The wheels are turning

Wow.  So where to begin with a research topic??  There's so many possibilities to choose from!  When I think of my workplace, I think of their traditional way of communicating... very passive - bookmarks and posters all over the library.  It seems as if it's only "preaching to the choir."  What communication methods will best deliver the message that the library is not just books anymore - social media, television, email blasts, text marketing, more newspaper articles, or what seems to be the buzzword in our industry lately - word of mouth?  We now do a mixture of these.  I'm curious as to their effectiveness in helping the public understand the depth of the service our industry provides.

Or what about communication among the younger set today... as I watch my kids text, Facebook and email, I make note that the days of spending hours chatting on the telephone with your best friend seem long gone.  Instead of actually speaking to us, our kids want to text instead.  We have to require that they actually call or come downstairs (!) to talk to us.  Are we losing our personal connections to advancements in technology?

I also wonder about the role in communication when it comes to philanthropy.  When you personalize a letter with the prospect's name and a personal handwritten note, does it impact whether they are more inclined to give?  If you communicate with a donor regularly about exactly how their donation was used and impacted the audience in need, along with thanking them and keeping them informed, will they continue and possibly increase their level of giving?  Is communication and stewardship the driving factor, or would they continue to increase their giving even if they weren't thanked and informed?

I welcome any suggestions on which topic might best lend itself to this type of research.  Where to begin?  I'm anxious to learn more.