Meet the Library's New PR Coordinator/Patch Blogger

Mary McDonald just started her new job as the Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator for the , but she already has a vision to take the library more into the digital world.

For the past 10 years, McDonald worked at The Learned Owl Book Shop in Hudson doing marketing, public relations and coordinating book and author events in the store and the surrounding community. 

"What's been really delightful is that I find I already know a number of library patrons both from the book store and from meeting them at book and author events," McDonald said. "Before coming to the book shop, I did freelance writing and communications for a number of different companies and individuals, and before that, I worked with electronic databases (back when dial-up was cool). My academic background is mostly in history and in English and American literature."

McDonald worked with SMFPL before on behalf of The Learned Owl, along with the Hudson Library and Historical Society, the and other public and private libraries in the area.

Although she has been with the Stow library for just more than a week, McDonald said she already has thoughts on what she wants to do.

"I'll be helping Ann Malthaner, who is the Director of Public Relations and Marketing, to keep everyone informed of all the activities, programs, books, music, electronic equipment, downloads and other fun stuff available here at the library," McDonald said. "We'll be scheduling new speakers, authors and programs - there's just never a dull moment here at SMFPL!"

As part of the initiative to reach out to the community, McDonald recently signed up to be a Stow Patch blogger. (If you would like to blog, send an email to Amanda.Harnocz@Patch.com.)

She will also help with the library's social media presence by using its Facebook and Twitter accounts more effectively.

"We'll be regularly posting and tweeting with folks about their favorite books and authors, activities and programming that they'd like to see at the library, and how we can best serve the community with new technology," McDonald said. "On the lighter side, if you 'like' us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter you'll also get snippets of 'bookish' news, trivia quizzes, and links we like, as well as notification of our upcoming events."

McDonald's main goal, however, is to engage the community and make the library a place where people get information.

"When I was growing up, whenever my family needed anything — the answer to a question, help on a project for school or work, or just an escape from the everyday hum-drum — the answer was always 'I bet the library has that, let's go see!'" McDonald said. "I want everybody to have that reaction whenever they want something — whether it's information, entertainment, instruction, resources or just plain fun."