Over 22,000 librarians invaded Anaheim, California last month for the annual American Library Association conference.
Of all the libraries represented, only one walked away with a Best of Show Award in the ‘Calendars of Events/Newsletter? category (there are different competitions based on budget range).
The Orion Township Public Library’s ‘Library Link? was selected as the best from over 360 entries. Library Director Linda Sickles was on hand to pick up the award.
‘It’s a huge conference,? Sickles said. ‘There are tons of interesting events and it features libraries of all kinds and sizes.?
Sickles said she enjoys seeing what other libraries are doing.
‘You pick up a lot of good ideas,? she said. ‘There are some people that have taken ideas from us. Even before we started winning awards.?
Sickles added that the entire staff should be proud of the look and, most importantly, the content of the ‘Library Link.?
‘Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and Penny (Peterson) should be extremely flattered,? she said.
‘I think it’s a great communication tool for the community and we seem to get a good response from it,? Sickles added.
It’s not the first time the ‘Library Link? has been recognized, and the library’s annual reports have also won awards, according to Peterson.
‘We have an award wall in the lobby,? Peterson noted. ‘For the last 10 years we’ve won best of show or honorable mention from either the Michigan Libraries Association or the national association every year.
Peterson, the library’s Outreach Coordinator, has been putting the ‘Library Link? together for the past 24 years.
‘I just felt it was the best information and marketing tool we could have,? she said.
At the beginning, Sherman Publications, Inc. was one of their printers, but for the past 10 years, the library has been using First Impression Print & Marketing in Howell as their printer.
‘This newsletter is an example of the work we are proud to do at First Impression,? said owner Don Cortez. ‘The judges said they were impressed with the high caliber of the work.?
It’s not just the appearance of the ‘Library Link,? but also the content that gets noticed by the library community.
‘I get phone calls about it from all over the country,? Peterson said of the newsletter, which is printed quarterly.
In fact, the winning issue, from last fall, was one Peterson admitted wasn’t their snazziest design.
It featured a photo of retired librarian Helen Goerlich, who is 100-years-old and takes advantage of the library’s homebound delivery service. The headline read: ‘Libraries are for everyone.?
‘Our mission is to make the library the information hub of the community and to make it a destination point,? Peterson said. ‘If people don’t have all of our information, we can’t make that happen.?