Discovery tools as electronic billboards to market your library

摘要

In the USA it is becoming increasingly common these days to see electronic billboards flanking many of the highways and local roads encountered during a typical day's worth of driving. These fancy billboards usually stream more than one message, image or ad, thereby maximizing the utility of a limited physical space. Unlike electronic billboards, discovery services are viewed as practical research tools. They constitute, if you will, the Library world's answer to Google, Google Scholar and Google Books all rolled up into one. Most librarians are not in the habit of viewing their discovery tool as an innovative marketing device. Although it seems counter-intuitive, discovery tools can be used to creatively market and promote your Library with a modest commitment of time and effort. At Montclair State University, we've used our discovery service, EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS), to do many things at once including post announcements and publicize library news, services, subject guides and resources.