Description: You know the power of storytelling. After all, you work in a building where you are literally surrounded by some of the best stories in the world. So why is it so hard for libraries to tell their own stories? The quest for library stories that evoke emotion and have a compelling story arch for library advocacy is more difficult than it sounds... or is it? This session is packed with examples from real libraries (bring your Kleenex... some of these will certainly make you weepy!). You’ll learn how a good story becomes good marketing. You'll also leave with a list of practical tips to find stories your library can use for advocacy and building community support. This session includes a five-minute activity.
Attendees will:
• Understand the critical connection between storytelling and long-term engagement of the community.
• Discover the benefits your library will see when you use stories to build trust with your community.
• Learn how to gather and structure stories that will inspire your community.
Speaker:
Angela Hursh is Manager of Library Marketing Content and Services for NoveList, a company dedicated to helping libraries reach readers. A 2023 Library Journal Mover & Shaker, she also trains library staff on communications and promotion. She is the author of the blog SuperLibraryMarketing.com and host of the weekly YouTube series The Library Marketing Show. Before her job at NoveList, Angela led the content marketing team for the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. She also has more than 20 years of experience as an Emmy-award-winning broadcast TV journalist. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and youngest daughter and a grand kitty named Tillie and enjoys reading historical fiction, relationship fiction, and cookbooks!
