2025 ILA Marketing Forum Mini-Conference
"Reviving Your Marketing, Creating New Traditions"
Schedule for Friday, April 25, 2025, 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
9:00-9:30 a.m.
Welcome/Opening Remarks
ILA Marketing Forum
9:35-10:00 a.m.
Networking (breakout rooms)
10:00-11:00 a.m.
Keynote
"Reignite Your Passion: Sustainable Strategies for Library Marketers"
Meghan Kowalski, Outreach and Reference Librarian at the University of the District of Columbia
Library marketing requires constant creativity, but keeping up with content demands can lead to burnout. This session will explore how to manage content fatigue, build resiliency, and streamline processes while still generating fresh, engaging ideas.
We’ll discuss practical strategies for finding inspiration, overcoming creative roadblocks, and securing buy-in for new outreach initiatives. Attendees will leave with a toolkit of resources, brainstorming techniques, and action plans to keep their content marketing sustainable and effective.
Meghan Kowalski is the Outreach and Reference Librarian at the University of the District of Columbia. Previously, she worked at The Catholic University of America's Mullen Library where she held positions in both public and technical services.
She regularly presents and publishes on topics related to library leadership, marketing, and instruction. She is the author of the newsletters “Content Prompt” (https://contentprompt.substack.com) and “The Weekly Wrap” (https://meghankowalski.substack.com/). You can also visit her website (www.meghankowalski.com) to see a portfolio of her work and read her blog.
11:15-11:45 a.m.
Lunch Break
11:50 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
Sessions
“I saw you on Tik Tok!”: Short Form Content as Outreach for Academic Libraries"
Megan Hoppe, Instruction and Marketing Librarian at the Rebecca Crown Library at Dominican University
Tik Tok isn’t just for public libraries! Algorithm-driven media like Tik Tok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts are great places to perform outreach to current students and promote your library AND your school to prospective students. This session will discuss the benefits of and best practices for short form content creation in academic library marketing. It will review tips and tricks for creating compelling content quickly and adapting public library trends to fit academic libraries.
"Marketing 365: Designing a Wall Calendar Your Patrons Will Love"
Donna Forbis, Marketing & Events Coordinator at the Illinois Prairie District Public Library
In a world of digital reminders and online planners, many people still crave a physical calendar to hang on the wall. When other local businesses stopped giving away free calendars, Illinois Prairie District Public Library saw an opportunity to fill the gap — and create something valuable for its community.
In this session, they'll share how they designed and produced an old-school wall calendar that meets patrons' needs while promoting library events and services year-round.
12:55-1:55 p.m.
Sessions
Retail organizations spend plenty of time and money figuring out how to attract and keep customers. Lucky for us, many of these techniques can translate to library work. Learn about different approaches, best practices, and discover ways to market your library.
Photography Basics
Audrey Cho, Production Specialist at the Skokie Public Library
A picture is worth a thousand words and you want to make sure you're telling the right story! Audrey Cho is a photographer at Skokie Public Library and a freelance editorial photographer. During this session, you'll go over photography basics, library best-practices, and more!
2:00-3:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks/Networking
ILA Marketing Forum
iREAD Summer Reading Programs
Latest Library JobLine Listings
