Coming to the library from a professional marketing background, I've experienced both great accomplishments and sometimes confusing misunderstandings. 

The accomplishments stem from applying standard marketing principles to renovate the library brand; the misunderstandings arise from marketing as the last position professionalized in libraries. 

I've been spending much of my time over the last months figuring out a way to minimize some of the misunderstandings. I put together an action plan, including -- I'm telling you it's not brain surgery! -- job shadowing. Obviously if we can be more transparent to staff and demonstrate openly how we think and what expertise we provide, that is half the battle. 

Our first job shadow candidate is a lovely young woman working on her MLS, Tina Gentile. She works at one of our small urban libraries. She approached me because she was disappointed in the coursework that touched on marketing. It seemed inadequate and not fully representative of the marketing discipline.

As part of her experience she has created a survey for library marketers. I'd love you to take a moment and complete this short survey. Once we hear from you and from others, I'll share the results here in my Bubble Room. Go here to take the survey. Please complete by Friday, February 20th.