Using Public Relations as a Key to Leadership Using Public Relations as a Key to Leadership Cheryl Gritton, Branch Librarian, U.S. Courts Library, Des Moines, Iowa AALL Spectrum, Volume 4 No. 2 October 1999. As I began thinking about what public relations and leadership are, I realized personal leadership flows from public relations skills. Public relations are truly a key to leadership. I define public relations as what you do with your user when they are in your library or using your services.
Marketing is part of public relations, but only the first half of the equation.
Brochures, newsletters, special programs or presentations, flyers, and food in the library are all marketing tools you use to get the user into the library. Public relations begins when your marketing tools have been successful. Good public relations relies on certain skills that anyone can master. Being knowledgeable about your subject and enthusiastic about helping your user are the two that top my list of essential skills. Be self confident, assertive, responsible and open to new ideas.