Prince William Public Libraries Recognized with Seven Marketing Awards

Prince William Public Libraries’ creative marketing efforts have earned recognition from two renowned professional organizations – the American Library Association and the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.   

The American Library Association (ALA) honored Prince William Public Libraries (PWPL) with the PR Xchange Award, which recognizes the best public relations materials produced by libraries nationwide. PWPL was awarded a Gold Award in the Category “Born Digital – Materials Promoting Collections, Services, Resources” for its “MAGIC Minute” video series that showcases MAGIC, the Management and Government Information Center. A team of experts in public relations, graphic design, communications, and marketing evaluated the video series on content, originality, and design.

PWPL’s video marketing was also recognized by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), one of the world’s largest and oldest third-party evaluators of creative work. PWPL was awarded two Gold VIDDY Awards for “RELIC: Your Genealogy and Local History Questions Answered” and “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten at PWPL” videos. VIDDY Awards honors excellence in all aspects of video production, and it is one of the largest competitions in the history of film and video.

AMCP also recognized PWPL with its Hermes Creative Awards, which evaluates the creative industry’s best publications, branding collateral, websites, videos, advertising, marketing, and communication programs. PWPL was awarded four Hermes Creative Awards – a Platinum Award, the highest honor awarded, for its video, “How to Get a Prince William Public Libraries Card,” a Gold Award for “Prince William Public Libraries Annual Report FY2021,” and two Honorable Mentions for “2022 Explore Magazines” and “Prince William Public Libraries 70th Anniversary Staff Day Explore – Tribute to Employees Magazine.” PWPL was the only public library to receive a Platinum Award and a Gold Award for in-house created marketing products.

“I am proud of our marketing team. Without the help of external marketing firms, PWPL produces effective marketing strategies that are key in serving our communities. We constantly improve our buildings, enhance our services, adapt to changing environments, and respond to community needs. But unless we market these achievements and ensure our community is aware of them, their reach only goes so far,” says Deborah Wright, library director.

About Prince William Public Libraries

Prince William Public Libraries has 12 branches throughout Prince William County and the City of Manassas, providing free access to books, e-books, e-audio, print and digital magazines, Digital Library, and DVDs. PWPL also offers free educational and entertaining programs for all ages.

About American Library Association (ALA)

ALA provides leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all. ALA’s PR Xchange Awards Committee sponsors and oversees the PR Xchange Awards Competition. Entries are evaluated on content, originality, and design by a team of experts in public relations, graphic design, communications, and marketing, who select the winner(s) in each category.

About the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP)

Hermes Creative Awards and VIDDY Awards are administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP). The international organization consists of several thousand marketing, communication, advertising, public relations, media production, and freelance professionals. AMCP oversees awards and recognition programs, provides judges, and rewards outstanding achievement and service to the profession.