By Kristina Massari
In support of National Library Week, organizations partner to raise awareness of resources public libraries provide for entrepreneurs and start-ups
Gale, a part of Cengage Learning, is partnering with EveryLibrary, a national non-profit organization dedicated to non-partisan political action on behalf of libraries, for a media campaign to increase awareness of the role libraries play in community and economic development. The partnership demonstrates Gale’s advocacy on behalf of libraries and its support of National Library Week, observed this year from April 12-18.
“Libraries are the heart of communities and that is why advocacy has been a core part of Gale since it was founded over 60 years ago,” said Lisa Spicko, vice president of marketing at Gale. “Our innovative campaigns on behalf of libraries, such as our recent My Library Story community which pledged a national promotion for libraries, led to the establishment of this partnership that will highlight the unique benefits only libraries and librarians can offer.”
Gale and EveryLibrary will partner on a media campaign about the value libraries and librarians provide with a focus on engaging the entrepreneur and start-up business community. Business reference services and support are as pervasive in libraries as storytime, but few are aware of the resources at their fingertips. The campaign, which will run through January 2016, will focus on driving awareness of these services, as well as the library’s role in the discovery of information and as big data enterprises, while simultaneously promoting the social-leveling role that libraries play in society.
“Gale has an amazing commitment to supporting library advocacy that works,” said John Chrastka, founder and executive director of EveryLibrary. “We know from our campaigns how important it is to talk to voters about the relevance of libraries and librarians to business development – both locally and nationally. This support from Gale will help us communicate effectively about business reference not only to local starters and entrepreneurs, but also across the country to the incubators, accelerators, and venture funds that power the next generation of business development in this country.”
About EveryLibrary
EveryLibrary is a politically active organization that is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations, and unions nationwide who believe that libraries matter in our society. You can learn more about EveryLibrary and its work building voter support for libraries at www.everylibrary.org.Nike React Element 87