Monday, April 13, 2009

PR Hint for April 2009 -- Celebrate National Library Week!

Why did the librarian slip and fall on the library floor?

Because she was in the non-friction section.

Now that I have your attention..… Happy National Library Week! :)
National Library Week celebrates the positive contributions librarians make to their communities while promoting library use throughout the nation. April 12-19 is the perfect time to acknowledge the work that staff, volunteers, and supporters do each and every day. The theme for National Library Week 2009 is "Worlds connect @ your library."
How are you celebrating at your Montana library? Haven’t made your plans yet? It's not too late. See below for some great (but quick) ideas to get your library noticed ...
1. ALA National Library Week - This page from the American Library Association includes tips, tools, and downloadable graphics to help libraries plan and promote their National Library Week celebrations.
2. National Library Week - Crayola features a fine collection of activities and craft projects including downloadable coloring pages and lesson plans to celebrate the day. Free registration required.
3. Have a puzzling National Library Week! There are a number of super cool Websites where you can make your own personalized puzzles:
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/
http://www.edhelper.com/crossword.htm
http://www.crosswordpuzzlegames.com/create.html
Create a mix of puzzles for all patrons to complete. Have small prizes for all who enter and then perhaps have a big prize
drawing for some goodies. You could have four puzzles during the week, one each on Monday through Thursday. On
Friday, have the big prize drawing.
4. Download a Montana Legislator READ poster from www.mtlib.org. Or contact Lisa at Ljackson@mt.gov for your FREE copy.
5. Check out http://www.libraryspot.com/spotlight/nationallibraryweek.htm. There is a list of activities specific libraries (including Missoula Public) plan in celebration of National Library Week. There is some good stuff here!
6. Library Trivia Week. Do a two-part contest. The first day it's quotes about libraries (http://www.useful-information.info/quotations/library_quotes.html) and the second it's librarians in the movies (http://home.earthlink.net/~movielibrarians/).
7. For each day of National Library Week, feature a different type of reference book. Monday--directories, Tuesday--medical books, Wednesday--automotive books, Thursday--law books, and Friday--patron picks!
8. Put a personal face on it. Put together a "Know your Librarian(s)" quiz--ask for information on colleges, hobbies, etc. Award small prizes for those who know you the best!
9. Book/Media Swap--Have patrons bring in gently used materials from home to donate to a children's shelter or agency or ask people to bring in new books or videos. Those who donate get to put their name in a drawing for a special prize.
10. Library Media & PR has a host of ideas for promoting the library at any time of year: http://www.ssdesign.com/librarypr/index.html. Lynne's Web includes word games and pages of library quotes, reading quotes, and book quotes: http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/allegrow/index.htm. Look for library cartoons at http://www.unshelved.com/.
111. Law Librarians Do It Up Nicely: Look here for some cool ideas you can adapt to your own library: http://west.thomson.com/support/librarian/event/default.aspx.
We'd love to know what Montana libraries are doing for National Library Week. Please send me your plans and I will compile them and post them on the PR Hints Blog at http://mlaprhints.blogspot.com/ And don't forget to post your photos on the Montana libraries group for Flickr http://www.flickr.com/groups/montanalibraries/.

Happy National Library Week, all you wonderful Montana librarians! Celebrate you!

Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson,
Legislative Attorney, M.L.I.S.
Chair, MLA PR & Marketing Committee

3 comments:

Heidi Sue said...

Hi Lisa:
Today we are having author Carolyn Garriott visit our children's room with her new book Spitz The Cat: The Cat With Attitude To have Carolyn come to YOUR library, go to www.driftwillowpress.com for more information

On Tuesday, night our Teen Advisory Board is sponsoring the Montana Association for Paranormal Studies (M.A.P.S.) - a group from Great Falls who investigate paranormal activities and have done research here at the Grand Union Hotel and researched our own paranormal activities here at the library (and yes we have them)

On Thursday, our local Woman's Club is host for our Library Open House from 1PM-5PM. Cake and refreshments are served. Fort Benton's Woman's Club was instrumental in getting the funding for our library at the turn of the century.

On Friday, The Geraldine Branch Library holds their Spring Open House from 1PM-4PM. The entire interior of Geraldine's library has been repainted and features wonderful faux artwork by Holly Ebeling in both the children's area and the Montana Room - they are ready to show the joint off!

Jill

Chouteau County Library
Montana's Oldest County Library

Heidi Sue said...

Good afternoon Lisa,

We, Montana State University Billings, are celebrating by feeding our students all week. We have several displays celebrating National Library Week –Celebrating libraries – Award winning books.

On Monday we had popcorn and treats, Tuesday is treats all day, Wednesday we have ice-cream sundaes, yes in the library, Thursday more popcorn and treats, and Friday even more treats. We also put out all kinds of bookmarks, pencils, and erasers for the students to take.

The students are heading into the final weeks of class, so they have a lot of papers and projects due. Having a little snack to take with them studying or working in groups, puts a smile on their face. Who wouldn’t want a cup full of gummy bears! J

Please – just take what you can from this email for your blog.

Eileen Wright
MSU Billings Library

Priscilla said...

Very good to consider this celebration so special, because the books are very important and educational for all.
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