Public Relations Ideas From 2011 Award-Winners

Five libraries are winners of the 2011 John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Awards, which recognizes and honors outstanding achievement in library public relations.

Of the 5 that were honored, here are examples of ideas to consider trying at your library:

• Worthington Libraries (Worthington, Ohio): “Find Yourself Here” rebranding campaign positioned the library as “an information source and inviting destination. Beginning with staff communications guidelines and expanding to service provision, the library was positioned as a place where everyone belongs and is accepted. The net result was a 35-percent increase in online homework usage and a 36-increase in the circulation of downloadable books.”
• Anythink Libraries (Adams County, CO): A new customer service philosophy and branding “increased population awareness and use in all areas, including a 42-percent increase in cardholders and 66-percent increase in visitors.”
• Edmonton Public Library (Edmonton, Alberta): “Rebranding the Edmonton Public Library,” a new logo and the slogan “Spread the words” were taken by library staff and customers and used in a “guerilla marketing strategy that was impossible to ignore and hard to resist.”
• Loudoun County Public Library (Leesburg, VA): “Try Poetry”, a year of building community “through the borderless conversation of poetry.” The program developed a long partnership with the public school system, created a unique relationship with the juvenile detention center and offered a variety of captivating presentations to the community.

The John Cotton Dana honor has been awarded continuously since 1946 and is sponsored by the H.W. Wilson Co., the H.W. Wilson Foundation and the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). It is considered the most prestigious of all library awards in the field of public relations.

Sources:

• American Library Association: Winners of the 2011 John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Awards
• The ‘M’ Word – Marketing Libraries: 2011 John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award Winners Announced
• H.W. Wilson: John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award — general info, previous winners, and application form

Get Marketing Ideas from These PR Award-Winners

Find inspiration and marketing ideas for your library from these 2010 award-winning library public relations campaigns:

• “Return the Books” low-cost overdue fine amnesty program to help San Francisco Public Library patrons cope with the economic downturn by removing an obstacle – overdue fines – allowing them to resume using library resources. The successful campaign netted a 23.6% return on overdue materials.
• “Look to Your Library… Especially Now” campaign guides Washington state residents to free resources available from the library. Extended library hours, hands-on demonstrations, workshops, and web resources led to increased use of database resources, including a 403%  increase in use of Résumé Builder. (King County Library System, Issaquah, Washington)

Get more inspiring library marketing ideas at the 2010 John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award winners page.

The John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award recognizes and honors outstanding achievement in library public relations.