| Support Libraries | 
Libraries are innovative and dynamic spaces, but we need to think beyond our walls and reach patrons where they are. This is just one of the many ways we can do something impactful with very little overhead cost.
By Karen Thompson, branch manager of the Tifton-Tift County Public Library, Coastal Plain Regional Library System. Coastal Plain Regional Library System is a system of seven public libraries in the south central Georgia region serving Ben Hill, Berrien, Cook, Irwin, Tift and Turner Counties.
The Tifton-Tift County Public Library is excited to share Prize Patrol! This unique outreach/reward program was designed by the staff at the Tifton-Tift County Public Library to celebrate high achieving readers, while putting the library’s name out in the neighborhoods where families live, literally, with a yard sign celebrating a reader’s achievement.
I had been turning this idea over in my mind for a few years, and I knew the right community would respond well to this kind of outreach. Our participation numbers were down, the library needed a boost and a refresh in the community, and we wanted to make a big splash this year. The result was worth the risk. Here’s what we did.
Prize Patrol was developed as an opt-in option during the registration process of the summer reading program. Parents simply checked that they were interested, provided contact information, and agreed to have the library show up on their property to place a lawn sign. Photos of the winning children were only shared to social media with permission from families, and each child was presented with a backpack full of books, candy, and prize coupons to be spent in the library prize room.
The lawn sign said, “Congratulations top reader of the week!” on one side and displayed the library logo on the reverse side.
What we found is that after the first week, children were bringing us reading logs with 75 plus books per week. In some cases, there were competitions between neighbors, families, and friends. We were greeted with smiles when we arrived with signs.
Some families are still displaying their lawn signs in their neighborhoods! We also received strong community encouragement on social media. All of us consider this outreach to be successful, and we will likely duplicate it next year.
Libraries are innovative and dynamic spaces, but we need to think beyond our walls and reach patrons where they are. This is just one of the many ways we can do something impactful with very little overhead cost.
