PR Sunday Spotlight to focus on public relations and marketing sessions at ALA Annual

CHICAGO – New to this year’s ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition is the PR Sunday Spotlight on June 25, which will showcase innovative library public relations programming and events. This new series will give library communications and marketing staff the opportunity to attend five public-relations focused sessions all on the same day. PR Sunday Spotlight sessions include:

Libraries Transform: New Tools and Best Practices
10:30 – 11:30 a.m., Sunday, June 25, Hilton Hotel, Williford A
Join star Libraries Transform supporters and users for in-depth conversation related to ALA’s national public awareness campaign. Learn how more than 7,000 participating libraries are using the campaign to help keep their libraries in the limelight. Preview free marketing and communications tools and resources, and leave with new ideas for encouraging, implementing and showcasing transformation at your library.

PR XChange Event
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sunday, June 25, McCormick Place, Exhibit Floor - Special Events Area
The Library Leadership and Management Association’s PR XChange Event is a great way to learn from your peers by viewing and taking home sample marketing materials from this year’s winners of the PR XChange Awards. On display will be a multitude of print and electronic promotional materials from all different types of libraries across North America.

Crisis Communication: Who Speaks for Your Library?
1 – 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 25, McCormick Place West, W194b
What happens when a newspaper calls the library for a quote on a Saturday morning? Is it your Library Director or Trustee who answers an elected official’s question about the library? In the event of a materials challenge, who serves as the library’s spokesperson? Are you ready in a crisis, whatever it may be? This program/discussion will feature Macey Morales, deputy director of ALA’s Public Awareness Office; Susan Jennings, past president of the Tennessee Library Association; and Brian Auger, director of the Somerset County (N.J.) Public Library. This is a joint discussion group with United for Libraries, RUSA and Chapter Relations.

PR Forum: Learning to tell your library story with Ben Bizzle
3 –  4 p.m., Sunday, June 25, McCormick Place, W185d
Is your library telling its story? Ben Bizzle, library advocate, marketer, author and entrepreneur, believes every action a library takes from programming to purchasing, from the website to the reference desk, is an opportunity to share its story with users and the communities they serve. Bizzle, who has a reputation for generating buzz, will provide storytelling strategies and tips that libraries can use to turn everyday interactions into successful connections and engagement.

John Cotton Dana Awards & Reception 
4 – 6:30 p.m., June 25, Blackstone Hotel, Crystal Ballroom
The John Cotton Dana Award honors outstanding library public relations. At the John Cotton Dana Awards & Reception, learn from the winners and join in on the celebration. Leave inspired by the captivating stories and the award-winning outreach initiatives.

For more information on PR Sunday Spotlight sessions, please visit https://www.eventscribe.com/2017/ALA-Annual/.

For more information on ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition, please visit http://2017.alaannual.org/.