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Advertising on Library Websites: Comparing library websites in Europe and the USA

Published/Copyright: December 5, 2007
Libri
From the journal Volume 55 Issue 4

Although libraries have traditionally been outside of the world of commercial advertising, the current rise in information value, demand and cost creates the possibility for information providers to use Internet advertising on library websites. However, even in a society where the need for advertising is taken for granted, some still question whether libraries and information centers should use it. This article provides an overview of the use of advertising on library websites in Europe and the U.S. Using data collected from a survey of 243 library websites done in 2003, the article discusses the current amount of advertising and the use of self- and commercial advertising on these websites. It also compares the differences between types of libraries and between geographic areas. The major finding of the study is that libraries in Europe and the U.S. both use self- and commercial advertising on their websites; however, libraries tend to use self-advertising more frequently. Further study found that libraries use all popular types of advertising – banners, links, Web pages, information lines – to promote the most predictable types of products on their websites – books, articles, conferences, exhibitions, new services, and databases. The article concludes with suggestions for further research.

Vitalija Švenčionytė is a student at the Louisiana State University, School of Library and Information Science, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. Address: 4515 Alvin Dark Apt #2, Baton Rouge, LA 70820, U.S.A. E-mail:
Received: 2005-04-27
Received: 2005-09-22
Accepted: 2005-10-06
Published Online: 2007-12-05
Published in Print: 2005-December-22

© 2005 by K. G. Saur Verlag GmbH, Federal Republic of Germany

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Editorial
  2. Google Scholar: The New Generation of Citation Indexes
  3. Digital Repositories: Not Quite at Your Fingertips
  4. Advertising on Library Websites: Comparing library websites in Europe and the USA
  5. Rolling Stock: Library and Information Services for Gypsies and Travellers
  6. Constructing the Pillars of a Knowledge Society: The Challenge of Providing Access to ICTs in Rural Mongolia
  7. Collaboration across Europe: Experience from Practice
  8. 2005 Annual Award for the Best Libri Student Paper
  9. Table of Contents: Vol. 54, No. 1–4
  10. Author Index: Vol. 54, No. 1–4
https://doi.org/10.1515/LIBR.2005.198

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Editorial
  2. Google Scholar: The New Generation of Citation Indexes
  3. Digital Repositories: Not Quite at Your Fingertips
  4. Advertising on Library Websites: Comparing library websites in Europe and the USA
  5. Rolling Stock: Library and Information Services for Gypsies and Travellers
  6. Constructing the Pillars of a Knowledge Society: The Challenge of Providing Access to ICTs in Rural Mongolia
  7. Collaboration across Europe: Experience from Practice
  8. 2005 Annual Award for the Best Libri Student Paper
  9. Table of Contents: Vol. 54, No. 1–4
  10. Author Index: Vol. 54, No. 1–4
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