Information for Participating Libraries

This section contains information to assist libraries with management of their Building Common Ground: Discussions of Community, Civility and Compassion program series. Below you will find sections on:

Information Sharing

Project Discussion List

Project directors are members of an online discussion list. As a member of the discussion list, you will automatically receive any message a member sends to the list. You may send a message to the entire group by sending an e-mail to: commonground@ala.org

You can review information about how to manage communication preferences (change e-mail address, set to digest, etc.) at: www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ppo/about/ppolist.cfm

The discussion list is a helpful way to:

  • Send program updates

  • Share ideas, resources, helpful tips

  • Ask Questions

  • Highlight useful links

  • Receive important updates from ALA Public Programs Office staff

Building Common Ground in Social Media

Building Common Ground participants are encouraged to use social media sites (YouTube, Flickr, Twitter, etc.) to share photos, recordings, text, and other content from public programs.

  • Building Common Ground on Twitter: hashtag #ala_bcg

  • Building Common Ground on Flickr: tag your photos #ala_bcg

  • Building Common Ground on YouTube: tag your videos #ala_bcg

Publicity and Marketing

Publicity Checklist

This checklist provides an overview of important publicity reminders.

  • If you haven’t already, announce your Building Common Ground series by alerting local media to the programming grant your library has just received!

  • To meet media and other deadlines, you will need to start promoting your programs at least six weeks to two months in advance. See the Promotion Guide below for helpful suggestions.

  • Use official project credit information on all publicity materials. Use sponsor and funder logos on materials wherever possible.

  • Stress sponsorship and funding credits in press releases, press events, and all public programs. Here’s an example of a sponsorship statement: Building Common Ground programs at (x) library are made possible by support from the Fetzer Institute and the American Library Association. Additional support has been provided by (local sponsors).

  • Save two copies of all printed press coverage and submit them to the ALA with your final report. The final report (see “Logistics”) must be received by the ALA within 60 days after your last public program or by January 30, 2013, whichever comes first.

Promotion

Download Promotion Guide (PDF, 181kB)

Marketing Materials

Here you can download various materials to help promote your Building Common Ground programs.You will find logos to use on publicity materials, whenever possible.

PR Generator

To assist you in customizing a flyer, postcard, or bookmark to promote your programs, check out the Programming Librarian PR Generator. Visit the ALA Public Programs Office resource site, www.programminglibrarian.org and click on “PR Generator” (located in the right-hand column, under “Programming Tools”). After you register with the site, you will be able to use a variety of templates to create promotional materials for your programs.

Sponsor and Funder Credit Guidelines

Please use the following credit information on printed and online materials you produce to promote the Building Common Ground series. Also see Guidelines for Sponsor Acknowledgement below. Libraries that do not use sponsor credits or logos as instructed may not be selected for future ALA Public Programs projects.

Building Common Ground: Discussions of Community, Civility and Compassion has been made possible through a grant from the American Library Association and the Fetzer Institute.

Guidelines for Sponsor Acknowledgements

When in doubt, ask the ALA Public Programs Office.

  • Use the official credit text: The official credit text: Building Common Ground: Discussions of Community, Civility and Compassion has been made possible through a grant from the American Library Association and the Fetzer Institute. should appear on all printed and online materials related to programs, including press releases, brochures, publications, invitations, program flyers, advertisements, press kits, announcements, websites, and posters. On all materials, it should appear in a type size that is readable and appropriate to the overall design. Include logos if space permits.

  • Use logos: Please use logos for the Fetzer Institute and the American Library Association on materials whenever possible, especially on smaller PR pieces where the credit line does not fit. Logos may be found on the marketing materials page.

  • Stress project credits to media: In speaking to or sending press releases to newspaper reporters, radio and TV interviewers, and other media personnel, please stress that full sponsorship and funding credit should be included in all articles and features. Some libraries include a line set off at the beginning of press releases saying “Editor: Please do not edit out sponsorship credits in paragraph __.”

  • Acknowledge project credits at press events and public programs: The sponsorship of the Fetzer Institute and the American Library Association should be acknowledged orally at the beginning and end of press conferences, public programs, and other public events connected with the exhibition, and at the beginning and end of radio or television interviews. Use the official project credit as a guide.

  • Include local sponsor and partner credits: Local sponsor credit must follow the official project credit line and be in a type size no larger than that credit. The exception is materials or programs entirely supported by another funding source. In those cases, it is still necessary for the credit line or logos to appear, but the additional sponsor’s credit may appear first and in a larger size.

  • Include publicity samples with final report to ALA: Two copies of all printed press coverage and PR materials must be submitted with the library’s final report to ALA. Printed screen shots or pdfs of web based promotion may be included. Only one copy of CDs and DVDs are required.

Evaluation

The following evaluations have been created for library use as suggested templates for program evaluation. Participating Building Common Ground libraries are free to adapt and edit these forms for consistency with existing library evaluation tools. All participating libraries are encouraged to collect evaluation and other feedback from participating audiences, presenters, and community partners.

Download Sample Participant Evaluation Form (PDF, 98kB)

Download Sample Speaker Evaluation Form (PDF, 90kB)

Download Sample Partner Evaluation Form (PDF, 90kB)

Project Support

Questions?

Contact ALA Public Programs Office project staff with any questions:

Mary Davis Fournier, Project Director
mfournier@ala.org
800-545-2433, ext 5056

Amanda Rychener, Program Coordinator
arychener@ala.org
800-545-2433, ext 5287

Angela Thullen Baker, Communications and Media
athullen@ala.org
800-545-2433, ext 5286