Hi Jen, If possible, I'd like to ask your respondents to check out the MLA Library Marketing SIG and share their ideas or ask questions. SIG membership is free, and we have a web page as well as e-mail discussion list. As a former hospital librarian myself (12 years!), I have some suggestions on what works, regardless of your setting. http://www.library-marketing-sig.mlanet.org/ Thank you, Mindy Robinson-Paquette, Convener, Library Marketing SIG [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Medical Libraries Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Campbell, Jennifer Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 2:18 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: new hires Here are the responses for the question I asked regarding getting information out to new hires. Thank you all for responding! I got some great ideas! We send out a folder with pockets. It includes a welcome letter as well as some informational materials on some of our library resources. We send these to all new physicians, PAs, podiatrist, advance practice nurses, administration, etc - I used to speak at orientation, but the attendees complained that orientation went too long, so I was streamlined out of it. Someone from benefits talks about the library and has them look at the brochure that is included in their packet. I have two questions about the library in their post test. - I send out an email to new hires. I just send a brief message about what the library has and let them know that I can do interlibrary loans. - I too have been unable to get any time at orientation (except for 30 seconds as new hires pass the library on tours--they do not come in). And I report to the person in charge of orientation --- sigh. So I try to email new hires individually about library services. Of course this means I am only connecting with those who have email, not the CNA or the staff nurse who wouldn't have their own personal computers or offices. I would love to hear what others are doing as I would like to be more pro-active in this area. - We are usually sent a hospital-wide memo of new hires that are more managerial/dept head positions. I write a congratulations note on those memos and send them back to the person with information about the library & introduce myself. Sometimes those persons are already employees, but I find it is a good opportunity to touch base with them and remind them of our services. - We often get to do a 5-minute spiel to new employees because they are usually brought to the Library as part of a new employees' tour during orientation. But I send a tailored email to any new doctors, administrators, educators, or other other key people and offer our services whether I get to meet them face to face or not. - All employees at our facility are required to attend a 2-day orientation and one of the sessions is about education and library services. Sometimes I speak and sometimes the education coordinator does, however she is high on library services and always gives the library rave reviews. Maybe someone else, i.e., nursing orientation etc. could promote the library for you. - Nursing orientation and employee orientation presentations - We also send personal emails and target managers, nurse educators, directors, VP's....We invite them to book time with us for a 45 min personal introduction to Library Services/Resources... I also developed a small "welcome package" with a bookmark, welcome letter, our Education calendar, business cards, and a quick PDF printout of our services... We do the same "welcome package" for our students too (Nursing, Allied Health, and Medical) - We have the same problem. We send out library information packets with a cover letter to the new people we here about. Most of the time the announcements we hear about are only for new managers, though. - We invite them to schedule a time for a personal tour of the library and/or an introduction to the resources available on line or in person. Included with the letter (copy attached) is information on setting up a library account (needed for off-campus access), a listing of resources that require individual registration and information on resources accessible from home. In addition we send a sticky-note pad with the Library's name and telephone number and a library business card. Since 2007 we have also sent a letter of congratulation to residents who have been promoted to staff. - I thought I would share with you the fact that when possible, we do a little tailored/personalized e-mail tactic whereby we inform the new hire of their appearance in something we subscribe to, i.e., when our new Health Policy Manager was hired last week, not only did I inform her of the Cancer Letter being one of our resources she would be interested in - I send a welcome card to new physicians and physician extenders telling them about the library. I bought some of the cards you create yourself and include a picture of the library and details like operation hours and services available. I had some ink pens engraved with the library logo and name and stick one of them in each envelope with the card. New doctors are usually brought through the library on their tour of the hospital also Jen Campbell, MLS Librarian Health Sciences Library Hospital of Central Connecticut New Britain campus 100 Grand St New Britain, CT 06050 (860) 224-5900 x2570 Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30pm