Promoting the statewide databases

It is important to let your community know that they can find quality information through the collection of Gale databases at your library. 

There are many ways to do this, including:

• Ensuring they are listed on your library website
• Displaying promotional resources in your library
• Using the databases when helping a user with a reference enquiry
• Sharing information about the databases on your social media and enewsletters

Gale support hub for NSW public libraries

Gale provides marketing resources for public libraries to use including posters, 'how to' guides, social media images, customisable Canva templates and short promotional videos. Use the resources to promote the databases in your library and on your digital marketing channels.

You can find the resources on the Gale support hub for NSW public libraries.

Ideas for promoting the statewide databases

The ideas below were developed by NSW public library staff during training and include creative ways to promote the databases. 

Events and programs

Running an event or program could be a simple way to raise awareness of the databases in your community. Try one of the ideas below:

• Run school holiday activities using the databases, such as dissect a virtual frog using Gale Interactive Science, or create a scavenger hunt using the databases to find the answers
• Run a session for seniors demonstrating how to use the databases - during Seniors Festival, Tech Savvy Seniors or tech help sessions
• Link databases to special themed days and celebrations throughout the year and develop marketing around them eg. promote British Newspapers for Family History Month, Gale Interactive: Science for National Science Week, Health and Wellness for Women's Health Week
• Set up a Beanstack challenge using the databases - general or age specific
• Run community training sessions to demonstrate relevant databases for particular groups, eg. Smithsonian or National Geographic demonstrations for the local Men's Shed
• Work with programs staff to include databases or using content in events, eg. experiments in weekly physics program for young people

In-library promotions

Increasing visibility of the databases in your library will ensure your community is aware of them. Try the following:

• Create flyers for study areas to raise awareness of the databases, eg. for high school students
• Have a pop-up/drop in during HSC time letting students know about the databases
• Create digital signage for library screens with random facts relating to databases during themed weeks, eg. Science Week
• Create posters with a QR code to display near non-fiction collections of similar subject
• Feature a database each month on your library's digital signage and website
• Add a banner featuring the databases on library computers and kiosks
• Find out what is being studied at your local schools and create posters with a QR code to relevant databases, eg 'Hey kids, are you studying...?' English, Society and Culture, History, Geography, sciences - match a useful database to a subject
• Create readers' advisory resources linking to Gale Books and Authors, eg. 'Hey! Looking for your next read? 

Working with students

Many of the databases have great information for school students to assist with their research and assignments. Please note school students will need to join their public library to access the databases as they are intended for private research and study by registered individuals only. Try some of the ideas below:  

• Create simple how-to guides and send them to your local schools
• Run a session for teacher librarians linking the databases to the school curriculum
• Run basic training sessions for school groups - online or at the school
• Promote the databases in Term 4 and Term 1 to schools for new HSC students
• Visit schools at the start of each year to demonstrate relevant databases for key subjects and teach how to assess what good information is
• Run afterschool sessions demonstrating the databases for teachers with snacks and literary mocktails
• Do a presentation at local school P and C meetings
• Create a printed booklet for students which includes all the useful databases, with QR codes linking to each database 

Other outreach ideas

There will be lots of people in your community who don't use the library, but need information. Targeting the

• Invite your local Youth Council to the library and run a session for them on the databases
• Promote the databases to home school families who use your library
• Do a survey of who is using the databases to identify who isn't and create promotional resources or sessions to target them, eg. older people, family and local history researchers
• Connect with local community groups who would find useful and relevant information to their interests, eg. the local aero club might be interested in the Smithsonian Air and Space magazine archive, historical societies and family history groups would be interested in British Library Newspapers 

Library marketing

Including the databases in your library marketing is a simple way to promote them. Try one of the following:

• Create a social media campaign to promote the databases, eg. 'Fact Friday' brought to you by Gale
• Post general social media posts on your library's Facebook and Instagram accounts. Consider creating a template if your library has access to Canva.
• Create a section in your library and Council enewsletters to feature a database, eg. 'Did You Know...?'
• Create posters to display in your library
• Include information about the databases in your library app
• Create a page on your library website's What's On section
• Review your library website to ensure the list of databases is up-to-date current and the databases are clearly described - consider grouping them by topics or age groups
• Create a printed guide for users with step-by-step instructions on how to use the databases
• Share promotional resources with different community groups who meet in the library

Staff and training

• Request the Introduction to statewide databases training workshop for staff
• Provide staff with time to explore the databases and build their skills and knowledge
• Add the databases to your team meetings to discuss and share tips with each other
• Add links to the databases on staff iPads used for roving to make it easier to use with library users