Your Library Needs Canva Pro: How to Make the Case to Your Manager for a Creative Powerhouse
Disclaimer: I’m not sponsored by Canva – I’m just a big fan who knows how much it can benefit libraries!
Good marketing has become essential in public, academic, and school libraries across Ireland. Between posters, social media posts, and event flyers, we can spend whole days designing. If this resonates with you then you’ve probably used Canva once or twice (or a thousand times 👀 ). Canva Pro can be a real game-changer but I know how hard it can be to get approval to spend money on what can be seen as an unnecessary expense in some workplaces. So, I’ve put together some tips on how to build a strong case to convince your manager that Canva Pro is a valuable investment for your library. By focusing on the benefits, the return on investment, and the potential impact on library engagement, you can present a compelling argument that gets you that premium content.
1. Emphasize the Value of Visual Appeal in Library Promotion
The first thing you want to point out is the increasing role of visual content in today’s library services. With Canva Pro, you can create visually appealing graphics that bring attention to events, resources, and new programs. The templates and tools in Canva Pro make it easy to design polished visuals, even without formal design experience. A well-designed social media post or poster can reach a broader audience and make your library’s events and services stand out.
Talking Point: “The vibrant, high-quality designs we could create with Canva Pro would attract more people to our programs and services, making our library a more appealing resource for the community.”
2. Showcase the Range of Professional Tools Available in Canva Pro
Canva’s free version is great, but Canva Pro takes it to a new level with advanced features that are particularly useful for libraries. Here are just a few that will strengthen your case:
Brand Kit: Set up your library’s logos, colors, and fonts in one place to ensure brand consistency.
Premium Templates and Images: Access to 100+ million images and premium templates allows you to create custom visuals that reflect the library’s professional standards.
Background Remover: This tool is a time-saver for creating clean images for book recommendations, staff introductions, or online resources.
Magic Resize: Automatically resize designs for multiple platforms, ensuring that posters, Instagram posts, and Facebook banners all look perfect.
Talking Point: “Canva Pro has features that allow us to easily maintain brand consistency and quality across all platforms, something that’s tough to achieve with free tools.”
3. Highlight Time Efficiency and Ease of Use
With limited resources and tight schedules, library workers often have to juggle multiple responsibilities. Canva Pro’s intuitive interface, drag-and-drop functionality, and automation tools allow for rapid creation and customisation of materials. You can even organise designs into folders for easy access and sharing among library staff.
Talking Point: “The ease of use and time savings offered by Canva Pro mean we can focus more on our core responsibilities while still producing high-quality, professional materials.”
4. Connect Canva Pro to Library Outreach and Community Engagement Goals
Librarians are community connectors, but getting information out to patrons can sometimes be a challenge. With Canva Pro, you can create dynamic visual content that resonates with different audience segments, from students to parents, making your outreach efforts more effective. Use Canva Pro to develop:
Monthly event calendars to promote programs
Flyers for special events or holiday themes
Infographics to highlight library resources or services
Engaging social media posts to keep patrons informed
Talking Point: “By improving our visual communications, we’ll be able to reach more people and boost engagement, which directly supports our library’s mission to serve the community.”
5. Focus on the Cost-Benefit Analysis
Budget constraints are real in any library setting, so it’s essential to show that Canva Pro is not only affordable but a cost-effective tool that pays for itself in terms of improved outreach and resource visibility. With Canva Pro costing about €110 annually, consider how much it would cost to hire a designer or purchase individual templates and stock images separately. Canva Pro provides all of these assets in one place, with no additional charges or usage restrictions.
Talking Point: “For just €110 per year, we gain access to design resources that would cost much more if purchased individually. This small investment would greatly enhance our ability to promote the library effectively.”
6. Offer a Trial or Pilot Run as a Proof of Concept
If your manager still needs convincing, suggest a one-month trial of Canva Pro to demonstrate its impact firsthand. Many managers are more willing to approve budget allocations if they can see tangible results. During the trial, you can showcase the types of designs you’ve created and gather feedback from colleagues and patrons.
Talking Point: “If we can try Canva Pro for a month and see the difference, we can make an informed decision on whether it’s worth the investment.”
Conclusion: Investing in Your Library’s Visual Storytelling
At a time when libraries are competing with digital media for attention, Canva Pro offers an affordable way to improve your library’s branding, outreach, and engagement. For €110 a year, your library can create professional, on-brand graphics that resonate with the community and reinforce the library’s value in people’s lives.
So go ahead, make the case for Canva Pro – your library and patrons deserve the best!