Work Placement Notes

This task is not quite the same as if I'd done my work placement in a library. The images above are of large boards which surround the study area, near reception, in the main building. They are used as backdrops when they attend seminars / conferences.
I basically spoke to each department head (as well as the CEO, Mike) and asked them what they did to promote the service/s they provide.

When I spoke to the CEO, Mike, I specifically asked about marketing and promotional material. There is currently no specific person in charge of marketing - a situation which is being revised, and he anticipates that in the near future they will be employing a business manager. This new role will encompass the marketing side of Caval, in addition to several other tasks.

Promotions is not really at the fore-front of the business, I suppose that is partly due to the fact that what they actually do has been rapidly changing over the last several years, and it has been a learning curve within their own business as the need / opportunity to expand has come about.

Within the University circles, Caval has always just 'been' there, with the storage and retrieval service well known, therefore not really requiring any marketing for Carm1. I'm not sure how the Carm2 storage system was marketed, I was under the impression that it was basically word of mouth, and I was too gob-smacked at the amazing things in there to ask proper questions (sorry!).
Speaking to Rob and Jaimie from the LOTE express service, the majority of their marketing is done via networking, building up trust within the library / librarian community. This 'grows' their business as they build the trust with the relevant staff, and prove they are reliable.

Caval has a stall at Library Conventions and Seminars - notably the ALIA conference which will be held in Melbourne in September 2014. Other than the website, this is where they will hand out pamphlets, flyers & folders which hold information about the services they offer.
The website is the first port-of-call for anyone wanting more in-depth information. It is very well structured, with several good, informative you-tube tutorials embedded in the pages about :

• D2D
• Storage
• LOTE Express
• Cataloguing 
• MK Systems
• Digitising
• Library Leadership Program

Caval is a not-for-profit organisation.

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay with the Caval personnel, and feel like I learned a lot.