Touching from a distance: marketing the library and image building

After making some general observations on the library and information scene it is pointed out that librarians seem to be out of touch with reality as is proven by their reactive, passive and traditionalistic approach to professional practice. The paper proposes that libraries need to inject relevanc...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Agha, Syed Salim
Format: Conference or Workshop Item
Language:English
Published: 1994
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/49861/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/49861/1/Touching%20from%20a%20distance%20%20Marketing%20the%20library%20and%20image%20building.pdf
_version_ 1848851390316675072
author Agha, Syed Salim
author_facet Agha, Syed Salim
author_sort Agha, Syed Salim
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description After making some general observations on the library and information scene it is pointed out that librarians seem to be out of touch with reality as is proven by their reactive, passive and traditionalistic approach to professional practice. The paper proposes that libraries need to inject relevancy, dynamism and proactivity in their activities. A marketing oriented management of libraries is proposed. After elaborating on a few basic concepts of marketing a working model of information marketing is set out. Each component of the model is elaborated upon. The message is brought home that in view of technological developments, changes in user needs and demands, competing services and other factors, librarians need a paradigm shift. Failure to do so could result either in the demise of the profession or a c; lowngrading of it. The adoption of the market approach. in information services has the potential of undertaking co-operative ventures in a borderless world. Image building is viewed as part of the marketing process. The image that society has of the profession is explored. The point is made that only when a profession has a positive impact on society that the status accorded to that profession" takes an upward shift. The impact of library activities on the public is discussed.Suggestions have been made to indicate factors which will help improve the image of " the library in the eyes of the public.
first_indexed 2025-11-15T10:21:25Z
format Conference or Workshop Item
id upm-49861
institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
institution_category Local University
language English
last_indexed 2025-11-15T10:21:25Z
publishDate 1994
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling upm-498612016-12-15T09:16:53Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/49861/ Touching from a distance: marketing the library and image building Agha, Syed Salim After making some general observations on the library and information scene it is pointed out that librarians seem to be out of touch with reality as is proven by their reactive, passive and traditionalistic approach to professional practice. The paper proposes that libraries need to inject relevancy, dynamism and proactivity in their activities. A marketing oriented management of libraries is proposed. After elaborating on a few basic concepts of marketing a working model of information marketing is set out. Each component of the model is elaborated upon. The message is brought home that in view of technological developments, changes in user needs and demands, competing services and other factors, librarians need a paradigm shift. Failure to do so could result either in the demise of the profession or a c; lowngrading of it. The adoption of the market approach. in information services has the potential of undertaking co-operative ventures in a borderless world. Image building is viewed as part of the marketing process. The image that society has of the profession is explored. The point is made that only when a profession has a positive impact on society that the status accorded to that profession" takes an upward shift. The impact of library activities on the public is discussed.Suggestions have been made to indicate factors which will help improve the image of " the library in the eyes of the public. 1994 Conference or Workshop Item NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/49861/1/Touching%20from%20a%20distance%20%20Marketing%20the%20library%20and%20image%20building.pdf Agha, Syed Salim (1994) Touching from a distance: marketing the library and image building. In: Towards Achieving High Performance Libraries: Vision for the Future, 19-21 Sep. 1994, Penang. (pp. 1-24).
spellingShingle Agha, Syed Salim
Touching from a distance: marketing the library and image building
title Touching from a distance: marketing the library and image building
title_full Touching from a distance: marketing the library and image building
title_fullStr Touching from a distance: marketing the library and image building
title_full_unstemmed Touching from a distance: marketing the library and image building
title_short Touching from a distance: marketing the library and image building
title_sort touching from a distance: marketing the library and image building
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/49861/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/49861/1/Touching%20from%20a%20distance%20%20Marketing%20the%20library%20and%20image%20building.pdf