PLA Blog

Read for the Record is an organization strives to raise awareness about issues of inequality in early education, and improving education for at-risk preschoolers.

Through this campaign, Jumpstart is asking Americans to support early education opportunities for all children by reading the official campaign book, The Story of Ferdinand, together on September 20, 2007 to break the record for the largest shared reading experience ever, which was set by 150,000 people on August 24, 2006 [with the title The Little Engine That Could] during the inaugural year of Jumpstart’s Read for the Record campaign. Reading activities on September 20 can range from personal sessions between an adult and a child to big group events with hundreds of people gathering together for a large community reading session.

For each person who promises to read the book on September 20, the company Hanna Anderson will donate $1 to the cause. Other ways to get involved include donating a copy of the book, running a book drive, and organizing a reading event. If your library decides to host an event, be sure to list it in the Event Finder on their site.

Public libraries can be total rock stars when it comes to publicity. Take a moment to strut your stuff by entering the competition (details below) now that they’ve extended the deadline!

C’mon - you know your library does some amazing public relations work . Show it off to the rest of the country! Enter this year’s Best of Show Competition, put on by the Swap & Shop Committee (LAMA/PRMS). All libraries are invited to submit promotional materials produced in 2006. Judging in all categories will bebased on content, originality, design format and effectiveness. Entries must be received by April 20, 2007. A team of experts in librarianship, public relations and marketing will judge the library promotional materials. Winning entries will be on display during the Swap and Shop program scheduled for Sunday, June 24, 2006, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., during the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. The awards will be presented to the winners on that day. Free samples of library public relations materials from dozens of libraries will be available for attendees to “swap and shop” during the program. For more information, contact Luke Vilelle at or 540.231.1108. Best of luck to you all!

Best of Show Entry Form

2007 FAQs

Troy Rumpf
Manager, Community & Media Relations
Laramie County Library System
2800 Central Avenue
Cheyenne, WY 82001
307.635.1032 ext. 123
www.LCLSonline.org

We invite you to share your fabulous promotional tips, campaigns, and even ideas you haven’t tried yet here on the blog by commenting on this post.

The Public Library Association’s awards and honors are designed to highlight the best in public library service. Nominate your library or a colleague for a PLA award through PLA’s new online awards application.

The deadline for applications is December 1, 2006. All applications must be submitted online prior to the deadline in order to be considered.

PLA Achievement Awards:

• Advancement of Literacy Award to a publisher, bookseller, hardware and/or software dealer, foundation, or similar group for a significant contribution to the advancement of literacy. Sponsored by Library Journal

• Allie Beth Martin Award of $3,000 to a public librarian who has extraordinary range and depth of knowledge about books/library materials and the distinguished ability to share that knowledge. Sponsored by Baker & Taylor

• Charlie Robinson Award of $1,000 to a public library director who, over a period of seven years, was a risk-taker, innovator, and/or change agent in a public library. Sponsored by Baker & Taylor

• EBSCO Excellence in Small and/or Rural Public Library Service Award of $1,000 to a public library serving a population of 10,000 or less that demonstrates excellence of service to its community as exemplified by an overall service program or a special program of significant accomplishment. Sponsored by EBSCO Information Services

• Highsmith Library Innovation Award of $2,000 to a public library for achievement in planning and implementing a creative community service program. Sponsored by Highsmith, Inc.

New this year from PLA:

• Gordon M. Conable Award of $1,500 to a public library staff member, library trustee, or public library that has demonstrated a commitment to intellectual freedom and the Library Bill of Rights. Sponsored by LSSI

PLA Grant Opportunities:

• Baker & Taylor Entertainment Audio Music/Video Product Award Grant of $2,500 in audio/music-video products for a proposal that outlines the purpose, benefits, and plan for initiating or expanding a circulating audio music/video collection. Sponsored by Baker & Taylor

• Demco New Leaders Travel Grant of up to $1,500 each, not to exceed $5,000, to PLA members who are new to the profession and who have not attended a major PLA continuing-education event in the last 5 years. Sponsored by Demco, Inc.

• “Grow Your Own” Institutional Scholarship of $8,000 to a public library for reimbursement of employees’ course tuition costs at the undergraduate or graduate level. This PLA Pilot program is now in its second year.

Visit www.pla.org for applications and more information.

Remember – Deadline for applications is December 1, 2006!

PLA Announces Winners of Annual “Public Libraries” Article Contest

The Public Library Association (PLA) is pleased to announce the winners of its annual article contest. The contest awards cash prizes to the authors of the best feature article by public librarians published in the previous year’s issues of “Public Libraries,” the bi-monthly journal of the Public Library Association.

The first prize award of $500 goes to Heather Booth, Literature & Audio Services Librarian at the Downers Grove Library, Downers Grove, Ill., for her article, “RA for YA,” that appeared in the Jan/Feb 2005 “Public Libraries.” The second prize of $300 goes to Rhonda Boyd, Division Director of Planning, Research, and Development at the Gwinnett County Public Library, Lawrenceville, Ga., for her article “Assessing the True Nature of Information Transactions at a Suburban Library,” which appeared in the July/August issue of the journal.

Contest winners are selected by the members of the “Public Libraries” Advisory Committee. Prizes will be awarded at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. Public librarians interested in being considered for the 2006 prizes, should visit www.pla.org for submission guidelines or email to .