Marketing mix elements
Marketing mix is recognized as a strategy used to perform marketing functions. "The
marketing mix is the planned package of elements which will support the organization in
reaching its target markets and specific objectives" (De Aze, Elliot E. 1985 p. 38). Marketing
mix is the key concept in the marketing task. "The tools of the marketing mix are a set of
controllable variables to be applied to a given situation with creativity and imagination"
(Lancaster Geoff and Reynolds Paul 1995, p. 44). Marketing mixes have a number of facets
and are important to devise strategies in order to manage the dynamic environmental affects
of the market. Marketing mixes are inter-related, interdependent, and also a combination of
many factors. McCarthy, E.J. (1978), negates of the marketing mix under 4ps: Product, Price,
Place, and Promotion.
Product mix and Products of the library
A product is anything that can be offered to a market to satisfy a need or want (Kotler
Philip 1997, p.431). Products, which can be marketed, include physical goods, services,
persons, places, organizations, and ideas. In the deeper sense, the product is not a physical
item but a perception of the consumer/user. Product means the satisfaction of the customer
rather than a physical good. Goods are ingredients of customer satisfaction. Marketing mix is
the process or devise that makes this customer satisfaction.
Product can be a physical object, service or a benefit offered by the marketer. They have
tangible as well as intangible attributes.
Product can be categorized as consumer products and ‘industrial products’. Consumer
products are finished products offered to the end-user while the industrial products are
products that are bought by other companies in order to make another product or sell them to
obtain a profit. Consumer goods can be identified in forms of convenience goods, shopping
goods, specialty goods, and unsought goods on the basis of their consuming pattern, and
frequency of buying (Lancaster Geoff and Reynolds Paul 1995, p.95). People purchase
convenience goods in regularly and frequently basis with a minimum effort of selecting.
Customers evaluate suitability, quality and price style characteristics when they buy shopping
goods. Specialty goods are those, which have a brand reputation, unique identification, and
purchased habitually requiring a special brand. There are some products which are not known
to buyers, or although, they are known, customers are not concern on them. Such products
like life-insurance, food processors, new machines, new books, magazines, computer
software etc. are identified as unsought goods.
"Products and services which provide benefits for users and which answer users' most
important needs are the core business of the library and information service"(Aze de Elliot
E.1985, p.5). These products appear as a response to user priorities in the form of commercial
intelligence, educational, leisure, recreational or social information. All of the services
offered by the library: lending services, inter library loan, on-line searching, house-boundreaders
services, picture loans etc. are library’s products that can be marketed successfully.
Product concept in the information sector is spread out over three levels; core level, tangible
level, and augmented level. Library can provide bibliographic information, abstracts and
summaries of information, which disseminate the core level information. Books, databases,
journals, bulletins, etc. represent the tangible information. Library can also augment
information through quality, reliable, speedy and timely professional services. Weingand
Darlene E (1995) negates that the library's product can be arranged within a three
dimensional structure of the product mix, product line, and product item (p.307). Under the
product mix, library’s resource collection represents as a product line while product items
include books, periodicals, videos, films, audio recordings etc. For further fact, services of
the library can be considered as a product line and the circulation of library materials, ILL,
reference services, and on-line searching represent as product items. 'Programmes' of the
library would be another product line where product items comprise of bibliographic
instructions, displays, and lectures
Products, while they vary according to the scope and objectives of the library, can be
identified in physical forms and intangible forms.
Library purchases readily available materials to build up a well balanced and comprehensive
resource collection for users. The collection constitutes books, periodicals, microform
publications, manuscripts, research papers, and non-book materials (audio cassettes,
filmstrips, slides, and audio/visuals). These are not the library's real products, but the resource
collection is the raw material for products.
Library produces paper media products such as acquisition lists, bibliographies, printed
indexes, directories, news letters, reviews, content page bulletins, chapter headings etc. in
order to provide quick information to users. Catalogues are established to facilitate users
access to the collection easily and obtain desired bibliographic information quickly.
Electronic media products include databanks prepared by the library itself or bought from
another database vendor. Databases are searched through online or CD ROM versions.
Databases provide various levels of information, full text, abstracts, or bibliographic.
Users can borrow library materials for a period of time depending upon their membership
type. Institutional membership facilitates the maximum utility of materials to a number of
users at a time. Reservation facilities are provided under special programmes.
Reference services are available for users who wish to obtain information by self-searching,
and/or with staff help. Ready reference sources like encyclopedias; dictionaries, directories,
thesaurus etc. are made available for self-searching. The staff replies to user queries using
these reference sources.
Resource sharing programme of the library includes Inter Library Loans (ILL) and
Reciprocal borrowing. Photocopies of journal articles/chapters of books etc. are provided
through ILL. Under the Reciprocal Borrowing Programme, library holding the responsibility
for the resource, facilitates users to borrow the desired library materials from another library.
Research and Consultations services are conducted for users who seek for the assistance from
the library. Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI) services are launched with the
utility of user profiles for individuals, or for groups relying on their interests. Relevant
information packages are distributed to them.
Document delivery service undertakes the provision of photocopies, and duplicating facilities
to the user. Documents are also delivered via E-mail, Fax, and computer printouts or by
downloading.
Librarians are involved in the reproducing and repackaging of information for target user
groups. Information bulletins, content page sets, newspaper clippings, news digests, digests
for journal articles, abstracts, translations of articles in local languages etc. are provided to
the user. Community information services involve the provision of day-to-day information to
the user. Information related to vocational development, agriculture, economy, marketing,
political events, know how, and entertainment etc. required for the day-to-day life are also
provided.