Categories:
- 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:
- All entries are required to have a project abstract. Failure to submit abstract will render entry invalid. Online submissions require a written abstract to be submitted providing the appropriate links to entry and the information requested below.
- All parts of an entry must be clearly identified, and their role in the project must be stated.
- Public Relations Awards Criteria have been developed to aid in submission and judging. Please be sure to consult these criteria as entries are developed. Entries will be judged based on these criteria. Based on the Awards Criteria, a minimum score of 75 is required for consideration of award. See MLA Public Relations Awards Criteria (PDF)
- Awards will not be presented if the criteria and minimum score aren’t met.
Winners:
- 2025
- Best effort by a Public Library or Public Library System to publicize library services or program around a single theme or event: 75th Anniversary Event Promotion, First Regional Library
- Best effort by an Academic Library to publicize library services or program around a single theme or event: Research Ready Rangers Campaign, Northwest Mississippi Community College
- Best year-round effort by an Academic Library to publicize library services in general: Short-Form Video Social Media Series highlighting Library Services, Northwest Mississippi Community College
- Best effort by a School or Special Library to publicize library services or program around a single theme or event: Pinterest Marketing Growth Project, Mississippi Library Commission
- Golden Book Award – Most Outstanding Volunteer effort by an Individual or Group: University of Mississippi for their Roundabout Oxford Podcast
- 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 – Most outstanding volunteer effort contributing to library awareness: 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
- 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 and 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