[Web4lib] RE: [Publib] re: database marketing

[Robert L. Balliot]

Howdy Sara,

Pooling money to make purchases is not the same thing
as marketing. It merely brings down cost and facilitates
supply. It may help to show how low cost per search is 
for 483,000 patrons - especially if 90% of them perceive 
little or no value from the service.  But, it does not
increase demand.

'We have all pooled our money to manufacture mule harnesses
and our cost per mule harness is only a third of what
it would have been. We are practically giving them away!'

'But, I ride a horse, so does everyone I know.'

Marketing facilitates demand and good marketing increases
the perceived value of the services.  

*************************************************
Robert L. Balliot
Skype: RBalliot
Bristol, Rhode Island
http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm
*************************************************
-----Original Message-----
From: Sara Weissman [mailto:Sara.Weissman at mainlib.org] 
Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2008 6:32 PM
To: Sara.Weissman at mainlib.org; publib at webjunction.org;
web4lib at webjunction.org; rballiot at oceanstatelibrarian.com
Subject: RE: [Publib] re: database marketing

>>1. The committee process resulting in consensus strives 
to achieve the lowest common denominator based on shared values. 

The committee process is how 37 separate libraries pooling their money
decide 
what collectively they want to spend/purchase. for all of their patrons.
I've been 
fortune to serve in a group of extremely smart, sharp and technically
sophisticated 
people.   Any of us, alone, could not purchase most of what has been
provided to 
our 483,000 patrons over the last decade or so.

--------
Reference Dept
Morris County Library
http://www.mclib.info
(973) 285-6969