MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
JOB DESCRIPTION AND GUIDELINES

DATE:  November 2, 2000

NAME: Cheryl J. Heser

TITLE: Chairman, Marketing and Public Relations Committee

VISION:  

MISSION STATEMENT: The Marketing and Public Relations Committee is dedicated to assisting and enabling librarians throughout the association to understand and pursue effective public relations and marketing practices for the benefit of their individual libraries, library groups, and the association as a whole. The committee also represents the association in public relations efforts, including working with the State Library, assisting the Government Affairs Committee during legislative sessions, and pursuing promotional programs during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial observance in Montana.

GOALS: 

  1. To provide or support continuing education opportunities for librarians in the marketing and public relations areas. 
  2. To provide encouragement and direction for individual library public relations plans. 
  3. To develop promotional efforts for Montana libraries during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial observance in Montana. 
  4. To assist the Government Affairs Committee as needed during the current legislative session.

OBJECTIVES: 

  1. To support the inclusion of a marketing or public relations seminar or workshop as part of the MLA Convention or other meeting each year. 
  2. To develop public relations guides for librarians through a variety of formats. 
  3. To present workshops for librarians and teachers at the MEA/MFT Convention concerning promotion for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial in Montana and promotion of collaboration between librarians, classroom teachers, and other community organizations. 
  4. To arrange for promotional projects during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. 
  5. To provide materials or displays as needed for the activities of the Government Affairs Committee during the legislative session.

TIMELINE:  

July 1 - Committee Chairman appointed by MLA President and new committee members confirmed 

July 30 (approx.) - Budget proposal and committee roster submitted to MLA Board 

August - Committee report for summer MLA Board meeting/ goals established 

October - Workshop presentation (if any) for MEA/MFT convention 

November and February - Reports to MLA Board as needed on committee projects 

Jan. 1, 2001 - Promotional support arranged for the Government Affairs Committee 

April - Committee meeting at MLA Convention including establishing goals for following year; final report to MLA Board

JOB DESCRIPTION:  

The Chairman of the Marketing and Public Relations Committee is an MLA member appointed by the MLA President who is responsible for committee membership and all functions of the committee. The chairman contacts possible committee members and develops a roster to submit to the MLA Board, provides a yearly budget request, develops yearly objectives with committee input, and facilitates projects to meet those objectives. The chairman primarily serves as liaison between the committee and the MLA Board and liaison among committee members to assure communication and completion of projects. In addition, the chairman promotes communication with the general MLA membership to ensure meeting of their needs and fosters creativity, enthusiasm, and effectiveness in committee projects and functions.

COMMITTEE ROSTER: 

Cheryl J. Heser, Rosebud County Library, Forsyth (Chair)
Denice Rust, Western Montana College Library, Dillon 
Diane Taylor, Helena Flats Public Schools, Kalispell 
Donna Worth, John Gregory Memorial Library, Whitehall 
Chandler Jackson, University of Great Falls Library 
Diane Thompson, Jefferson High School Library, Boulder 
Sarah McHugh, Lewis and Clark Library, Helena 
Linette Ivanovitch, Missoula Public Library

BUDGET: (provided by Admin. Assistant)

HISTORY: 

The Marketing and Public Relations Committee was originally formed as a task force to promote MLA and all libraries in the state in their various activities. It was very busy and effective as the "PR arm" of the association until about 1996, at which time it was determined that most of the committee efforts had become a duplication of State Library programs and the programs of other committees such as Government Affairs. In 1998, the mission was changed to emphasize the education of librarians in the public relations and marketing fields and support of library public relations programs throughout the association and state. A new committee chairman and members were added, and within a short time the committee had new responsibilities of providing and supporting continuing education in this field and promoting libraries during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial in Montana.

PROBLEM AREAS:  

The committee has jumped its major hurdle of changing its mission, and the result is a fairly problem-free operation with a variety of goals and objectives. Problem areas involve communication and inclusion of all committee members in decisions with no formal meetings except at the MLA Convention, a situation which has left most of the work and decisions to the chairman. The committee is also challenged to maintain focus and not become involved in so many projects that the chairman and members are unable to complete everything that is needed.