As a librarian, your job is to connect people to information and new learning experiences and to facilitate an environment of learning. Contrary to what many people may think, librarians are not merely “book stampers”. There is a lot going on behind the scenes that people don’t know about. This is true for big public libraries as well as libraries located small towns.

As someone that is passionate about your role as librarian, you may feel the need to get the community involved. Below is a list of 6 tips you can use to engage your community. These tips will work for any librarian, especially the one that wants to get a small or inactive community on board and excited about experiencing new ways of learning.

Tip 1: Set up a frontline helpdesk

A go-to helpdesk for people that struggle with everyday things like computer program installations, forgotten login details, or compiling a bibliography for assignments can demonstrate the library’s value to the community.

It is important that your helpdesk should be accessible and efficient to ensure that the community gets into the habit of consulting the helpdesk whenever they are stuck on a problem.

Tip 2: Arrange regular talks at the library

Ask guest experts to deliver workshops at your library and make the topics interesting and useful. Community members that would, for example, like to develop their own websites can also ask you to organize a workshop on content management systems and web hosting. This will incentivize community members to tell you what they want to learn and provide you with the opportunity to interact with different people and find out how they perceive the library.

Since events like these should adhere to the principles of public policy, it may be important for you to acquire the necessary public administration skills. There are numerous MPA programs available that can provide public servants like yourself with the necessary know-how to administer activities like these effectively.

Tip 3: Start book clubs for different age groups

By forming book clubs, the library will provide community members with rewarding and relaxing reading experiences. It can also be a fun and wholesome activity for kids. You can start little initiatives within the book clubs like “free Kindle book of the week” or adding some complimentary recreational activity to the book club meetings.

Tip 4: Send out a newsletter containing valuable content

Send out a regular newsletter containing local news, advertisements, and well-researched articles on topics such as health and nutrition, road safety, and creating a zero-waste lifestyle. Of course, you should keep the content focused on reading and it may be a good idea to include your own reviews of books you have available in the library to encourage further reading.

Tip 5: Make use of social media

If you haven’t already, open a Facebook page and Twitter account. Follow community groups and like, share, and comment on posts, especially when the content relates to books, reading, or learning. This is one more way of showing that the library is an active part of the community and to establish loyalty in the eyes of the community members.

Tip 6: Embrace technology

Nowadays, people have an abundance of information available at the tips of their fingers. Because of this, there is a common misconception that libraries are outdated. This is, however, not the case at all. In fact, the advancements in technology made the list of a library’s day-to-day activities considerably longer. Because information is readily available, libraries now have the opportunity to be the epitome of correct and organized information.

To make the most of this opportunity, it is important for you to embrace technology, not only to save time and streamline the library’s daily activities, but also to provide your visitors with the best possible learning environment.

By utilizing the principles of public administration, you’ll be able to tap into the unlimited capacity of the government and create a space where community members can learn and grow.

Conclusion

Librarians have the important job of creating an interactive and pleasant environment for learning. As a modern librarian, you have an unlimited set of resources at your disposal. When you employ these resources, you may find that your library transforms into a hub where community member can read, learn, and share.