Section 2: Publicity

Dustbowl Exhibit Site Support Notebook, Section 2: Publicity

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Publicity Checklist

This checklist provides an overview of important publicity reminders. For more detailed information, please thoroughly review the Publicity section of the Site Support Notebook.

  • To meet media and other deadlines, you will need to start promoting your programs at least six weeks to two months in advance. See the “Promotion Guide” for helpful suggestions.
  • Use official project credit information on all publicity materials. Use sponsor and funder logos on materials wherever possible.
  • All publicity images must be accompanied by the ownership credits provided with the image. See “Guidelines for Use of Publicity Images” for more detailed information.
  • Stress sponsorship and funding credits in press releases, press events, and all public programs.
  • Host sites must submit – at least three days before printing or posting – all draft copy of publicity materials to the ALA. Please e-mail drafts to ppoprreview@ala.org.

Official Exhibition Credit

Dust, Drought and Dreams Gone Dry was developed by the American Library Association Public Programs Office in collaboration with the libraries of Oklahoma State University and Mount Holyoke College. The exhibition and tour were made possible in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor.

Guidelines for Sponsor Acknowledgement

When in doubt, ask the ALA Public Programs Office.

  • The official credit line should appear on all printed and other visual materials related to the exhibition, including press releases, brochures, publications, invitations, program flyers, advertisements, press kits, announcements, websites and local posters. It should also appear on any signage at the entrance to the exhibition. On all materials, it should appear in a type size that is readable and appropriate to the overall design. Include logos if space permits.

  • Logos: Please use the National Endowment for the Humanities, Oklahoma State University, Mount Holyoke College, and American Library Association logos on materials whenever possible, especially on smaller PR pieces where the credit line does not fit. Logos may be found on the website and on the project PR CD.

  • In speaking to or sending press releases to newspaper reporters, radio and TV interviewers and other media personnel, please stress that full sponsorship and funding credit should be included in all articles and features. Some host sites include a line set off at the beginning of press releases saying “Editor: Please do not edit out sponsorship credits in paragraph __.”



  • At press events and in public programs: The exhibition sponsors should be acknowledged orally at the beginning and end of press conferences, public programs, and other public events connected with the exhibition and at the beginning and end of radio or television interviews. Use the official exhibition credit as a guide.

  • Local sponsor credits: Local sponsor credit must follow the Dust Bowl exhibition credit line and be in a type size no larger than the exhibition credit. The exception is materials or programs entirely supported by another funding source. In those cases, it is still necessary for the credit line or logos to appear, but the additional sponsor’s credit may appear first and in a larger size.

  • A digital copy of samples of printed press coverage and PR materials must be submitted with the library’s final report to ALA.

Publicity Approval

Publicity for the exhibition is the responsibility of the exhibiting site; however, ALA will work with each host site to achieve the best coverage possible. Please contact the ALA Public Programs Office if you have questions or need PR materials. ALA Public Programs exhibit staff will be happy to speak to local reporters about the exhibit.

Host sites must submit – at least three days before printing or posting – all draft copy of publicity materials to the ALA. Please e-mail drafts to ppoprreview@ala.org.

Guidelines for Use of Publicity Images

In the event of violation of the following conditions, the sponsors of the exhibit reserve the right to terminate a participating library’s program involvement.

  • Host sites are authorized to use specific images in publicity for programs. Images will be provided via DropBox.
  • Host sites may authorize newspapers and other media to use the images for exhibit publicity only. If host sites use other images, they are responsible for obtaining permissions if they are necessary.

  • These images are to be used for noncommercial or educational activities and promotion of the Dust Bowl exhibition at the specified venues hosting the exhibit. Commercial use of any image for profit in another publication, edition, format, or language is prohibited.

  • Host sites may not reformat, redesign, or otherwise alter the images. Host sites may print color images in black-and-white.

  • All images must be accompanied by the ownership credits provided with the image.



  • Libraries are liable for damages, claims, suits or other legal proceedings arising from or attributed to violation of third party rights resulting from any unauthorized creation, use, display, or modification of advertising or publicity materials relating to the exhibit.

Publicity Images, Captions, and Credits

The project director for your site will receive an invitation from Dropbox, a large-file sharing service, to download the press kit for Dust Bowl. There will not be a publicity CD.

The press kit includes all authorized publicity images, captions and credits, sponsor logos and sample PR materials. The images will not be on the exhibition website.

Please use image credit lines at all times; descriptive captions are encouraged if space is available.

Host sites which use other images for exhibit publicity are responsible for securing permissions to use them.

Logos

Download NEH logo

Download ALA logo

Download the Oklahoma State University logo

Download the Mount Holyoke College logo

Sample Media Alert/Calendar Listing

Download Sample Media Alert/Calendar Listing (Word)

Sample Letter to Community Groups

Download Sample Letter to Community Groups (Word)

Sample News Release

Download Sample News Release (Word)

Sample Public Service Announcements

Download Sample Public Service Announcements (Word)

Promotion Guide

Download Promotion Guide (PDF)

Dust Bowl Brochure

Download high resolution Dust Bowl brochure artwork (PDF). The brochure is a gatefold -- first, fold the brochure in half, then fold the outside panels in to the center, then fold in half again. Final folded size 4" width x 9" height.

Download Dust Bowl brochure files (PDF) that are formatted for easier printing on an office computer--as opposed to a professional printer--and instructions (PDF) for best results.

Dust Bowl Poster

Download high resolution Dust Bowl poster artwork (PDF). Final size 17" width x 22" height.

Dust Bowl Banner

Download high resolution Dust Bowl banner artwork (PDF). Banner measures approximately 4 feet (width) x 6 feet (height) and has pole sleeves at the top and bottom for weighting.

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