TexShare Communication Working Group Meeting Minutes
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Conference Call
June 04, 2008

In Attendence:
Monica Norem, Sarah Tusa, Greg Tramel, Merry Bortz, Lisa Smith, Ann Mason, Mike Avila

Monica proposes to go over the TLA TexShare Open House presentation from the 2008 Texas Library Association annual conference for those who were not able to attend. We agree to do so at some point during the teleconference call.

1. Why are database usage statistics declining for public libraries, and what can we do about it?

Training is an issue, and we haven’t done that in a while, but we plan to address that soon. There is a lot of turnover in public libraries, so awareness of the resources may not be prevalent. A TSLAC staff member did training years ago that was very popular. Greg suggested that folks should know more about Heritage Quest. Other suggestions included: give a prize to a top user, send folks to a treasure hunt and win a prize for using the databases. (like an mp3 player), or fill out a survey and be entered for a drawing to win a prize.

Encourage more folks to publish articles in the Internet. Target statewide genealogy groups. Mention the name of the database. Greg said to adopt your public library, kind of like a mentoring thing, kind of like a buddy system. Play up the issue of no cost, no gas, save time, play up the practical. Lisa said package a curriculum, and each person in the Comm. WG would go through the system to get them to use the curriculum. Offer a continuing education session for each system. Ann said we might adapt the current K-12 model we are using for the public libraries.

Ann went over the Open House program at last TLA. We had attendees get their card stamped at every TexShare related station, turn the cards in, and then wait to see if their name was called out to win one of many donated prizes. In addition, food and drink was provided.

A suggestion was made to take advantage of the current interest in environmentalism by focusing on the Green File database EBSCO provides. Greg asked if EBSCO could some promotion, we told them they will promote, but in a more general message about getting people to the library. A member of the working group suggested that a coupon be printed in the paper, and when you take a coupon to your library for a free gift at the going into the library. Once there, the librarian gives a spiel on the online resources.

2. TLA Program Ideas for 2009

For next year the theme is Creating Community of Ideals and Innovations. One idea was to continue the cowboy theme of the open house and do a program called Roping your Community with TexShare. Another idea was to get an author to be there, and show people how to do a program around the theme of the book using research from the databases. Since the conference is in Houston, maybe an author from Houston would be appropriate.

Potential authors:

• The head of the Better Business Bureau in Houston, Dan Parsons, with a practical consumer book
• Richard Alderman at U of H, a professor at the law school and a consumer lawyer.
• Emily Akin, consumer alert reporter. She is a consumer alert reporter.
• Dr. Joan Shucke from the Texas Children’s Hospital.
• Douglas Brinkley at Rice University has written lots of historical books.

Greg suggested looking at stats for mid size libraries to see which databases have the most usage and are the most popular.

3. Update on EBSCO’s plan to promote the databases

We went over EBSCO plans for promotion such as:

• EBSCO will be producing an online newsletter that will be formatted to easily print out.
• They will have subject specific promotional items online from a link available at http://www.texshare.edu/outreach_materials.html.
• Radio ads for the entire state of Texas. We will let TLA and library directors know about them before they are broadcast. We will give Ed and Peggy and the PIO a timeline and plan, and ask library directors to do ten minute training for their staff before the spots start going out.

4. AMIGOS conference, “A Brand New World”

We went over the “Mud Flap girl” promotion in Wyoming. The presenter said to target one database at a time. Know your market and your audience very well. Always remember, what is in it for them? A brand is aligning what a company says with what it does, it's who you are, not a logo or marketing.

5. Concluding statements

The idea of a statewide library card was brought up, and we would have to get buy in from all libraries in Texas, and a few libraries are not in the TexShare card program. Many local communities don’t want it because they worry that their collections will become vulnerable. We are still looking into options for an all access card. We would have to get all libraries in the same mind set.

Greg said many non users don’t have any interest in using the computer, Monica said that Wal-Mart was a good place for a booth, and maybe outreach in off site locations is a good option.