John Cotton Dana 2005 Library Public Relations Award Winners Announced

New York, New York, February 23, 2005
Winners of the 2005 John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award were announced at the recent ALA Midwinter conference. Winning entries will be on display at a special JCD Awards booth in the exhibit area at the summer 2005 ALA Conference (June 25-28, Chicago, Illinois). Conference goers will also be able to view the winners Sunday, June 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the "Best of Show/Swap and Shop" program arranged by the Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA, a division of ALA).

Sponsored since 1946 by H.W. Wilson, the John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Awards are presented annually by LAMA, in recognition of innovation and ingenuity in library public relations. Award-winners also receive a $3,000 development grant from The H.W. Wilson Foundation.

Awards for 2005 were presented to:

The Riverside County Library System (Riverside, Calif.), for its innovative project, "Leer Es Triunfar - Reading is Succeeding." This series of public programs, community events, celebrity television spots and targeted Spanish-language publications helped increase the awareness and use of library services among Latino residents in Riverside County.

The Seattle Public Library, for the grand-opening celebration of its internationally acclaimed central library. Part of a multi-year program to improve the Seattle Public Library system, the "Libraries for All" program brought library awareness to an unprecedented level.

San Diego State University Library and Information Access, for "Spirit of the Land Environmental Symposium and Gala Dinner." This collaboration with the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians assembled nationally known authors, scientists and environmentalists for two days of discussion, and garnered support for the library's environmental collections.

The Louisiana Center for the Book (State Library of Louisiana), for its "Louisiana Book Festival" campaign, a free family-oriented celebration of writers, reading and books. Community partnerships, activities and extensive media coverage helped increase awareness of Louisiana's rich literary heritage.

Maricopa County Library District (Phoenix), for "The Mystery Club of Luna Drive," an online young adult novel that gives teens an opportunity to solve a mystery using puzzles, ciphers and critical thinking.

Calgary Public Library (Calgary, Alberta, Canada), for "Rediscover Your Public Library." This well-planned campaign used imagination and humor to target specific audiences and convert library awareness to increased library use.

North Suburban Library System (Wheeling, Ill.), for outstanding positioning of libraries as centers of critical community services. Their innovative partnership with the League of Women Voters inspired more than 80 participating libraries to provide voter registration service through their program "Honor September 11: Register to Vote @ your library."

Entries are welcome for the 2006 competition. The contest is open to all libraries, agencies and associations that promote library service. Visit www.hwwilson.com/jcdawards for information and entry forms.