Sacramento Public Library wins 2012 Scholastic Library Publishing National Library Week Grant

Public awareness campaign showcases “You belong @ your library®” theme



CHICAGO - The Sacramento (Calf.) Public Library is the winner of the 2012 Scholastic Library Publishing National Library Week Grant.

The $3,000 grant, sponsored by Scholastic Library Publishing, a division of Scholastic Inc., the global children’s publishing, education and media company, and administered by the American Library Association’s (ALA) Public Awareness Committee, is awarded annually for the best public awareness campaign in support of National Library Week (April 8-14, 2012). This year, libraries were asked to develop a proposal using the 2012 National Library Week theme, “You belong @ your library.”



Using the “You belong @ your library” theme, the library will present a series of programs during National Library Week aimed at the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex and ally (GLBTQIA) community. Through its programming series and in conjunction with a comprehensive marketing campaign the Sacramento Public Library hopes to reinforce the message that the library is a place of belonging for all members of the community.



Working with area GLBTQIA designers, the library will develop print and electronic ads that will be placed in local and GLBTQIA publications. Ads will also be placed throughout the Sacramento’s public transit system. Additional promotional materials will be distributed at the library's 28 branch locations and among local partner organizations.



Programming for the week will include events that draw attention to the variety of services and resources the library offers for people of all ages. The library will promote current programs like “Come Out! for Aerobics” and “Same Sex Speed Dating for Book Lovers,” as well as new initiatives such as an “It Gets Better” video recording session and a “The Works of David Levithan and Queer Themes in Teen Literature” speaker event. Movie, gaming and book club events will also be hosted throughout the week.



“Sacramento Public Library’s public awareness campaign caught our attention because it is a well thought out, specific and exciting initiative,” said Tony Tallent, chair of the National Library Week subcommittee. “We applaud the Sacramento Public Library for its efforts in reminding all their community members that the library is a safe place where everyone belongs.”



Members of the 2011-2012 National Library Week Subcommittee are: Tony Tallent, Richland County Public Library, Columbia, S.C.; Holly Clark Carroll, Poudre River Public Library, Fort Collins, Colo.; Renee DiPilato, Alexandria (Va.) Public Library, Duncan Library; Sol Gomez, Woods Branch of the Pima County Public Library, Tucson, Ariz.; Emily Kornak, Barrington (Ill.) Area Library; Susan Kowalski, Pine Grove Junior High School, East Syracuse, N.Y.; Portia Latalladi, Garfield Branch of the Chicago Public Library; Bev Obert, Illinois Heartland Library System; and Lisa Powell-Williams, Moline (Ill.) Public Library.



A copy of the winning proposal is available online at www.ala.org/nlwgrant.



The Campaign for America’s Libraries (www.ala.org/@yourlibrary) is ALA’s public awareness campaign that promotes the value of libraries and librarians. Thousands of libraries of all types – across the country and around the globe - use the Campaign’s @ your library® brand. The Campaign is made possible by ALA’s Library Champions, corporations and foundations.



For more information about Scholastic, visit its online media room http://mediaroom.scholastic.com.