The Campaign for America’s Libraries
The Campaign for America's Libraries is a multi-year public education and advocacy campaign sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries across the country to speak loudly and clearly about the value of libraries and librarians in the 21st century. It is designed to showcase the unique and vital roles played by public, school, academic and special libraries nationwide.
Campaigns tailored for academic and research libraries, as well as for school and for public libraries have launched, focusing on the value of these types of libraries and librarians. A campaign promoting children’s library services launched in June 2006, as an advocacy program for rural, native and tribal libraries.
The campaign officially launched to the public during National Library Week 2001 and uses a trademarked brand -- @ your library® -- to unify the communications activities of libraries across the country. The campaign is reaching approximately 20,000 libraries in all 50 states.
The Campaign for America's Libraries was developed in response to research that shows that 1) libraries are popular but are often taken for granted; 2) libraries are rooted in nearly every community, including schools, campuses and businesses across the country, but are often not visible; 3) libraries are unique but are challenged to articulate that uniqueness in an information age transformed by new technology such as the Internet.
In light of this research, the campaign seeks to convey the following key messages:
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Libraries are changing and dynamic places.
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Libraries are places of opportunity.
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Libraries bring you the world.
Through the consistent delivery of these key messages, the campaign aims:
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to raise awareness about the variety of programs and services offered and to update the image of libraries and librarians in the 21st century;
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to increase use of libraries at school, on campuses, at work, and in daily community life;
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to encourage librarianship as a profession;
- to bring librarians to the table on key public policy issues;
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to ultimately impact funding for libraries.
Internally, the campaign is designed:
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to unify the communications efforts of libraries nationwide so they are speaking in one voice;
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to represent and be useful to all types of libraries - public, school, academic and special;
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to provide libraries with tools and resources they need to promote their value to their communities;
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to provide a way to share "best practices" in library marketing and public relations.
Through outreach efforts and partnerships, the campaign seeks to amplify library messages and reach a broader audience.
The campaign targets:
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General public-parents, children, students, senior citizens, business people
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Educators, school boards and administrators
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Policy makers and opinion leaders
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Librarians and those who are considering the library profession
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Media
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Strategic partners
Thanks to a partnership with the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), a Campaign for the World's Libraries now also is reaching the international library community. To date, 30 countries and the Caribbean Islands have joined the campaign: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, El Salvador, Georgia, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mexico, Moldova, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Singapore, Turkey, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Venezuela. The @ your library logo has been translated into all of these countries' respective languages. Artwork, informational materials and various public service announcements (PSAs) have been translated into Spanish as well.
Founding partners of The Campaign for America's Libraries include the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), Investor Protection Trust, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and Woman's Day Magazine.
For more information, including how to subscribe to a discussion list for the latest campaign updates, visit the campaign Web site at www.ala.org/@yourlibrary. Libraries also are encouraged to send samples of promotional materials that include the @ your library logo to: The Campaign for America's Libraries, c/o ALA Public Information Office, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611. E-mail: atyourlibrary@ala.org.
7/06