The Saline County Library is one of 24 libraries in North America to win the 2022 digital PR Xchange Award.

Each of the 24 libraries were recognized at the 2022 PR Xchange event hosted at the American Library Association’s annual conference in Washington D.C. on June 26th. Marketing Coordinator, Jordan Reynolds, and Library Manager, Leigh Espey, were in attendance to receive the award.

“This is a huge honor,” said Library Director, Patty Hector. “Our Strategic Planning committee worked very hard on the contents of the plan, while our Marketing department put it together in a well-designed, easy-to-read format.”

The Saline County Library submitted their design for the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan, which was a culmination of the library’s vision for the next three years. The key goals for the plan are to improve the collection, space, programming and outreach, and inclusion and opportunity.

In 2021, the library formed a Strategic Planning Committee that included Espey, Library Manager; Patty Hector, Library Director; Rebecca Kidder, Branch Manager; Kari Lapp, Community Engagement Manager; Sarah Beth Lesko, former Youth Services Manager; Janine Miller, former Library Manager; Heather Phipps, HR Manager; Reynolds, Marketing Coordinator, and Julie Syler, Systems Administrator.

Together, the committee gathered input from the community through focus groups, surveys, and face-to-face interactions. The findings were then used to create goals. They also researched other plans in the community as well as other libraries to gather ideas for strategies. Once the committee compiled the plan, the Marketing Department, which consists of Lapp and Reynolds, formatted the plan into an easily-accessible and visually-pleasing booklet.

The Saline County Library would like to thank the following people for their contributions to the Strategic Planning process:

•             Jeff Arey, Saline County Judge
•             Shane Broadway, Saline County Economic Development Committee
•             Lacey Brooks, Everett Buick GMC
•             Jason Brown, Greater Bryant Chamber of Commerce
•             Tom Farmer, Benton Mayor
•             Lanny Fite, Arkansas House of Representatives
•             LaRhonda Fulcher, Adult Education Center
•             Kim Hammer, Arkansas Senator
•             Ryan Ingold, Crosspointe Church
•             Gary James, Benton Chamber of Commerce
•             Keith Keck, Saline County Quorom Court
•             Richard McGrew, Arkansas House of Representatives
•             Jamie Mullins, Paron Community Center
•             Dana Poindexter, City of Bryant
•             Allen Scott, Bryant Mayor
•             Mike Skelton, Benton School District
•             Truett Smith, City of Bryant
•             Michael Stewart, Saline Memorial
•             Karen Walters, Bryant School District

For the official press release, visit ALA’s website.