Public Information Office
Mission
The Public Information Offices manages the public awareness efforts of the Association through the Campaign for America's Libraries, delivering key messages to external audiences about the value of libraries and librarians. PIO also communicates ALA's key messages through media relations and crisis communications, and offers public relations counsel and editorial services. Tools are also developed and shared with librarians to help advance ALA’s 2010 Key Action Areas. Works with Public Awareness Committee.
Initiatives
The Campaign for America's Libraries
The Carnegie/New York Times "I Love my Librarian" Award
The American Dream Starts @ your library
Scholastic/National Library Week Grant
Step Up to the Plate @ your library
Oversight Groups
Activities of the Public Information Office are overseen by the ALA Public Awareness Committee and its three subcommittees - the Campaign for America's Libraries Subcommittee, the PR Forum Subcommittee and the National Library Week Subcommittee. These groups meet twice a year, during ALA's Annual Conferences in June-July, and Midwinter Meetings, usually held in January.
The next meetings will occur during the 2009 Midwinter Meeting in Denver (Jan. 24-28) and the 2009 Annual Conference in Chicago (July 9-15). Exact dates, times and locations will be posted as they become available.
The charges of these groups are as follows:
Public Awareness Committee
To develop programs that promotes libraries and library issues nationwide. To assist ALA members in promoting their libraries at the local, state and national levels. To work closely with the ALA Public Information Office and ALA officers, committees and units in developing and coordinating promotional and marketing programs and tools for libraries, librarians and ALA, including National Library Week and other national campaigns focused on the continuing support of libraries.
Campaign for America's Libraries Subcommittee
To provide oversight on the strategic direction for the Campaign for America's Libraries. To develop educational opportunities for members to learn about the Campaign and effective public awareness-building techniques. To cultivate internal and external partnerships with ALA divisions and offices and with corporate, media and non-profit and government allies. To develop outreach efforts that target Hispanic/Latino communities and parents and children.
Public Relations Assembly
To provide a forum for the exchange of information about library public relations and marketing activities trhroughout the association and with other library groups and associations sharing an interest in library promotion. To promote cooperation and enhance the effectiveness of public relations activities throughout the association and to strenghen ALA's national public awareness efforts. Organizes the annual PR Forum.
National Library Week Subcommittee
To choose an annual theme for National Library Week and to select the winner of the Scholastic Library Publishing national Library Week Grant.
PIO Staff
Mark R. Gould
Director
(312) 280-5042
mgould@ala.org
Megan Humphrey
Manager
The Campaign for America’s Libraries
(312) 280-4020
mhumphrey@ala.org
Megan McFarlane
Coordinator
The Campaign for America’s Libraries
(312) 280-2148
mmcfarlane@ala.org
Macey Morales
Manager
PIO Media Relations
(312) 280-4393
mmorales@ala.org
Jennifer Petersen
Public Relations Coordinator
PIO Media Relations
(312) 280-5043
jpetersen@ala.org
Steve Zalusky
Manager of Communications
(312) 280-1546
szalusky@ala.org
John Amundsen
Administrative Assistant
(312) 280-5041
jamundsen@ala.org
Multicultural @ your library
Increasing Relevance, Relationships and Results:
Principles and Practices for Effective Multicultural Communication [pdf]
En tu biblioteca
@ your library - The Campaign for America's Libraries
Visibility @ your library
Thinkfinity
The Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award
