Tell your library’s best story

The communications and marketing team leads public awareness efforts for Georgia Public Library Service, delivering key messages to external audiences about the value of libraries in our communities.

We publish Library News and lead email marketing, social media, media relations, branding, photography and video services, and more. Staff also provide consulting services and training to help libraries strengthen their communications strategy.

We aim to be a strong resource to Georgia libraries, providing timely, useful, and compelling tools to increase their capacity and to demonstrate the need for and impact of public libraries.

We are the central communications and marketing source for the Georgia Public Library Service.

Contact:
Deborah Hakes
Marketing and Communications Director

Phone: 404-852-5547

Contact

We are the Library Journal 2020 Marketer of the Year

Photo by Michael A. Schwarz

Our efforts to empower Georgia’s public libraries led to our being named the 2020 Marketer of the Year by Library Journal.

Read about our work.

Areas of Expertise

Some of the areas we help and advise libraries on include:

Media Relations

Web/Graphic Design

Social Media

Marketing

Writing and Editing

Photography/Videography

Marketing Toolkits

These toolkits will help you promote GPLS and federally-funded initiatives at your library. You’ll find images, customizable graphics, suggested key messages for social media and links to additional resources from the American Library Association.

Marketing grants for public libraries

Georgia Public Library Service offers marketing grants to a limited number of the state’s public libraries, typically on an annual basis. Libraries complete a short application, and those selected partner with GPLS marketing staff to create a marketing campaign. In this way, libraries not only receive funding, they also develop marketing knowledge that lasts far beyond the grant itself. Applications for GPLS marketing grants were open from Jan. 11-Feb. 4, 2021.

Here’s what past grantees have said:

“The marketing grant support allowed us to establish connections and strengthen relationships with individuals, schools, organizations, and businesses in our community. The campaign enabled us to share information and also offered an opportunity that we could not have anticipated: in a time of crisis due to a public health emergency, our images and messaging let our neighbors know that the library is still here for them.” – Live Oak Public Libraries

“The GPLS marketing grant helped us demonstrate that a small marketing budget year round can have a substantial impact on our marketing reach as an organization. We used our grant to incentivize the sharing of patron impact stories. The number and quality of stories we received significantly increased compared to doing the same campaign without an incentive months before.” – Cherokee Regional Library

Request marketing material

Our publications highlight the many ways that Georgia public libraries strengthen their communities. Use the link below to request physical copies for your library.