Administrative Services: MIT Libraries Swag

Small swag items (stickers, keychains, pens, etc.) are managed by the Community Engagement program. These items are stored centrally in the closet off the Hayden East Study Room research alcove (2nd floor) and are self-service. A large order is placed over the summer to ensure adequate supply for the academic year. Please contact ce-lib@mit.edu with any questions about these items.

This includes items like water bottles, mugs, and scarves. The following teams will manage premium swag for targeted uses:

• Resource Development: donor gifts 
• Director’s Office: gifts for hosting or visiting with donors, library director peers, Institute VIPs, etc. 
• HR: The HR team will reevaluate needs, processes, and policies for staff swag. 

These items are no longer available for other uses.

Individual teams or departments can place orders for swag for a specific use. The ordering team also will be responsible for receiving, storing, and distributing the items, and the order will be charged to that team’s budget. The Communications team plays a consultative role, helping to select items, commission a design (if applicable), provide logos, and ensure adherence to the Libraries brand. The Director of Communications must review and approve design proofs before an order goes into production. 

4imprint and Fenway Group are two MIT-preferred vendors; the Communications team can also provide other recommendations.

Swag has a considerable environmental impact, and the average time swag is kept is only eight months. Please keep this in mind when considering the products and quantities you order and consider sustainable alternatives. 
 

The following is adapted from UC Davis
 

Choosing effective swag

When considering placing a swag order, ask yourself:

• What is our goal? What is the action we want our audience to take? How will swag help that to happen?
• How will your swag be used? Is it something your audience needs? 
• Are there digital alternatives?

Choosing sustainable swag

To reduce environmental impact, choose items that: 

• meet a need
• will be reused over and over (nice t-shirts, totes, coffee cups, notebooks)
• are compostable or recyclable (coffee sleeves, bamboo fabrics)

Wearables must be of a quality, design, and message that people will want to use.