Eight public and academic libraries have been named 2025 recipients of the prestigious John Cotton Dana (JCD) Awards, honoring standout achievements in strategic communications, public engagement, and marketing. Administered by the American Library Association’s Core Division and EBSCO Information Services, the JCD Awards include up to $10,000 in grants per library, funded by the H.W. Wilson Foundation, to celebrate campaigns that significantly elevate the visibility and impact of library services.
Among this year’s honorees:
• Gail Borden Public Library District (Elgin, Illinois) was recognized for Violins of Hope Chicago: Elgin Collaborative, a moving exhibition of historic instruments that promoted unity and cultural empathy through programming and partnerships.
• Hamilton East Public Library (Noblesville, Indiana) launched Show Your Library Card and Save during Library Card Sign-Up Month 2024, leveraging community partnerships and data insights to grow cardholder numbers and awareness of nontraditional services.
• Hartford Public Library (Connecticut) celebrated its 250th anniversary with a year-long campaign combining brand refreshes, community programming, and the reopening of its renovated Downtown Library, effectively reintroducing its evolving mission.
• Spring Lake District Library (Michigan) was honored for its SLDL Refresh Project, a multi-phase initiative that reimagined library spaces to meet changing community needs. The project was supported by an 18-month in-house marketing campaign.
• Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (Ohio) ran an All E, All Free campaign to raise awareness about its eMedia offerings, emphasizing ease, accessibility, and digital literacy.
• The Community Library (Ketchum, Idaho) created A Little Book of Big Stories, a statewide storytelling campaign celebrating libraries' role in building community trust and sharing values.
• Westmount Public Library (Quebec, Canada) launched a year-long anniversary celebration aligned with the city’s 150th and the library’s 125th anniversaries, inspired by former Chief Librarian Mary Saxe and built around inclusive engagement.
• Worcester Public Library (Massachusetts) introduced March Meowness, a playful and inclusive campaign that forgave overdue fees in exchange for cat photos—turning fee relief into a community bonding event.
The 2025 JCD Awards will be presented at ALA Annual 2025. For more details, visit the official JCD Awards page.
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