambaart, Budd Agenda: Finance Report: NL Progress Report: MBr/NL Proposed Promotions Kit Marketing Seminar 11am: Your Future partner/sponsorship opportunity: Mieke Mellars, The One Umbrella AGENDA ITEMS Welcome and Business Arising No business arising from the previous minutes. Actions were completed, except the item regarding Library and Information Week. The minutes were accepted. 1 Finance Report NL tabled a report of current expenditure and committed project funds. She noted that the saving from the cancellation of the 1300 service was not yet reflected in the report, as the account was not finalised. 2 Progress Report MBr reported that: TV ads are now running on Channel 10 Print ads are running in the Leader Newspapers February Champions newsletter has been sent Your Future campaign material has been distributed Radio National are still interested in pursuing the quiz idea later in the year; LN recommends taking up this offer as it would not require many resources The Your Future media release has attracted good media attention: The Herald-Sun will run an article and photograph in its Learn section on Tuesday 9 March The Age will run a high-profile article, with an interview and photograph, in the My Career section on Saturday 13 March The Herald and Weekly Times are interested in running a profile of a rural librarian SBS radio are interested in airing a multicultural services-focussed interview At the last meeting, LN was requested to approach major radio stations to suggest the Stump-a-Librarian quiz concept. MBr relayed their feedback: that kind of coverage requires significant advertising spend with the station, and must also have the support of the DJs. This is not achievable for the @ your library campaign. However, if libraries organise high-profile events, the stations will consider sending a roving vehicle. Feedback on the Holiday Fun campaign was positive overall: 32 responses were received by the closing date most libraries reported good numbers at events, and 93% the posters and bookmarks many libraries were able to attract good local media coverage some Champions reported a lack of enthusiasm for the campaign at a branch level overall, inquiries and attendance met expectations MBr tabled a summary of responses (attached). NL tabled a summary of progress. She highlighted: Recommendations from the last meeting were adopted by the Statewide Projects Steering Committee. A page on the Your Future campaign has been added to the @ your library information on Victoria’s Virtual Library (www.libraries.vic.gov.au/atyourlibrary/info/yourfuture). The Careers Expo still needs more staff for the stall. Extra postcards have been printed, and material requested from ALIA, and from all the library schools (Your Future material has also been sent to them for display in departments). The stall will have the postcard colours and feature a yellow kayak. ACTION AGENDA ITEMS ACTION NL was requested to ask ALIA to send information to all Victorian public libraries. NL to ask ALIA to send information to all Victorian public libraries The mural in storage has been offered to libraries, requiring a $100 installation fee. It has been requested by four libraries: Wimmera, Casey-Cardinia, Bayside, and Hume. NL will organise a roster. NL asked the Committee how they feel the Your Future campaign is going. Libraries have organised some events, and many of them are doing displays and sending information to careers teachers in local school, Job Network agencies, etc. The Committee asked NL to email Champions about Your Future media coverage. AO suggested that Marketing Bank could prepare a media release on the success of the Holiday Fun campaign. PM recommended sending it immediately prior to the April holidays instead. CM said Champions should also be sending follow-up media releases. NL noted that any media releases prepared by Marketing Bank can be uploaded to the web site and used by all Champions. NL asked MBr to quote for this additional work, as it is outside the contract. 3 NL to organise roster for mural NL to email Champions about media coverage Marketing Bank to quote for preparing additional media release Proposed Promotions Kit NL passed on a suggestion that the Marketing Project could fund or at least coordinate a bulk purchase of basic promotions/ display equipment for all libraries, such as poster clips. This suggestion comes from Visual Merchandising trainer, Kevin Hennah, who has now visited most of the library services in Victoria. NL has requested a cost estimate from him. 4 Marketing Seminar NL reported not many suggestions had been received in response to the request on libmark. Topics suggested were: Marketing to community groups Stephanie Alexander, Bud Tingwell, or other people who are consistently good at dealing with the public display by a shop fittings supplier ICMI speakers: Anne Whatley-Dale, Tricia Olsen, Frank Romano, Barry Urquart Diane Pembelton, SLQ PM to send NL article on marketing to community groups The committee also suggested: ‘Making the connection’: marketing as everyone’s work Report from a mystery shopper Getting close to local businesses ‘What works in your library’ – break out groups CM said the Champions should have a role in preparing and presenting the seminar. AO to send NL estimate for preparing and presenting Mystery Shopper report NL noted the business topic would be a good preparation for Doing Business @ your library. She asked if the break-out groups should be at the same time as the Champions workshop, which was agreed. NL will find out if the City Library has an appropriate venue, and investigate using Willliam Angliss. The committee supported the title ‘Day In Day Out’ and a date around 10 May. The target NL to investigate venues AGENDA ITEMS ACTION audience will be the Champions plus at least one branch staff member per library service. NL suggested a small lunch time expo of marketing and promotions related companies, such as displays equipment suppliers. The committee added Southern Scene, printers, coffee cart companies, Rainbow Displays, Toucan Displays, and graphic designers. LS suggested the vendors could be charged a small fee. AO said a prize should be offered to seminar attendees, to promote the seminar. PM suggested asking Champions to send in visual evidence of their best promotion, to be judged by this committee at its May meeting. As it is part of the State Public Library Marketing project, it could be called the ‘SPLaM Award’. The entries would be displayed at the seminar, and a People’s Choice prize also voted during lunch. A presentation to the best immediately after lunch. CM offered to present this ‘Library Idol’ segment. NL asked about thank you gifts for unpaid speakers. The Committee agreed on $50 book vouchers. NL asked for ideas on speakers. Garth Nix and Matthew Reilly were suggested. AO will also forward details of agency speakers to NL. 5 NL and committee to source sponsorship of prizes AO to forward details of agency speakers to NL Your Future sponsorship opportunity: Mieke Mellars, The One Umbrella NL welcomed Mieke Mellars from recruitment agency The One Umbrella. NL described the objectives and activities for the Your Future @ your library campaign month, and asked whether The One Umbrella could provide any support to libraries. Mieke indicated that they could provide promotional giveaways, and champagne for larger events, and possibly could speak at staff/ public events on library futures. Events can also be listed on the One Umbrella website. NL will send the Champions this information, and an invitation to submit sponsorship proposals to Mieke, with a template. NL to send Champions template for sponsorship proposals for One Umbrella Other Business NL noted Library & Information Week will run 24-31 May, during Just Ask. ALIA has not yet sent details or material. NL suggested offering a prize for joining online during the week, and asked for ideas for one statewide activity during the week as part of the Just Ask campaign. The committee proposed ‘The Big Ask’: a trivia event featuring: Statewide trivia competitions, with adult and junior categories. A kit would be provided to each library; resource rich libraries could run events, smaller libraries could run drop-in competition. City lunchtime event to attract media attention, possibly at the new City Library if it is open. Celebrities and librarians could compete to answer questions using the Internet, with a high-profile M.C. Prizes from sponsors such as Trivial Pursuit, World Book, Gale Group, iPod, or ISPs Next Meeting Monday 5 April, 9.30 – 11.30am, G3.02 Meeting Room, Vicnet, State Library of Victoria NL and committee members to work on The Big Ask proposal