Web-based e-Mail

I am a huge fan of web-based e-mail although I do get e-mail through our corporate client as well as Facebook, LinkedIn and DM’s through Twitter.

Clearly, at 57 years old, I fit the demographic!

http://e.businessinsider.com/public/451780

As you can see in this chart, web-based email usage is cratering for people aged 12-34.  From personal experience I know all my friends and relatives in this age group generally either contact me through Facebook or texting instead of e-mail.  I believe that this demographic is a really important segment for libraries  – teens, students and young parents.  So, do you have more than an e-mail address for them?  Do you have their home phone instead of their personal cel?  Newsletters are great via e-mail but hold reminders might be different.  Can you let the user make choices?  I know some ILS’s support this feature.  When you need to contact or market programs to your patrons/users/members/participants do you have the right contact information.

I know it’s frustrating right now that there is no simple answer – mail and telephone are soooo last century, and, apparently e-mail is heading there too.

Start planning fo your 2012 resolutions now.  Update your user registry records.  A 90 day intensive effort with vistors to the library buildings or website should go a long way to improving your program promotions and conversations.  And, really, do this before you need your users to support you.  Jungle drums are beating.

Stephen