Advertising:
The purpose of advertising in the library context is to develop the awareness of users,
increase the use of services, and intensify the image of the library. Advertising programmes
must be designed to achieve reader’s attention, arouse interest for the product, lead the user to
decide purchasing, and buy/use the product with a satisfaction.
Library can advertise its products through displaying, ads on in-house newsletters, local
press, billboards, posters, on-screen announcements, radio, cinema advertisements,
Television commercials, and networks. In-house information services are commonly used
through leaflets and brochures, which are aimed at a target user group.
Public relations and publicity:
Library in the aspect of Public Relations incorporates the interaction between the library
and its customers. Public relations involve the interpersonal contact, which is to develop the
communication of trust, mutual respect, perception, attitude and opinion to communicate the
benefit of the library and its products. This associates a wide range of practice like editorial
coverage of press, publishing of in-house journals, staff magazines, newsletters, and other
publications. Library’s image is developed through calendars, logos, letterheads, etc.
Relationship with media is an important vehicle for the publicity and library personnel can
produce seasonal press releases. Media interviews, bookmarks, posters, and displays are also
tools for the publicity. The library services themselves can make publicity. Staff
performances, face- to- face contact with users, and the quality and the structure of the library
building are important factors.
Customer care is another tool for the promotion of the library. This implies the training of
staff to take client’s attention to the library. Needs are fulfilled by setting priorities instead of
insisting to apply the rule. Customer-care deals also with complaints and, this causes the user
becomes more loyal advocator of the service.
As another tool for promotion of the library, personal selling involves the presentation of
conference papers, seminars, lectures, demonstrations, exhibitions, and other presentations.
Here, the sales force should be carefully recruited and administered.
Library promotes its services through extension services such as library visits, ceremonies,
seminars, book exhibitions, contests, rewarding functions, get-togethers, and sponsorship
programmes. User education and current awareness services play the role of advertising and
personal selling. Library can communicate through various modes of messaging – oral,
written, electronic or implied.
Library extension services are not purely related to the library's professional activities, but
help users become loyal customers to the library. Displays of new arrivals, book reviews, and
organizing of exhibitions, and book fairs are important. Library can conduct public lectures,
speeches, discussions and seminars under various topics, which are believed interesting to
users. In public libraries Story hours can be conducted targeting children, blind or old aged
persons and illiterate people. Library guide tours, visits, commemorations and seasonal
celebrations are conducted to attract users.
Apart from the above-mentioned 4Ps among marketing mix elements there are other 3Ps
namely 'Process mix', 'Physical evidence mix', and 'People mix' extended in the service
marketing.
Although theoretically not applied, the above mentioned marketing mix elements are not new
or strange for the library sector. Our librarians have provided a rather user-centered library
service since the very begining. The most necessary task today is to conceptualize these
theories and adopt them to suit the fulfillment of changing user-needs in the modern timelimited
society.