So your Library App has launched …now what? You now have a fabulous new SOLUS library app and you are thinking about promoting it! When it comes to marketing and promoting your library it can be hard to know where to start and where to spend any budget you have but effective promotion of your app can result in a huge uptake of your library’s resources and the community’s perception of your service.
Marketing a mobile app requires an understanding of your audience – what do they need, what do they like and dislike, where do they spend their time? We have customers all over the world and we love to see their success in marketing SOLUS products. We wanted to share the great work of Julie and her team in Livingstone Shire Council.
Julie Bickley is Coordinator of Library Services at Livingstone Shire Council. It’s a coastal community with a small library system where the team are very dedicated and love what they do. There are five libraries, Yeppoon being the main hub, with Emu Park branch in another small coastal town twenty kilometres away. Byfield, Marlborough and Mt Chalmers are tiny rural branches, open part time, that serve the regional communities of Livingstone Shire Council. The app is definitely a fantastic way for the more remote residents to access library services, and find out about events happening in the Shire.
Julie designed this amazing campaign alongside her genius creatives, particularly Kasey Allwood – Librarian, and Kristen Solis – Library Technician. They developed the look with the blue skin and the white books and used it on all their promo material to get a seamless brand, They put together all the videos, and worked out the technology!
Just take a look at just some of the ways Livingstone Libraries in Australia is growing their audence, showing innovation and making efficiencies in staff time. Kasey worked out how to make the following video by watching Apple tutorials!
“The Library app offers us a portable platform that we can promote to our borrowers as simple to use, with easy access to your own library account, and where you can browse through the library’s collection of books, movies, music and more! Your Library in your pocket!”
Julie Bickley
Coordinator Library Services – Livingstone Shire Council
The app is prominently on the scrolling banner of the Livingstone Shire Council website
We love that Julie also made the following pre public quick video to hook the staff up with an ‘exclusive’ – preview to the app prior to public launch. It worked and the staff got excited.
They designed amazing bookmarks to promote the iPad competition and other bookmarks for continuous promotion to patrons They’ve used a competition with an iPad as a prize donated by SOLUS! Find out the lucky winner’s favourite things about the app and how she felt when she won the iPad competition.
Anytime, anywhere! They’ve put their libraries and resources in the palms of their patrons’ hands 24/7! They’ve made their patrons’ smartphones their library cards! No more lost or replacement cards!
They’ve freed up staff time by making it so simple to borrow library items simply using the patron’s own device. Easy and fast to access eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMags! E-zines, music, films. They’ve made it easy to see the latest events, adult programmes and children’s activities. They’ve made bright fun video promos!
They’ve put the library app up there where everyone can see it! WOW! Here is the Billboard that Livingstone Shire Council lease on the main highway into the small coastal regional town (on the Tropic of Capricorn – Yeppoon)
It’s so important to keep your patrons updated on your innovative work so the SOLUS team have created some free Library App – Promo Materials. You can also download and print your own free marketing materials This includes custom posters, bookmarks, flyers and business cards. We’ve also included social media imagery and digital signage resources. Self-service marketing materials include general signage, an editable poster for your library and an explanation video.
Hey don’t take it from us!
“Our experience has been all positive, and Brenton at SOLUS has been so supportive and willing to assist us at every turn“
Julie Bickley, Coordinator Library Services – Livingstone Shire Council
Thanks to Julie and her team for sharing their amzing journey! If you’d like a chat or any information about the library app, #eb1 events and bookings or interactive signage then please contact us
