80th Anniversary Network Library Toolkit
Event Planning
An event or program is an effective means of drawing media attention to your library. Your program may include:
- Local and/or state elected officials
- Local celebrities
- Representatives from your organization
- Representatives from local and/or state organizations serving the blind and physically handicapped community
- Patrons who may discuss their personal experience with the program
- Narrators who may give a reading from a popular text
- Authors who may give a reading from one of their texts
The following materials are provided as a guide to how a program may be developed.
Run of Show [PDF: 62KB]
A guide for staging a press conference using the guide for the March 3 anniversary celebration in Washington, D.C.
80th Anniversary Event Program [PDF: 15KB]
The 80th Anniversary press conference program, as a comparison.
Celebrating 80 Years of Talking Books: The Next Chapter Starts with You flyer [PDF: 243KB]
The toolkit includes a PDF of the 8-1/2" x 11" 80th anniversary campaign flyer, which you may customize with your library name, print, and distribute to members of your community at any time. Feel free to hand it out at local events or daily as you interact with library patrons. A larger version of this poster is available in limited quantities (about five per library). Please contact Janice Wallace at jwallace@loc.gov if you are interested in receiving copies.
Press Kit Materials
The following materials were included in the NLS press kit and are provided to supplement your outreach to local media. Because these are official program materials, we ask that you do not edit them prior to distribution. You may, however, pull information from these documents to create separate materials.
80th Anniversary National Press Release [PDF: 107KB]
This press release discusses the national program anniversary and was distributed nationally prior to the March 3 anniversary date.
About Talking Books [PDF: 364KB]
This factsheet covers the basics of the program, including its current reach within the blind and physically handicapped community, book selections, etc.
History of Talking Books [PDF: 27KB]
This factsheet covers the full history of the program, including key dates and milestones.
Digital Talking-Book System [PDF: 79KB]
This factsheet covers the technological transformation of the talking-books program and systems over time.
Templates
These templates are ready to be customized for media outreach in your local area.
Local Press Release Template [DOC]
This press release template is ready to be customized by your organization and distributed to local media outlets around your planned anniversary celebration. Feel free to issue this release at any time during the anniversary year (the sooner the better) to promote the celebration on the local level.
Local Media Advisory Template [DOC]
This media advisory template is ready to be customized by your organization and distributed to local media outlets to promote your library’s anniversary event. The difference between a press release and media advisory is that a press release promotes a broader initiative underway at your organization (e.g., the 80th Anniversary Celebration), while the media advisory promotes a specific event and covers logistical details in the hopes that media will attend.
Downloadable Image Files
In addition, please feel free to use images from the following websites for your public education needs. These images are downloadable, printable files. To download an image file, select the image; after it opens in the window, you may save it in the file type your browser allows.
Digital Talking-Book Poster Series
http://www.loc.gov/nls/networkdocs/mediaservices/posters2010.html
This site features images of patrons using the digital talking-book player, an image of an adult reading braile, and one of the digital talking-book system in a home setting.
Digital Talking-Book System Images
http://www.loc.gov/nls/networkdocs/mediaservices/dtbmimages.html
This site features images of the digital talking-book players (advanced and basic), digital talking-book cartridges, and the cartridge containers.
Archival Images
Some librarians have requested photographs of older talking-book machines and books to show the evolution of talking-book technology. Images from the pages cited below may be useful for this purpose.
Poster Series Images 2004—2007
http://www.loc.gov/nls/networkdocs/mediaservices/posters/posterimage.html
Features images of patrons using cassette players and reading print/braille.
Historical Images
http://www.loc.gov/nls/networkdocs/historicalimages.html
Provides images that span the history of the talking-book and braille program.
Public Education Campaign Update: Best Practices from the Network
NLS updates and reports and from network libraries on their public education plans and activities. Updates will be posted as they are released.
Operations Alerts
- February 23, 2012: 12-11, Best Practices: Spreading the Word About NLS
- December 15, 2011: 11-89, Best Practices: Spreading the Word About NLS
- October 11, 2011: 11-76, Best Practices: Spreading the Word About NLS
- April 5, 2011: 11-26, Network best practices/80th anniversary campaign
- March 25, 2011: 11-20, Network best practices/80th anniversary campaign
- March 16, 2011: 11-16, Campaign update: Best Practices
- February 23, 2011: 11-09, Best practice: Kentucky press release
- January 20, 2011: 11-04, NLS press release for 80th anniversary
- January 10, 2011: 11-01, NLS 80th anniversary
Proclamations
- Minnesota[PDF: 558KB]
- North Carolina[DOC]
- Vermont[PDF: 39KB]
Now You’re Talking Radio Public Service Announcements
These public service announcements are being released all across the country.
- 60 Sec Spot [MP3, 1.1 MB]
- 30 Sec Spot [MP3, 598 KB]
- 15 Sec Spot [MP3, 299 KB]
Jane Caulton
Head, Publications and Media Section
(202) 707-9280
jcau@loc.gov