Facing closure twice in recent years the Discovery Centre, once a busy hub circulating educational resources throughout the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board, was in dire need. With loan statistics plummeting, resources crumbling and many teachers believing the Discovery Centre was already closed, the future of this department was uncertain. But staff understood the sound financial investment of sharing resources via a special library and the value of relationship building with the right groups. Partnering first with Early Years and 21st Century Learning then aligning with Communication Services, Autism Services, Music / Arts, and teacher librarians, word began spreading and usage rose. Follow the journey as the Discovery Centre identified niche markets, acquired targeted resources and responded to the needs of teachers and classrooms. Learn to apply the simple lessons they learned to make your own library better.
Outcomes:
Participants will learn: how to apply simple marketing techniques to raise the visibility of their library; how to identify beneficial partnerships; how small things can make big difference; the value of keeping the end user in mind; and how to make a library relevant even in the midst of budget cuts.
