Using Your Library’s Annual Report to Market Library Services

Abstract

In this session, I will discuss how the annual report can be an important element in a library’s marketing program rather than a chore that needs to be accomplished each year. While not every library produces an annual report, the data that goes into a report is often collected for a variety of functions and purposes already (ARL Stats, budget requests, organizational reports, etc.). By creating even a modest annual report, the library provides another mechanism to share its accomplishments and connect with both its user base and its governing body. It also helps demonstrate ROI (Return on Investment) for the library to its governing bodies (be they academic institutions, communities, corporations, etc.) This presentation will provide attendees with the thinking behind the Kresge Business Administration Library’s (University of Michigan) Annual Reports (2007-2011) and how we have adapted these documents over the last five years to match the interests of the students, faculty, staff and administration of the Ross School of Business. From this session, attendees will be presented with a variety of options for annual reports that they might be able to emulate at their institution.