TexShare Communication Working Group Meeting Minutes
Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Minutes
February 16, 2005

Present: Ron Wirtz, Stephen Dingman, Willie Braudaway, Michael Avila, and Ann Mason

Stephen Dingman brought an example of a canned “elevator speech” that he would like to include in the toolkit. He also stressed the importance of including a canned elevator speech that mentioned the cost savings the databases bring to the library. Mike mentioned that TSLAC is putting up a TexShare link on the Texas State Library and Archives Commission agency home page and that TSLAC will be able to burn labels onto the toolkit CDs.

The group agreed to burn 100 copies of the toolkit to hand out to participants of the Texas Library Association presentation “TexSharing- Just Do It!” Leftover toolkits will be kept and passed out to people at the booth who will promote TexShare and for any librarian who wishes to order the toolkits. We reaffirmed that the intended audience for the toolkits are librarians that will promote TexShare.

Willie Braudaway suggested that the tutorials and other TexShare related items be put into a centralized location on the Web, perhaps on the TexShare site.

A TexShare PowerPoint will be included as part of the CD toolkit. Ann Mason will tweak the current TexShare PowerPoint that gives a broad overview of all of the programs, and that would be ideal to give to local community groups such as local Boards, Rotary Club, Lions Club, etc.

The TexSharing cowboy logo will also be included in the toolkit for librarians to use as they customize their promotional materials. A color version and a black and white version will be put onto the toolkit. Joan XXXX, the graphic designer on Stephen Dingman’s staff, will include a statement that gives permission to librarians to use the logo on web and print materials as they see fit. A permission disclaimer will be burned onto the front of the CD as well.

A logo will be available with a talking bubble that can be customized, and also some without the bubble will be included. The logo will be in multiple formats and also in color and in black and white.

It was agreed that a template will be provided to print out logos on 1 inch by 1 inch Avery labels for stickers, and a template for buttons as well. Stephen Dingman will provide larger stickers for members of the TLA panel to wear during the TexShare “Just Do It” presentation. Stephen is the moderator of the panel, and the panel will feature members of the library community talking about marketing strategies they have undertaken and what has been successful.

Stephen Dingman stressed the importance of including the customizable press release onto the toolkit.

The group agreed to include the TexSharing cowboy on items included in the toolkit, which will mostly be in the Word format. Items to include are PowerPoints, F.A.Q.s, Facts at a Glance Information, Links to promotional items, introductory file with table of contents, concrete examples of articles, customizable bookmarks, op-ed pieces and tips, etc.