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, training, and occasional funding 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

Join our library marketing and communications email list serv for Georgia library staff here: LIBMARKETING-L

Contact

Jump to a section

► About GPLS Communications and Marketing Team

► Marketing Toolkits for Libraries

► Library Happenings – e-clips

► Share Your Library Story

► Marketing Grants for Libraries

► Request Marketing Material

► Download Marketing Material

► Additional Communications Resources

► Subscribe to Library Newsletter

► Read the Latest Library News

► Press Releases

We are the Library Journal 2020 Marketer of the Year

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

Read our feature story in Library Journal.

Areas of Expertise

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

Web & Graphic Design
Media Relations
Social Media
Marketing
Writing and Editing
Photography/Videography

library journal 2020 marketers of the year

Photo by Michael A. Schwarz

Web/Graphic Design

Media Relations

Social Media

Marketing

Writing and Editing

Photography/Videography

Story Stroll Kits are Here

Story Strolls are a fun way to host outdoor programming for your patrons and engage your local community. This family activity combines literacy, exercise, and nature.

Learn more about Story Stroll Kits and request a kit today.

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.

Library happenings from around Georgia

Let GPLS know what’s happening at your library! You can share about new programs, services, promotions, and more.

We will share in our occasional e-clips that will be sent to the libmarketing listserv.

Submit your story

What’s Your Library Story

Tell us how your local library has impacted and made a difference in your life. Share your story and a photo, and we will send you a free READ magnet via your library!

Submit your story

Marketing grants for public libraries

Applications for the 2023 GPLS Marketing Grants will be accepted from Jan. 16-Feb. 10, 2023. On Jan. 16, the link to the online application will be added to this webpage, and the Library Marketing email list will be notified.

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.

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

Subscribe to our Library Marketing email list (or email the helpdesk) to be notified about the next application round.

Apply for a grant – Jan. 16-Feb. 10, 2023

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.

Request marketing material

Request a publication

Update Library News Subscription

Use this form to update the number of copies of Library News magazine mailed to your system’s headquarters to distribute to patrons, staff, board members, trustees, funders, and more.