Main Article Content

Abstract

This article draws on existing literature to examine the case for libraries to adopt Customer Relationship Management (CRM), in order to remain competitive and to meet the needs of users, especially the growing numbers of online learners. It identifies the main challenges being faced by libraries as the information-seeking environment evolves, examines the potential role of CRM in addressing these challenges, and explores the barriers as well as the opportunities that must be addressed by libraries to help ensure the success of CRM initiatives.  

Keywords

Customer Relationship Management Libraries Online Learners Information Seeking Marketing Massive Open Online Courses

Article Details

References

  1. Alaofi, M. & Rumantir, G. (2015). Personalisation of generic library search results using student enrolment information. Journal of Educational Data Mining, 7(3), 68-88
  2. Association of College and Research Libraries (2008, July 1). Standards for distance learning library services. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/guidelinesdistancelearning.cfm
  3. Bell, S. and Shank, J. (2009). Academic librarianship by design. Chicago, IL: ALA Editions.
  4. Bennett, R. (1996). Relationship formation and governance in consumer markets: transactional analysis versus the behaviourist approach. Journal of Marketing Management, 12(12), 417-36.
  5. Berry, L.L. (1986, Spring). Retail businesses are services businesses. Journal of Retailing, 62(1),
  6. -6.
  7. Besant, L.X., & Sharp, D. (2000, March). Upsize this! Libraries need relationship marketing. Information Outlook, 17-22.
  8. Boateng, F., & Yan, Q. L. (2014). Web 2.0 applications' usage and trends in top US academic libraries. Library Hi Tech, 32(1), 120-138. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/LHT-07-2013-0093
  9. Booth, M., McDonald, S. & Tiffen, B. (2010). A new vision for university libraries: towards 2015. Retrieved from http://www.vala.org.au/vala2010/papers2010/VALA2010_105_Booth_Final.pdf
  10. Casey, M. and Savastinuk, L.C. (2006). Library 2.0: service for the next-generation library. Library Journal, 131(14), 40-42.
  11. Coates, M. (2010), Shaping a new educational landscape: Exploring possibilities for education in the 21st Century. New York, NY: Continuum International Publishing Group
  12. Connaway, L.S., & Radford, M.L. (2011). Seeking synchronicity: Revelations and recommendations for virtual reference. Dublin, OH: OCLC Research. Retrieved from http://www.oclc.org/ reports/synchronicity/full.pdf
  13. Connaway, L.S., Dickey, T.J., & Radford, M.L. (2011). “If it is too inconvenient I’m not going after it”: Convenience as a critical factor in information-seeking behaviors. Library & Information Science Research 33(3), 179–90.
  14. Connaway, L.S., Lanclos, D.M. & Hood, E.M. (2013, December 6). “I always stick with the first thing that comes up on Google. . .” Where people go for information, what they use, and why. Educausereview. Retrieved from http://er.educause.edu/articles/2013/12/i-always-stick-with-the-first-thing-that-comes-up-on-google---where-people-go-for-information-what-they-use-and-why
  15. Connoway, L. (Ed.) (2015). The library in the life of the user: engaging with people where they live and learn. Retrieved from http://www.oclc.org/content/dam/research/publications/2015/oclcresearch-library-in-life-of-user.pdf
  16. Deodato, J. (2014). The patron as producer: Libraries, Web 2.0, and participatory culture. Journal of Documentation, 70(5), 734-758. Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.catalog.multcolib.org/docview/1660745129?accountid=37296
  17. Dempsey, L. (2015). From infrastructure to engagement: thinking about the library in the life of the user. Keynote presented at Minitex 24th Annual Interlibrary Loan Conference, St. Paul, 12 May 2015. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/lisld/from-local-infrastructure-to-engagement-thinking-about-the-library-in-the-life-of-the-user
  18. Farkas, M.G. (2007). Social software in libraries: Building collaboration, communication, and community online. Medford, NJ: Information Today.
  19. Ferran, N., Mor, E., & Minguillón, J. (2005). Towards personalization in digital libraries through ontologies. Library Management, 26(4/5), 206-217. doi:10.1108/01435120510596062
  20. Fisk, R.P, Brown, S.W., & Bittner, M. J. (1993). Tracking the evolution of the services marketing literature. Journal of Retailing, 69, 61-103.
  21. Garoufallou, E., Zafeiriou, G., Siatri, R., & Balapanidou, E. (2013). Marketing applications in greek academic library services. Library Management, 34(8), 632-649. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/LM-03-2012-0012
  22. Geller, L.K. (1998, September). The Internet: The ultimate relationship marketing tool. Direct Marketing, 61(5), 36-38.
  23. Genin, L.V. (2001). “Virtual personal shopper” – Gateway to customer satisfaction and intention to buy in online retailing (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from ABI/Inform Complete. (3003315).
  24. Harker, M.J. (1999). Relationship marketing defined? An examination of curent relationship marketing definitions. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 17(1), 13-20.
  25. Hurst, S. (2013). Current trends in UK university libraries. New Library World, 114(9), 398-407. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/NLW-04-2013-0032
  26. Ipsos/Mori and Shared Intelligence (2013). Envisioning the library of the future Phases 1 and 2: full report. Retrieved from http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/sites/default/files/download-file/Envisioning_the_library_of_the_future_phases_1_and_2_full_report_0.pdf
  27. Kuhlthau, C.C. (1993). Seeking meaning: A process approach to library and information services. Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
  28. Le, B. P. (2015). Academic library leadership in the digital age. Library Management, 36(4), 300-314. Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.catalog.multcolib.org/docview/1684384487?accountid=37296
  29. MacDonald, K. I., & vanDuinkerken, W. (2015). Libraries surviving as entrepreneurial organizations: A creative destruction perspective. New Library World, 116(7), 406-419. Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.catalog.multcolib.org/docview/1688455111?accountid=37296
  30. Maceviciute, E. (2014). Research libraries in a modern environment. Journal of Documentation, 70(2), 282-302. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JD-04-2013-0044
  31. Market report: Big retailer, personal service. (2005). In – Store. London, UK: Centaur Communications, Ltd., 24-25. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.navigator-clarion.passhe.edu/docview/224775883? Account id=26813.
  32. Mathews, B. (2012, October 4). Our strategy: Be regenerative. The ubiquitous librarian. The Chronicle. Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/blognetwork/theubiquitouslibrarian/2012/10/04/our-strategy-be- regenerative/
  33. Meadows, M. & Dibb, S. (2012) Progress in customer relationship management: a cross sector study. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 20(4), 323-344.
  34. Mittal, B. & Lesser, W.M. (1996). The role of personalization in service encounters. Journal of Retailing, 72(1), 95-109.
  35. Noh, Y. (2014). Digital library user privacy: Changing librarian viewpoints through education. Library Hi Tech, 32(2), 300. Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.catalog.multcolib.org/docview/1660948631?accountid=37296
  36. Nutefall, J. E., & Chadwell, F. A. (2012). Preparing for the 21st century: Academic Library Realignment. New Library World, 113(3), 162-173. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/03074801211218543
  37. Parasuraman, A., Berry, L.L., & Zeithaml, V.A. (1991). Understanding customer expectations of service. Sloan Management Review, 32(3), 39-48.
  38. Rainie, L. (2016). Libraries and learning. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/files/2016/04/PI_2016.04.07_Libraries-and-Learning_FINAL.pdf
  39. Richardson, Jr., J.V. (2002, April). Reference is better than we thought. Library Journal, 127(7), 41-42.
  40. Schumaker, D. (2009). The unasked question — the unrecognized need. Retrieved from https://embeddedlibrarian.com/2009/01/24/the-unasked-question-the-unrecognized-need/
  41. Schumaker, D., & Tyler, L.A. (2007, June 6). Embedded library services: An initial inquiry into practices for their development, management, and delivery. Paper presented at the Special Libraries Association Annual Conference, Denver, CO. Retrieved from: http://www.sla.org/pdfs/sla2007/ShumakerEmbeddedLibSvcs.pdf
  42. Seiss, J. (2010, Ja/F). Embedded librarianship: The next big thing? Searcher, 18(1), 38-45.
  43. Smith, F.A. (2012, August 28). Helicopter librarian: Expect the unexpected backtalk. Library Journal. Retrieved from http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/08/opinion/backtalk/helicopter-librarian-expect-the- unexpected-backtalk/#
  44. Stone, M. D., & Woodcock, N. D. (2014). Interactive, direct and digital marketing. Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing, 8(1), 4-17.
  45. Tiffen, B., & England, A. (2011). Engaging with clients and personalising services at UTS Library: Measuring the value for libraries and their clients. The Australian Library Journal, 60(3), 237-247. doi:10.1080/00049670.2011.10722620
  46. Town, J. S. (2015). Measures of relationship capital for the value scorecard. Library Management, 36(3), 235. Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.catalog.multcolib.org/docview/1657293316?accountid=37296
  47. Wang, M. (2007). Introducing CRM into an academic library. Library Management, 28(6/7), 281-291. doi:10.1108/01435120710774431
  48. Wang, Y., & Dawes, T. A. (2012). The next generation integrated library system: A promise fulfilled. Information Technology and Libraries (Online), 31(3), 76-84. Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.catalog.multcolib.org/docview/1080966990?accountid=37296
  49. White, H. (1997, February 15). Marketing as a tool for destabilization. Library Journal, 122(3), 116.
  50. Zimmer, M. (2013). Assessing the treatment of patron privacy in library 2.0 literature. Information Technology and Libraries (Online), 32(2), 29-41. Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.catalog.multcolib.org/docview/1399551247?accountid=37296
  51. Zimerman, M. (2012). Digital natives, searching behavior and the library. New Library World, 113(3), 174-201. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/03074801211218552