2023 IFLA PressReader International Marketing AwardSponsored by PressReader, the IFLA PressReader International Marketing Award is presented by the IFLA Section on Management and Marketing. In its 20th year, this award honors organizations that implement creative, results-oriented marketing projects or campaigns.

Through the long-standing sponsorship, PressReader recognizes the dedicated librarians and library staff around the world that create inspiring marketing campaigns to reach patrons. On a mission to empower and enrich curious minds by bringing a universe of quality content within reach, PressReader partners with IFLA to further connect communities of readers to quality content from around the world.

This year, winning libraries receive funds towards airfare, lodging and registration to attend the IFLA World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) in Rotterdam, The Netherlands in August 2023. The first place receives €3,000, the second place receives €2,000 and the third place receives €1,500. Additionally, the top 10 finalists receive an exclusive one-year VIP account to the PressReader catalog and the opportunity to present about their campaign at WLIC 2023.

Award winners

For 2023, the top winners are:

  1. Sistema de Bibliotecas Públicas de Medellín (Colombia): Around the World in 26 Libraries 🥇
  2. Brooklyn Public Library (United States): Books Unbanned 🥈
  3. Foshan Library (China): Ex-Book: Old Flame, New Joy 🥉

The top campaign by Sistema de Bibliotecas Públicas de Medellín embraces a global librarianship mission that promotes the inclusion of all people. It utilizes creative marketing via travelers’ passports, with a campaign that sparks a sense of community among them. All aspects of this superb campaign, from strategy to creativity to metrics, were universally lauded by the Jury.

Brooklyn Public Library is this year’s 2nd place winner, with a daring and bold campaign that centers on the erasure method and striking use of graphics. A timely, high-impact campaign with a small(ish) budget, that promotes global principles of freedom and democracy and features unique and catchy messaging.

The 3rd place winner, Foshan Library, focuses on a sustainability concept that promotes environmentalism, using the library to promote book sharing. The campaign features good use of evaluation metrics and a clever, catchy title (“ex” can be used to denote exchange as well as a relationship). It addresses the digital divide and social equity, utilizing technology to leverage home libraries – a good way to get more people to access books.

Headquartered at The Hague, Netherlands, IFLA (The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users. It is the global voice of the library and information profession, with more than 1,300 members in 140 countries worldwide.

“This year, the Jury received 91 submissions from around the world, up significantly from 53 in 2022. The campaigns were judged on strategy (research and planning); creativity and innovation; potential for generating visibility and support; and evaluation and objectives for effectiveness. The competition was strong with many dozens of inventive, thorough and ambitious campaigns, and the quality, diversity and creativity across the board were very high. We are deeply grateful to, impressed by and proud of the submitting libraries and sincerely commend all,” says Nick Boxem, Jury Chair of the IFLA PressReader International Marketing Award.

The Award Jury consists of library management and marketing experts Azenath Ateka (Kenya), Jeannie Bail (Canada), Nick Boxem (The Netherlands), Alberta Comer (United States), Nie Hua (China), Roxana Huaman Huriarte (Peru), Elena Stöhr (Germany) and Antoine Torrens-Montebello (France). All Jury members had equal say and voice in the deliberations.

As the world’s largest digital newspaper and magazine platform, PressReader helps IFLA to recognize and support creative, inspiring and results-oriented marketing campaigns.

“PressReader has had the privilege of witnessing the impressive impact that libraries have on their communities. The tireless efforts of libraries to connect readers with trusted sources of information and top-notch journalism are truly inspiring,” says James Fairbotham, PressReader’s Senior Global Sales Manager, Libraries & Institutions. “We are proud to support these libraries in their mission, and we recognize that our contribution plays a role in helping readers worldwide discover the power of quality journalism. We offer our congratulations to the winning libraries for their exceptional work in this area and look forward to continuing our collaboration in promoting the access to quality content for all.”

Along with the top three winners, the next seven organizations and their campaigns (in alphabetical order) are recognized for their strategic, innovative and successful approaches to library marketing:

Also, the Award Jury recognized five special mentions. Although these campaigns did not place in top 10, the Jury was very impressed and chose to highlight them as examples of great library marketing.

Media Inquiries

Jeremiah Walter, Information Coordinator: JWalter@ppld.org
IFLA Section on Management and Marketing

Eva Wu, Senior Manager, Public Relations: EvaW@pressreader.com
PressReader

About PressReader

PressReader is the largest all-you-can-read platform of newspapers and magazines where people can discover relevant and trusted content from anywhere in the world — publications such as The Guardian, Newsweek, La Razon, Der Tagesspiegel, Los Angeles Times, Daily Mail, L’Équipe and Libération.

Using their phone, tablet or computer, readers can browse content online or download entire issues using the PressReader app. They can subscribe for unlimited access, or get the full experience sponsored by one of its brand partners, like thousands of libraries around the world. Institutions that leverage the premium content platform to enhance their customers’ experience − such as well-known libraries like Yale, Los Angeles Public Library, MIT Libraries, Princeton University and the New York Public Library.