Comments on: FREE! FREE! FREE! http://libraryrevolution.com/2008/02/28/free-free-free/ The Library Status Quo Must Go! Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:15:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Samantha http://libraryrevolution.com/2008/02/28/free-free-free/#comment-1381 Samantha Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:59:14 +0000 http://libraryrevolution.com/2008/02/28/free-free-free/#comment-1381 Hey Emily Yes! Libraries offer "free" stuff, as defined above but as you point out, also offer guidance, expertise and I like to use the word "trust"... trusted sources, trusted assistance etc. We should talk about all these things not just free...thats what makes libraries stand out from all the free and the not really "free" stuff out there...Thanks for the post.... Hey Emily
Yes! Libraries offer “free” stuff, as defined above but as you point out, also offer guidance, expertise and I like to use the word “trust”… trusted sources, trusted assistance etc. We should talk about all these things not just free…thats what makes libraries stand out from all the free and the not really “free” stuff out there…Thanks for the post….

]]> By: Emily http://libraryrevolution.com/2008/02/28/free-free-free/#comment-1380 Emily Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:34:20 +0000 http://libraryrevolution.com/2008/02/28/free-free-free/#comment-1380 True, true. Which is why I use so many quotes around the word "free." Of course that's not really the truth of public libraries. It's also not really the truth of the "Free" economy business models, for the most part. But it is the public perception, most of the time, and I find that it is a selling point most public libraries rely on. And it still works (to an extent)... for now. But what happens when I can access the same information, materials, etc. for "free" from another outlet just as easily... or perhaps more easily? I definitely agree with you that the key here is presenting your case to the public in an effective way. But I don't know if emphasizing the fat that it really has been paid for is the way to go. The businesses adopting a "free" approach are glossing over the fact that someone is paying for it. Do we really want to remind people that what they tend to think of as free really isn't? And that they are footing the bill? If comparable services are being provided by a business that emphasizes their "free-ness," that would just make me wonder, "Hey, why AM I paying for this?" I think they key is in appealing to our potential users by emphasizing the other, non-monetary benefits we could be providing. Like high quality of information, ease of access, expert assistance, etc. But first, we need to make sure these other benefits are a focus of ours, then we can figure out how to make it a focus of theirs. True, true. Which is why I use so many quotes around the word “free.” Of course that’s not really the truth of public libraries. It’s also not really the truth of the “Free” economy business models, for the most part. But it is the public perception, most of the time, and I find that it is a selling point most public libraries rely on. And it still works (to an extent)… for now.

But what happens when I can access the same information, materials, etc. for “free” from another outlet just as easily… or perhaps more easily?

I definitely agree with you that the key here is presenting your case to the public in an effective way. But I don’t know if emphasizing the fat that it really has been paid for is the way to go. The businesses adopting a “free” approach are glossing over the fact that someone is paying for it. Do we really want to remind people that what they tend to think of as free really isn’t? And that they are footing the bill? If comparable services are being provided by a business that emphasizes their “free-ness,” that would just make me wonder, “Hey, why AM I paying for this?”

I think they key is in appealing to our potential users by emphasizing the other, non-monetary benefits we could be providing. Like high quality of information, ease of access, expert assistance, etc. But first, we need to make sure these other benefits are a focus of ours, then we can figure out how to make it a focus of theirs.

]]> By: Judith Siess http://libraryrevolution.com/2008/02/28/free-free-free/#comment-1379 Judith Siess Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:14:36 +0000 http://libraryrevolution.com/2008/02/28/free-free-free/#comment-1379 The library is NOT free--it is prepaid--with your taxes, as overhead in a company, etc. If presented to the public correctly, it can be a powerful selling point. For instance... You've already paid for it--use your library! Get the benefits you've already paid for--use your library! The library is NOT free–it is prepaid–with your taxes, as overhead in a company, etc. If presented to the public correctly, it can be a powerful selling point. For instance…
You’ve already paid for it–use your library!
Get the benefits you’ve already paid for–use your library!

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