The Saline County Library is one of eight libraries in the United States to win the 2019 John Cotton Dana Award.
Each of the eight libraries receive a $10,000 award provided by the H.W. Wilson Foundation. The awards will be presented at the American Library Association’s annual conference in Washington D.C. in June.
“This is a huge honor,” stated Library Director, Patty Hector, “I’m so pleased that our hard-working marketing team has been singled out and rewarded for their efforts.”
The team had a goal of engaging inactive and non-cardholders, and to establish relationships with local businesses. They took Library Card Sign-Up Month and turned it into a community partnership. By using the theme, “Power of the Card” they emphasized all the possibilities a simple card could provide. The Library partnered with over 60 local businesses to provide discounts to cardholders. For a budget under $250, the campaign signed up 330 new cardholders, and 1,713 inactive cardholders renewed. The campaign drew in more patrons but and created new community partners with over 500 patrons using their library card to get discounts on anything from a tattoo to a steak dinner.
“It was a super easy process that brought in new guests that we wouldn’t have reached otherwise,” said Jessica Ward, manager of Dave & Buster’s.
Library Card Sign-Up Month is a national holiday but all libraries celebrate differently. The Saline County Library is community-minded and enjoys partnering with local businesses to create a mutually-beneficial relationship.
“I’m amazed by how fast it has grown and how much support we have from local businesses in the community,” says Hector.
For more information about the library, including our hours for each location, visit www.SalineCountyLibrary.org or call 501-778-4766.