True story.
In a Starbucks this morning, I overheard this exchange:
Man wearing a hat: “Hey, man! Thanks for the recommendation! I’ve already put it on hold at the library.”
Bare headed man: “No problem. The library has it? How do you know?”
MWH: “I went to the catalog on the library’s web site, and placed a hold on it.”
BHM: “What does it mean to ‘place a hold on it?’”
MHW: “If it’s not checked in at my library, they’ll send it to me at my branch.”
BHM: “You’re kidding! How long does it take?”
MWH: “Well, I’m first in line, so just a couple days. Just go to their website: spl.org.”
BHM: “Awesome, man. Thanks!”
My colleagues tell me that they see and hear little conversations like this all the time. Of course, not every conversation is so perfectly full of information. I wish I had a video camera to make a commercial out of this one.
Here are a couple more vignettes that I’ve seen with my own two eyes!
[Scene] I’m setting up for story time, which starts in just a few minutes.
Regular patron, “Joe”, (whom I happen to know has no children) brings a woman and small child to the door.
He says: “This is where story time is every Tuesday night! The kids wear their pajamas. You should stay and see if you and your daughter like it.”
Woman: (peeking into the room) “Really?”
Joe: “It always sounds like they’re having fun.”
Me: “Hello! Welcome to story time! Would you like to stay and give story time a try?” Thanks, “Joe”, for bringing them in!” (And they stayed for story time.)
What was most amazing about this scenario is that Joe prefers a quiet library, and he sure doesn’t get that during story time.
[Scene] Two patrons in line at the circulation desk last summer.
Library Assistant: (handing books to man) “Here you go! By the way, are you signed up for the Summer Reading Program?”
Man: “No.”
Woman: (behind man in line) “You’re not signed up? You have to be signed up so the library reaches its goal!”
Woman: (leaves line) “Here! Come over here! I’ll show you where to sign up.”
No matter how many places we visit (blog or post) to spread word of the Library, our patrons are our best PR. Word of mouth is the most powerful marketing tool the Library has at its disposal, and we see and hear this every day. The Library strives to be a community place, and it’s because of you, our patrons, that it is. So keep spreading the word about holds, the catalog, story time, the Summer Reading Program, or whatever you value most about the Seattle Public Library! We are honored to serve you, and we thank you for making the Library a touchstone of Seattle.
~Shannon S., Northgate Branch
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