Saint Paul Public Library staff member with Mark Halperin, author of TIME.com’s The Page

Saint Paul Public Library

2009 John Cotton Dana Awards Winners Showcase Library Programming

Chris Watkins | March 04, 2009

This award, given annually for the best in library public relations, increasingly demonstrates the powerful connection between good programming and good PR. Six winners were announced at ALA’s Midwinter Meeting in Denver; each library receives a $5,000 award from the H.W. Wilson Foundation and will also be honored at the 2009 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.

Gwinnett County (GA) Public Library was recognized for a brilliantly planned and implemented reading festival with more than 50 authors that attracted more than 4,500 people, collaborating with 46 community partners and garnering in-kind media sponsors totaling more than $67,000.

St. Paul Public Library was honored for “St. Paul-itics,” partnering with diverse political, arts and religious organizations to present 40 programs targeting all age groups, featuring national political experts as well as local celebrities.

And the Ypsilanti District Library held its second annual Ypsilanti Songwriting Festival, appealing to non-library users, teens and men ages 18–45.

See complete descriptions of all six winning projects.

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Chris Watkins is Chicago-based consultant specializing in nonprofit fundraising.

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