Public Relations Award

The Public Relations Award winners will be announced during the Awards Luncheon at the annual Mississippi Library Association convention held in October of each year.

Entries representing Mississippi libraries will be accepted in an organized format to be submitted electronically. The categories of entries are as follows:

• Best effort by an Academic Library to publicize library services or program around a single theme or event.
• Best year-round effort by an Academic Library to publicize library services in general.
• Best effort by a Public Library or Public Library System to publicize library services or programs around a single theme or event.
• Best year-round effort by a Public Library or Public Library System to publicize library services in general.
• Best effort by a School or Special Library to publicize library services or programs around a single theme or event
• Best year-round effort by a School or Special Library to publicize library services in general.
• Golden Book Award – Most outstanding volunteer effort by an individual or group deemed to have contributed most to library awareness in the past or present.
• Best newsletter submitted by library or library group. Please submit one newsletter edition that best represents the library’s best public relations activities.

Guidelines are as follows:

• All entries are required to have a project abstract, which is part of the submission form.
• MLA Awards Committee members will evaluate each entry based on the following criteria: 1 - Overall quality of design; 2 -Writing is concise and clear; 3 - Project successfully achieves in effort to promote and publicize library services and themes. 
• Awards will not be presented if no quality entries are received. 

Nominations

Click Here for the 2024 Nomination Form

Nominations should be submitted by September 1, 2024.

2024

Best Effort by an Academic Library to Publicize Library Services or Program Around a Single Theme or Event

Northwest Mississippi Community College, “Ranger Reading Road Trip”

Best Year-Round Effort by an Academic Library to Publicize Library Services in General

The University of Mississippi Libraries

Best Effort by a Public Library or Public Library System to Publicize Library Services or Program Around a Single Theme or Event

Harrison County Library System – Library of Things Collection Video

Best Year-Round Effort by a Public Library or Public Library System to Publicize Library Services in General

Lee-Itawamba Library System Rebranding Project

Best Effort by a School or Special Library to Publicize Library Services or Program Around a Single Theme or Event

Gunter Library, Gulf Coast Research Library, USM

Golden Book Award – Most Outstanding Volunteer effort by an Individual or Group

Friends of Lee County Library – “A Novel Affair” Fundraiser

Evon A. Ford Friends of the Library – Taylorsville, MS

Best Newsletter Submitted by a Library or Library Group

Hinds Community College - McLendon Library Newsletter

2023

Best Newsletter Submitted by a Library Group

Central Mississippi Regional Library System

Best Effort by an Individual Library to Publicize Library Services Around a Single Theme or Event

Magee Public Library

Best Year-Round Effort by an Individual Library to Publicize Library Services in General

First Regional Library System

Best Coordinated Effort by a Group of Libraries to Publicize Library Services Around a Single Theme or Event

First Regional Library System

2022

Best Newsletter Submitted by a Library Group

Mississippi State Law Library

Best Effort by an Individual Library to Publicize Library Services Around a Single Theme or Event

Northwest Mississippi Community College

Best Year-Round Effort by an Individual Library to Publicize Library Services in General

First Regional Library System

Best Year-Round Coordinated Effort by a Group of Libraries to Publicize Library Services in General

First Regional Library System

2020

Best Effort by an Individual Library to Publicize Library Services Around a Single Theme or Event

Waynesboro-Wayne County Library

Best Newsletter Submitted by a Library Group

Hinds Community College

Best Year-Round Effort by an Individual Library to Publicize Library Services in General

J.D. Boyd Library, Alcorn State University

2019

Best Newsletter Submitted by a Library Group

Gunter Library, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

 

Best Effort by an Individual Library to Publicize Library Services Around a Single Theme or Event

Ocean Springs Municipal Library, Jackson-George Regional Library System, The Smithsonian Waterways Exhibit

 

Best Coordinated Effort by a Group of Libraries to Publicize Library Services Around a Single Theme or Event

First Regional Library System, Summer Reading Challenge

 

Best Year-Round Effort by an Individual Library to Publicize Library Services in General

The Library of Hattiesburg, Petal, and Forrest County

 

Best Year-Round Coordinated Effort by a Group of Libraries to Publicize Library Services in General

First Regional Library System

2018

Best Newsletter Submitted by a Library Group

State Law Library of Mississippi

 

Best Effort by an Individual Library to Publicize Library Services Around a Single Theme or Event

Hancock County Library System

HCLS Comic Con

 

Best Year Round Coordinated Effort by a Group of Libraries to Publicize Library Services Around a Single Theme or Event

First Regional Library System

Winter Reading Challenge

 

Best Year Round Coordinated Effort by a Group of Libraries to Publicize Library Services in General

First Regional Library System

 

2017

Best Newsletter Submitted by a Library Group:

Bolivar County Library System; The University of Southern Mississippi Libraries

Best Effort by an Individual Library to Publicize Library Services Around a Single Theme or Event: 

Northwest Community College, R.C. Pugh Library, Promoting Books & Reading Across Campus

Best Year Round Coordinated Effort by a Group of Libraries to Publicize Library Services in General:

Jackson-George Regional Library System

Best Year Round Effort by an Individual Library to Publicize Library Services in General:

Bolivar County Library System

2016

Best Newsletter Submitted by a Library Group:

Mississippi Library Commission

Best Effort by an Individual Library to Publicize Library Services Around a Single Theme or Event: 

University of Southern Mississippi Libraries – Sarah Mangrum, Jennifer Brannock, and Dawn Smith - Promoting the Big Read & Edgar Allen Poe at the University of Southern Mississippi Libraries

Best Coordinated Effort of Several Libraries to Publicize Library Services Around a Single Theme or Event:

Mississippi Library Commission – Library Day at the Capitol and the Legislative Lawn Party

Best Year Round Effort by an Individual Library to Publicize Library Services in General:

Bolivar County Library System

Best Year Round Coordinated Effort by a Group of Libraries to Publicize Library Services in General:

First Regional Library System

2015

Best Newsletter:
Laurel-Jones County Library System

Best Effort by an Individual Library to Publicize Library Services Around a Single Theme or Event (2 awards):

University of Southern Mississippi Libraries, Jennifer Brannock  & Special Collections University of Southern Mississippi Libraries, Elena Azadbakht & Jennifer Brannock

Best Coordinated Effort of Several Libraries to Publicize Library Services Around a Single Theme or Event:
Hattiesburg Public Library & University of Southern Mississippi Libraries, Jennifer Brannock and Sean Farrel

Best Year-Round Effort by an Individual Library to Publicize Library Services in General:
Lafayette County & Oxford Public Library, Member of the First Regional Library System

Best Year Round Coordinated Effort by a Group of Libraries to Publicize Library Services in General:
First Regional Library System

2014

Best effort by an individual library to publicize library services around a single theme or event:

Lafayette County&Oxford Public Library

  

Best coordinated effort of several libraries to publicize library services around a single theme or event:

University of Southern Mississippi Special Collections and Pascagoula Public Library

This was a collaborative effort by Jennifer Brannock of USM, Special Collections Department and Jessica Herr of the Pascagoula Public Library

 

Best year-round effort by an individual library to publicize library services in general:

Lafayette County & Oxford Public Library, Seth Wilson and Blake Adams

 

Best year-round coordinated effort by a group of libraries to publicize library services in general:

First Regional Library

 

Golden Book Award:

Trustee, Jackson-George Regional Library System

2013

Best Newsletter:

Pass Christian Public Library

Best Effort by Several Libraries to Promote Library Services Around a Single Theme or Event:

First Regional Library

Best Year-Round Effort by an Individual Library to Publicize Library Services in General:

Lafayette County & Oxford Public Library

Best Effort by an Individual Library to Publicize Library Services Around a Single Theme or Event:

Special Collections, University of Southern Mississippi; Pass Christian Public Library; and Emily J. Pointer Library, Como

2012

Submission for Best coordinated effort of several libraries to publicize library services around a single theme or event:

First Regional Library

Best effort by an individual library to publicize library services around a single theme or event:

Emily Jones Pointer Public Library, Como, MS

2011

Best newsletter:

Mississippi Library Commission

2010

Best coordinated effort of several libraries to publicize library services around a single theme or event:

First Regional Library

Best effort by an individual library to publicize library services around a single theme or event:

Mississippi Library Commission

2009

Best effort by an individual library to publicize library services around a single theme or event:

Mississippi Library Commission

Best newsletter:

Mississippi State University Libraries

2008

Best effort by an individual library to publicize library services around a single theme or event:

Coldwater High School Library

Project - “The Many Faces of Our World” multicultural festival presented a school-wide integrated project that highlighted various subject areas resulting in increased teacher and classroom usage and a doubled library budget.

Best coordinated effort of several libraries to publicize library services around a single theme or event:
Central Mississippi Regional Library System

Project - Summer Reading Program scrapbook was created to show interested parties the range of programming available to the service area and the library’s level of commitment to the children.

Best newsletter:
University of Southern Mississippi Libraries

Project - The purpose of the newsletter is to increase library visibility and inform users of the services, resources, and programs available.

Special Recognition:
J. D. Williams Library, The University of Mississippi

Project - This unique project showcased the library’s services and special collections and the utilization of technology. It was presented during the 2008 Presidential Debate, a once in a lifetime event with national/international implications.

2007

Best effort by an individual library to publicize library services around a single theme or event:
Eudora Welty Library

Best coordinated effort of several libraries to publicize library services around a single theme or event:
First Regional Library System

Best year-round effort by an individual library to publicize library services in general:
Waynesboro-Wayne County Library

Best year-round coordinated effort by a group of libraries to publicize library services in general:
Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System

Best newsletter submitted by library group:
Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library

2006

Best effort by an individual library to publicize library services around a single theme or event:
(tie)
Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library
Eudora Welty Library

Best coordinated effort of several libraries to publicize library services around a single theme or event:
Central Mississippi Regional Library System

Best year-round effort by an individual library to publicize library services in general:
Natchez Adams Wilkinson Library System

Best year-round coordinated effort by a group of libraries to publicize library services in general:
Central Mississippi Regional Library System

Best newsletter:
Mississippi State University Libraries

Golden Book Award – Most outstanding volunteer effort contributing to library awareness:
Mississippi Library Commission
Friends of Mississippi Libraries, Inc.
Mississippi Library Association

Special Recognition:
Hancock County Library System