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Exhibiting as Outreach

It is a fascinating thing to watch as a big, empty, concrete-floored arena becomes transformed into the carpeted, decorated space conference attendees refer to as an exhibit hall.

At the NER, we do quite a bit of exhibiting. We do exhibits at big national meetings, at regional meetings, and sometimes even at small health fairs. And, no matter the size, it is always interesting to watch the exhibit set-up process.

What's more important, though, is life on the exhibit floor.

When conference attendees think about exhibitors, they generally think about sales and salespeople. And many exhibitors are there in the hopes of making a sale, making contacts for future sales, or greeting the clients that are already their primary customers. For them, it's all about business.

Not so for the NER. For us, it isn't all about business. We're usually part of a small cadre of non-profits that exhibit at any given show. And why are we there? We are there to let people know that NLM has produced a wealth of information that's available online and free of charge. We're there to introduce new resources, answer questions about old familiars, and to be the face of NLM.

We choose the conferences we exhibit at because we believe that the attendees are users of NLM databases or will benefit from a greater knowledge of NLM products and services. Sometimes, we attend a given convention because the National Network Office of the NN/LM has asked us specifically to attend. Sometimes, we go because our primary user groups are in attendance (think NAHSL).

And, while we're there, we are greeting people, offering information, demonstrating databases, and answering questions. We love it when people stop and chat. We love it when people stop by and say, "Well, what's new at NLM?" Or, "What are you doing here? Doesn't everybody already know about PubMed?" Sometimes, people stop and look at our booth with a confused look on their face and then say, "What? You mean there's such a thing as the National Library of Medicine? I didn't know that!" Or someone stops in to tell us their personal story about using MedlinePlus to get the information that helped shorten a loved one's illness or led to a proper diagnosis.

Exhibiting is Outreach

Have you ever thought of doing an exhibit? Maybe there is an annual health fair in your area. Maybe there is some other sort of communal activity in your area - an annual town celebration or a gathering of community based organizations, for example. Or perhaps your city is hosting a state wide medical meeting and you'd like to participate with an exhibit.

Have you ever thought of doing an exhibit right where you are? Perhaps there is some occasion your library would like to celebrate. Make a big deal out of it. Put up a few tables. Call the vendors you work with and ask for support, participation, and promotional items. You might want to do it in the library itself. You might want to do it in the cafeteria, the lobby, or wherever people congregate.

And don't forget the NER if you think you'd like to do an exhibit. We can provide you with some literature about NLM products and services to hand out.

And, if you decide you'd like to do a health-related exhibit, the NER offers an Express Outreach Award that can be used to help with the funding.

It's a way to put a face on the library - a warm and welcoming face. It's outreach.

Donna Berryman, Outreach Coordinator