Here's the marketing update as given to the DLDS/statewide marketing group on March 25th:
AskUsNow! celebrated its 6th birthday on March 17 by launching a "Story" campaign to collect stories of customer delight. People can enter their AskUsNow! stories at www.askusnow.info/story. In just a week, they've received some great stories:
By the Numbers
What's Coming
Where we are online
Last year, we created a sign to let customers know at the physical building that even though the building might not be open, the websites and AskUsNow! are always available online. Today it underwent a redesign.
The Old Sign
The language, "the building may be closed..." implied that the building is CURRENTLY closed! And i'm pretty sure these signs, once put up, remained up.
The design also bugged me with all it's white space, even when the library URL was in place.
Inspired by Aaron Schmidt's "Beautiful > Ugly" post about signage design i sat down with paper and pencil and a few hours later had a gorgeous new sign.
The New Sign
The new simple design informed the simple language, which was cut down to "we're always open online." No need to mention or imply that the building closes, we just want to promote the website(s). Plus, this time around, we're adding each library URL for you.
I'm so very proud of this new sign and i hope that you guys love it as much as i do.
It really is amazing what good design can for you. Just looking at the sign makes me feel good! Infinite possibilities good! And isn't that what the library is all about?
Signs will be printed and coming your way soon! Email Julie if you haven't already requested your copies. Plan for one copy per outside door per building for your institution.
This is the resource list we posted on MySpace and Facebook for the Winter Holidays:
What are the main December holidays?
For an overview of major December holidays, see “Web Holidays,” at:
http://www.web-holidays.com/
An expansive list of Winter Holidays can be seen on Wikipedia (please note that information found there should be backed up with other, reliable sources):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_winter_festivals
Holidays Around the World is from World Book Online, at:
http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Students?content_spotlight/holidays
Where is Santa now?
NORAD offers a “Countdown to Track Santa” – counting the days, hours, minutes, seconds until Santa’s big event, found at:
http://www.noradsanta.org/en/home.html
What’s the “real story” about Santa (and other pertinent questions)?
How Stuff Works is a site that gives a basic overview of the “story of Santa,” as well as ideas about the reindeer and more:
http://christmas.howstuffworks.com/santa-claus-stories-ga1.htm
The Smithsonian has information concerning Santa Claus:
http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/site/smithsonian/show_search_santa.do
Stories about the holidays:
The National Public Radio’s site has a tremendous amount of stories about the holidays, at:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96539922&ps=bb2
Holiday Food
For traditional Christmas Dinners and Holiday planning, check out EHow's info at:
http://www.ehow.com/christmas/christmasdinner.html
For vegetarian/vegan alternatives, you might like to try the Veggie Table, online at:
http://www.theveggietable.com/recipes/christmas.html
The Food Network, offers a variety of dessert choices and special holiday treats:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties/christmas-dessert-menu/pictures/index.html
For Kosher recipes, see Kosher Cooking, at:
http://www.koshercooking.com/
Just in case! Emergency and Health-Related Sites
To learn CPR --
http://health.howstuffworks.com/cpr2.htm
TIP: Hum the Bee Gee's song “Stayin Alive” for the right rhythm:
http://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20081017/cpr-gives-stayin-alive-new-life
Dealing with Family and Holiday Stress
Check out the Mayo Clinic's 12 tips for coping:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress/MH00030
Another helpful resource is the Family Guide's Guide to Managing Holiday Stress: http://family.samhsa.gov/be/holidaystress.aspx
The pressure to spend can be minimized with some budget planning from Mint.edu. Check out:
http://blog.mint.com/blog/moneyhack/ten-tips-for-smarter-holiday-budget-planning/
Want to send greetings to our military?
“Letters to Santa” offers a list of organizations and ways to send support, letters, and gifts to our military and their families:
http://www.operationlettertosanta.com/Pages/support-our-troops.htm
If you would like to send an emailed letter of “thanks” to the troops, an easy way to do this is through “America Supports You,” online at:
http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou/Message.aspx?SectionID=5
Or, you can specify which branch of the military service you’d like to connect with, though the U.S. Armed Forces News Service’s site, at:
http://www.usafns.com/email.shtml
Holiday Fun and Games
Print out some coloring book pages through the Coloring Page site, at:
http://coloring-page.net/christmas.html
Kaboose has a wide variety of crafts and games:
http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/christmas/christmas-crafts.html
A list of online puzzles and games with seasonal themes, from the “Gingerbread Man,” to “Ring the Bells” is found through A Kid’s Heart, online at:
http://www.akidsheart.com/holidays/christms/chgames.htm
Here’s a list of games you can play together:
http://www.partygameideas.com/christmas-games/
If You Plan to Travel
On the road:
Highway conditions can be viewed anytime through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s site at:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/Trafficinfo/
In the air:
The Federal Aviation Administration can tell you what the status of flights and airport delays are. For up to the minute information, see:
http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp
Weather predictions can be found through the Original Farmer’s Almanac:
http://www.almanac.com/
and Weather.com is another helpful resource. It offers hour-by-hour options. Just put in your zip code or location:
http://www.weather.com
Have a question about something else? Get answers fast at AskUsNow!
http://www.askusnow.info
We're available 24/7, even on Christmas!
Happy Holidays,
Your friends at Maryland AskUsNow!
Maryland AskUsNow! is using T-day as an opportunity to do some preemptive reference. On it’s MySpace and Facebook pages, fans and friends of AskUsNow! saw a list of resources put together by AskUsNow! on various Holiday-related questions we hope will answer FAQ's and remind them AskUsNow! is a resource for them. Check it out:
Thanksgiving is tomorrow. Are you prepared for the food, family, and fun?
To help you have a happy, safe, and healthy holiday, we’ve put together some resources we hope you’ll find useful.
Happy Thanksgiving from all your friends at Maryland AskUsNow! (We’re thankful for librarians and all our friends like you!)
—-
What do I do with this Turkey?
Butterball’s Thanksgiving guide is complete with shopping lists, conversations, thawing guides, seating, safety, what to do with leftovers, and more:
http://www.butterball.com/tips-how-tos/tips/thanksgiving-guideI may need to know CPR
http://health.howstuffworks.com/cpr2.htm
(TIP: don’t know what the timing is? hum the Bee Gee’s Stayin Alive for the right rhythm (http://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20081017/cpr-gives-stayin-alive-new-life))Need to have a Vegetarian Thanksgiving?
Check out Mahalo’s suggestions: http://www.mahalo.com/How_to_have_a_vegetarian_thanksgiving or eHow’s “How to choose a Turkey Substitute for your Vegan T-day” http://www.ehow.com/how_4599009_turkey-substitute-vegan-thanksgiving-dinner.htmlWorried about handling the family stress?
Check out the Mayo Clinic’s 12 tips for coping: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress/MH00030 or the Family Guide’s Guide to Managing Holiday Stress: http://family.samhsa.gov/be/holidaystress.aspxWant to send your thanks to our military?
Go to http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Usgresponse/Help.shtml#vgn-support-our-troops-vgn to send care packages, donate calling cards, or write letters, emails, or text messages of gratitude.What’s the real story behind Thanksgiving?
History.com tells the tale of the First Thanksgiving: http://tinyurl.com/6jwxzx and what was actually on the menu. Also check out the Smithsonian’s site at http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmah/thanks.htmHave kids to entertain?
Print out some coloring book pages here: http://coloring-page.net/thanksgiving.html or here: http://www.preschoolcoloringbook.com/color/cpthanksgiving.shtml or here: http://holidays.kaboose.com/thanks-color.htmlInterested in Thanksgiving Facts?
The U.S. Census Bureau can help: http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/012692.htmlTraveling?
Check out highway conditions at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/Trafficinfo/The Federal Aviation Administration can tell you what the status of flights and airport delays are: http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp
What is Thanksgiving like at the White House?
http://www.whitehouse.gov/holiday/thanksgiving/2008/Want to volunteer this holiday?
http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicService.shtmlHave a question about something else? Get answers at www.askusnow.info We’re available 24/7, even on Thanksgiving!
Happy Holidays,
Your friends at Maryland AskUsNow!
On September 21, 2008, a bunch of us represented AskUsNow! during the MPT pledge drive. Check out Julie's interview! More footage of our evening on it's way!
On Saturday, September 27th, I helped out at the Maryland table in the Pavillion of the States, a the National Book Festival in D.C.
YES! In fact, Julie tags every online mention she finds of AskUsNow! in her delicious bookmarks with the tag "askusnow!citation".
Most recently, we were mentioned in Hometown Annapolis (twice!), the CCBC Library Blog, and in the Cecil County Library online tutorials!
What are you doing to let folks know about AskUsNow!? Press releases? Blogs? Town Crier? :-) Let us know!
An interesting idea was discussed at ALA that I seriously can't believe we hadn't thought of before-
When your physical libraries are closed for holidays, etc- a sign on the door (and/or webpage) should point to AskUsNow!. After all, Virtual reference is an extension of your library- why shouldn't we let people know they've got options when the physical doors are closed?!
Here's an example:
The building will be closed July 4th
But we're still open online!
For librarian assistance 24/7/365,
http://www.askusnow.info
OR
The building will be closed July 4th
But we're still open online!
For librarian assistance 24/7/365,
Click on the [askusnow logo] link at
[library website here]
And why not take it a step further and mention it on your phone messages!
Major Kudos to those of you already doing this!!!
