Public Relations
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners continues to increase public awareness of the value of libraries as community resources, the role that it serves as an advocate for libraries and improved library services to the residents of the Commonwealth.
To advise the Board, the 17-member Public Relations Advisory Committee worked on formulating a Three-Year Marketing Plan (FY2008 - FY2010) that was approved in April 2007 and continues to be updated each year. In addition, the Committee provides input for the Board's public awareness campaigns.
In July 2007 the Public Relations Advisory Committee began working with Buyer Advertising, Inc. to implement the Marketing Plan's year-one goals. As part of that process, focus groups were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of plans to reach non-library users. The Final Report on Focus Groups: Studying Attitudes Toward Use of Library Services in Massachusetts provides insight to the way non-library users feel about libraries and also suggests the best methods to reach them.
As part of its Public Relations Program, the Board produces a number of publications, conducts a public awareness campaign and provides information to the media that is intended to increase awareness on the part of librarians, trustees, Friends of libraries, government officials, as well as the general public, to the ongoing programs, grants and work of the Board. Public Relations assistance is also available to libraries of all types when dealing with public relations issues within their own communities.