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<h2 id="shortandsweet">Short and sweet</h2>
<p>Writing promotional materials for your library is tough. But whether
you're advertising an upcoming program or explaining library services, <em>short</em>
and <em>sweet</em> can get you pretty far.</p>
<h2 id="short">Short</h2>
<p>What you gain out of being brief is clarity. It's easy to slip into
wordiness—"Don't miss this great opportunity to..."—that says nothing
important. Readers who skip filler (and why shouldn't they?) might skip
over important details that are mixed in. By aiming to only include the
juicy details, you're giving readers the best chance at finding them.</p>
<p>Rambling writing can be caused by <em>indecision</em>. Should you use
this example or a different one? Why not both? Other program
descriptions have an introduction like this, so I guess mine should too?
Trying to be brief pushes you to make choices, and that's good for your
writing.</p>
<p>Sometimes writers use lots of words because they <em>don't know the
details</em>. You don't want to include the entire description that the
speaker sent, but would your shorter version promise the wrong thing?
Find out. Talk to the speaker, get the details straight, and then write.
</p>
<h2 id="shortissweet">Short <em>is</em> sweet</h2>
<p>You can be brief without being terse. <strong>Focus on how people
will benefit, not on what they'll do.</strong> What will people end up
being better at, faster at, smarter at? Learning about Overdrive might
just sound like work. Learning how to download free books and audiobooks
<em>probably still sounds like work</em>, but people know what they'll
get out of it.</p>
<p>Getting straight to the point shows respect for your reader. After
all, your short version explains what they'll get out of coming. <em>If
you can't find a benefit in what you're promoting, that's a red flag</em>.
On the other hand, if your program planning includes how people will
benefit from attending, writing about it is a lot easier.</p>
<p><strong>Short writing takes more work than lengthy writing.</strong>
But it gets easier with practice, and it's worth the effort. </p>
<ul>
<li>Nathan Swartzendruber, SWON Technology Educator</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h2 id="increaseyourprogramattendancewithpublisher">Increase your
program attendance with Publisher</h2>
<p>Having well-written text to work with is its own task. Now place that
text on the page so that readers can quickly make sense of it. How? By
applying the basic-basics of print design. Using Publisher can help!</p>
<p>In the Microsoft Publisher Level-Up Lab, you'll learn how to use
essential Publisher features and design basics to create simple but
on-target documents. Bring your work in progress, the write-up for an
upcoming program or last year's newsletter. </p>
<p>Nathan will lead this 2-hour Lab, where you'll get hands-on Publisher
practice and help with your project. Join us <em>next week</em> at SWON
for <a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=599052&group=">this
free session</a>.</p>
<hr>
<h2 id="take5onapril24th">Take 5 on April 24th</h2>
<p><strong>"An Ohio Youth Services Dialogue on Challenges, Solutions,
and Emerging Best Practices"</strong> is a mouthful. The short version
is, if you work with youth, you'll want to be there. </p>
<p>Bringing together museum and arts educators, and librarians of
various stripes, Take 5 helps you find new ideas, learn from your peers,
and ask burning questions. With three speaker sessions on the theme <em>Make
It Happen</em> and built-in discussion times, there's lots to gain from
this day in Cincinnati. <a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=515065&group=">Register
now</a>!</p>
<hr>
<h2 id="cominguponthecalendar">Coming up on the <a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_list.asp">calendar</a></h2>
<ul>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.ohiolibraryday.com">Ohio Library Day:
Meet Your Neighbor!</a></strong><br>April 14, 2015</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=599052&group=">Level-Up
Lab: Microsoft Publisher</a></strong><br>April 15, 2015 - SWON Meeting
Room</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=599148&group=">De-Mystifying
Manga: An Introduction for Patrons of All Ages</a></strong><br>April
16, 2015 - Online</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=622670&group=">SWON
Executive Board Meeting</a></strong><br>April 17, 2015 - SWON Meeting
Room</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=575099&group=">Technical
Services (Special Interest Group) Meeting</a></strong><br>April 21,
2015, Union Institute & University</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=625328&group=">What's
New in Young Adult Literature, 2015 Update</a></strong><br>April 21,
2015 - Online</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=599159&group=">6
Essential Skills for One-on-One Tech Instruction</a></strong><br>April
23, 2015 - Online</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=515065&group=">Take
5, Take 4!</a></strong><br>April 24, 2015 - Public Library of
Cincinnati & Hamilton County, Main Branch</li>
</ul>
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