New Jersey State Library

A plan to preserve New Jersey’s rich cultural treasures held in museums, libraries and archives has come to fruition thanks to a Statewide Planning Grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through their “Connecting to Collections preservation initiative.

For the first time a consortium of New Jersey cultural institutions, including the New Jersey State Library, The Newark Museum, the Rutgers University Libraries, the New Jersey State Museum, and the New Jersey State Archives, have the opportunity to assess statewide preservation needs and to develop short and long-term plans to conserve New Jersey’s vast collection materials. Groups representing libraries, history museums and archives throughout the state, including the New Jersey Library Association are involved in the planning process.

For further information contact Michele Stricker, Consultant, Library Development Bureau at 609-278-2640 Ext. 164 or email mstricker@njstatelib.

FULL STORY

Voting ended on December 31 and over 17,000 votes were cast. We will be announcing the winners this month!

The State Library has been working with INFOLINK to sponsor a YouTube/Comic Contest. Young adults up to the age of 18 were able to submit a comic or video.

• The New Jersey State Library is partnering with New Jersey Library Association, Monmouth County Library and the Women’s National Book Association to promote National Reading Group Month. Two authors will be appearing at the Monmouth County Library to celebrate the event. The State Library has distributed letters to state librarians throughout the country encouraging them to lend their support next year.

• The New Jersey State Library was a sponsor at the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce Conference and Expo where we continued to gain new NJKI users and advocates. The NJKI marketing consultant presented a workshop.

• Our marketing director presented a workshop entitled, “Six steps to Outreach Success”. NJSL and the South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative sponsored the workshop, which was held at the Willingboro Public Library.

• The Marketing Dept. had three different articles published in their entirety in Interface, the newsletter of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA). The articles highlighted the broad array of the State Library’s work. One featured a Braille literacy arts event staged by LBH at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton Twp. while another focused on the Get a Library on Online program. A third article gave an overview of three NJSL marketing campaigns: Three Reasons, Super Librarian Comic Book and YouTube comic contest.

• New projects the department is working on include: developing a promotional campaign with NJLA for National Reading Group Month; compiling a mailing to libraries in September that will include materials on YouTube /Comic Drawing contest; designing and printing an LBH brochure, Deaf and Hard of Hearing brochure, SLIC brochure, SLIC rack card and the Strategic Plan overview; and conducting a workshop to help libraries create more effective outreach events.

• Media releases continue to be submitted on a regular basis and new templates for libraries have been posted to the web that libraries are encouraged to use to promote the services they offer through JerseyCat, JerseyClicks and Get A Library Card Online. The Downloadable Files page has been redesigned.

• NJSL presented a highly successful multimedia display in the Halls of the U.S. Congress highlighting innovative services LBH provides to the blind, visually impaired, deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. The State Library earned the opportunity to present its exhibit based on a winning proposal submitted to the American Library Association, which sponsored the event as part of its 2007 Annual Conference in Washington D.C  
   
• The unceasing work of the State Library is reflected in the fact that the marketing department issued 11 news releases reporting on important grants recently awarded to NJ libraries, new programs supported by the Library and promotions within the staff that resulted in positive articles published in local, state and national trade publications. Recent news items that have gained attention can be viewed at NJSL news page http://www.njstatelib.org/News/ 
   
• The Marketing Department continues its efforts as it follows through on two of its major campaigns. The campaign that asks “What Are Your Three Reasons” (why you love your library) has literally hit the road this past month with the placement of highway billboards, train station posters and bus placards. The Teen Video/ Comic contest reflecting the theme of “Why You Love Your” Library continues. The contest will continue to the end of the year. All librarians are asked to encourage their teen and “tween” customers to participate for a chance to win a free MP3 Video player.

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The State Library successfully launched the Super Librarian comic book The Virus on May 5, Free Comic Book Day, in conjunction with INFOLINK and Diamond Comics. Over 200 libraries participated along with comic book stores across the state with special events featured at the Elizabeth Public Library and the Cinnaminson Branch of the Burlington County Library. The introduction of the Super Librarian comic book created quite a buzz and garnered considerable media attention with full length articles about the comic book published in prominent New Jersey newspapers such as the Star Ledger and The Record as well as in national trade media including Library Hotline and the School Library Journal. The media attention continued after the kick-off when Fox 29 TV in Philadelphia aired an in depth report about the Super Librarian comic book on June 1st.

• The Njlibraires.org website has been updated to provide easy access for the public to know about our statewide venues. Included in the updates are links to the NJ Summer Reading, OneBookNJ, press releases on events at libraries from around the state. All the marketing campaigns can be accessed via ¬ njlibriares.org.

• The public can also access, photos and events from NJ libraries AND the three new statewide campaigns launched this May. Look for billboard and posters throughout New Jersey promoting:

• Super Librarian comic book

• YouTube and Comic drawing contest

• Tell us your three reasons.
Everyone’s encouraged to submit three reasons why they love their library on the YouTube site or from the njlibraires.org website. The latter doesn’t require any type of registration and may be easier for people to use since YouTube requires membership to leave a comment.

• Libraries have received posters and bookmarks. If they wish to order more, just email ndowd@njstatelib.org. Comic books continue to be distributed to those libraries which request copies, again, they can order from Nancy Dowd.