Kitsap Regional Library Communications Team Wins American Library Association’s John Cotton Dana Award

Kitsap Regional Library’s 80-year anniversary campaign has won the American Library Association’s (ALA) most prestigious award for effective strategic library communication campaigns: the John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award. The team behind the campaign includes Director of Strategy and Communications Jeannie Allen, Marketing and Communications Manager Victoria Gingrey, Marketing and Communications Coordinator Ayanna Jones, Content Specialist Kaitlyn Nicholas, and Graphic Designer Terra Tapia.  

The winning campaign celebrated eight decades of serving as a vital resource for Kitsap County and featured a passport inviting community members explore all nine branches by delving into the Library’s legacy and history while collecting stamps from each branch, as well as a system-wide mug hunt for drinkware featuring nine signature 80-year illustrations, several community celebrations and events, a Library-themed beer developed with Silver City Brewery, and an in-depth exhibit at the Kitsap History Museum.  

Selected from over 90 submissions, this is the third time that Kitsap Regional Library has won the award, following prior wins in 2014 and 2018. Winning institutions are awarded a $10,000 grant. 

"This award is one of the highest honors we can receive as a Library, but it really belongs to our whole community,” said Jeannie Allen, Director of Strategy and Communications. “Our Communications Team created something simply magical, our staff across the Library helped us shape it, and our patrons brought it to life by showing up, again and again. And that's what this campaign was all about. Our libraries have always been built by the communities they serve. They are a testament to the ways we show up for one another. This award is a wonderful reminder of what's possible when we work and celebrate together." 

ALA issued a press release with this description of the winning entry: 

“An 80th anniversary celebration became a yearlong community engagement campaign featuring collectible library cards, interactive experiences, and countywide activities. “Again & Again, Kitsap Shows Up” attracted new donors, increased public participation, and helped build momentum for a library levy that passed with 62% voter support.” 

The yearlong anniversary campaign fostered a sense of community, driven by the communities Kitsap Regional Library serves. Developed entirely in-house by the five-person team, the campaign featured hand-drawn illustrations—unique to each of the Library’s nine locations and created through conversations and feedback from staff at those libraries—stamps, intensive historical and archival research, passport design, museum exhibits, event planning, and multi-format storytelling.  

Read more about the artists behind the 80-year celebration at KRL.org/Artists80Years and watch the team’s presentation to the Library’s Board of Trustees here.