Elizabeth Rigby- Madison Library Makeover

Strategic Org. & Public Relations

Who is the Madison Library District?

The Madison Library District provides a plethora of public library services, including access to digital and physical resources (books, streaming services, movies, audiobooks, databases), age-specific reading groups, a seasonal reading challenge, story times, workshops, community events, literacy support, and computer labs.

Project Summary:

My PR campaign seeks to increase community engagement, raise awareness of library services, and boost attendance during low-traffic, mid-day hours through a year-round strategy. The plan builds upon and improves the current Summer Reading Challenge as well as launches a new Winter Reading Challenge, each with themed activities, tiered prizes, and age-specific planning to include and engage everyone from babies to retirees.

To support this plan, the strategy includes daily social media posts, flyers, and partnerships with both local businesses and the Imagination Library. Campaign success will be measured through social media metrics, post-event surveys, and attendance data. Overall, this plan is crafted to improve participation, increase literacy engagement, and create a more active and connected library community.

Project Overview:

Key Issues: 

• Low patron awareness of library programs and resources
• Decreased library usage, particularly mid-day & mid-week
• Untapped potential in the school districts for literacy and reading programs 

Goals & Objectives

1. Increase reading program participation by 10% within the next fiscal year. 
   1. Achieved through improved prizes, increased promotion, and adding a Winter Reading Challenge (December – January). 
2. Increase in-person library usage during 8 am- 3 pm by 10% within 6 months. 
   1. Achieved through new age-specific events with extra targeting towards retirees, college students, and parents of young children. 
3. Increase awareness of library events by 10% over the next year. 
   1. Achieved through newsletters, blog posts, community partnerships, social media campaigns, and targeted events. 
4. Measurement: Achieved through post-surveys for success, awareness, and attendance metrics, as well as analysis of social media engagement analytics. 

Expected Outcomes: 

• Increased awareness and engagement with library programs and resources
• Greater attendance during low-traffic hours
• Participation improvement in the current and new seasonal reading challenges 
• Growth in literacy, particularly among children and youth.