Ask a Librarian Day is just under a week away. On Tuesday, February 23rd, we are promoting Ask a Librarian in a serious way! To prepare for AAL Day: We sent out a press release for the event, read the release here. Also, you should of received buttons from us to wear (if you have not, please let me know, we have a few left). Ask a Librarian Day is a day to focus on Ask a Librarian within your library. Promote the service to both your customers and to other staff members who might not be aware of the great service. Every person (from part-time student assistants to your director) should be able to talk about the service. There are 5 main points everyone should know: • If you ever need help when you’re not in our library, visit askalibrarian.org (or find the link on our library’s website). • You can use Ask a Librarian for free. • Ask a Librarian is a website where you can go to get your questions answered by a real librarian. • Ask a Librarian is open until midnight ET Sunday through Thursday and until 5 p.m. ET Friday and Saturday. • If Ask a Librarian isn’t open for chat, you can always email your question to us, and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours. How can you promote Ask a Librarian Day in your library? Here are some ideas from last year and new ones from Traci and I: • Dust off your Ask a Librarian t-shirt from last year and wear it around the library and town. • Create a booth or display within the library • Hold a raffle for students around the service • Handout bookmarks at checkout • Bake! Ask a Librarian Staff decorated cupcakes to raise awareness of the service…. Your co-workers will appreciate every word…err..bite! • Refresh and put out Ask a Librarian Marketing Materials everywhere you can inside and outside of the library. (order more here) • Most importantly, Talk about it! Share positive stories from your time on the desk and let your user’s know the service is available. Let us know what you are planning and please send up pictures and status reports as Ask a Librarian Day unfolds at your library!! We have pictures from last year at – https://info.askalibrarian.org/aal_day2009.asp!
