Marketing Libraries Think Tank 2018

Storytelling is the base unit of human understanding, yet many of us never critically engage with the concept after grade school. While professions like marketing thrive on well-crafted stories, other professions like those of us in libraries would benefit greatly from using storytelling as a business tactic to meet our goals. When done well, storytelling will help you spread awareness, gain buy-in from stakeholders, justify resources, and more. In this keynote, you will learn how storytelling connects to your professional practice, tips for strategically delivering that story, and ways to make this part of your culture.

Those of us in the information industry understand better than most people that storytelling is the fundamental unit of human understanding. We also understand that right now, we’re living through The Golden Age of social media; it has never been easier to publish your story and share it with the world. But lower barriers to access have resulted in more competition for attention. And when it comes to social media, attention is everything. Whether you’re on the front line or in the back office, building a strong personal brand is essential to succeeding in the modern economy. A strong online presence can create demand, mobilize people, and drive actions—outcomes that are integral to success in our fast-paced, mobile-first, and largely digital world in which library patrons’ behaviours and expectations are always changing. This keynote session will inspire attendees to better understand and improve their personal brands. You will learn how to construct the core elements of your personal brand, build and maintain a strong online presence, strategically promote yourself (and your organization) to others, effectively network, and authentically promote yourself without hesitation. As members of the Ontario Library Association, you’re doing incredible things. But are you telling people? Don’t leave it up to someone else to tell your story.