Branding isn't just for companies and celebrities. Your school library is a brand too, and this book will show you how powerful the concept of branding can be. You will learn how to use it as a tool for articulating the value and importance of the school library while also better defining and delineating to stakeholders who school librarians are and why having a school librarian matters. Complete with a list of guiding questions at the end of each chapter to help you put its concepts into practice, this book
Elevating the School Library: Building Positive Perceptions through Brand Behavior written by Susan D. Ballard and Sara Kelly Johns, published by the American Association of School Librarians. Ballard and Johns bring a marketing perspective to school libraries in this short and succinct edition. Marketing terms are discussed from a school library lens with a handy glossary in the rear. Each of the eight chapters include reflection questions for the reader to not only reinforce the chapter’s topic, but also so the reader can begin looking at their libraries differently. Included are checklists and resources for further information. Some readers will feel intimidated by the plethora of suggestions, however nothing in school libraries is a one size fits all and all readers will leave the book with both short and long term goals.
I find many of these library-published books to be not always to the point with tons of anecdotes - which make it interesting, but longer than it needs to be. Some relevant info helpful for school librarians.
I'm thankful I didn't spend my hard-earned money on this book. I feel like I'm being spoken down to, all while old ideas and common sense are presented as fresh concepts. A useful training session would have been time better spent.