My Library, My Story Awareness Campaign
Spokane Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
Have you ever had a moment in a library that changed your life? At Spokane Public Library, we believe in the power of these transformative moments and created a campaign to celebrate them. From March through May, we invited our community to share how the library has shaped their lives, capturing powerful stories in videos, blog posts, and social media. Local coffee shops joined in with coffee sleeves, and businesses and influencers shared their own library stories, sparking conversations across the city. Each story reminds us that libraries are places of belonging, inspiration, and change.
Challenge/Opportunity
Right now, libraries across the country are facing challenges in providing access to books and essential services. Yet libraries have always been more than shelves of books—they are vibrant hubs of connection, learning, and belonging. This campaign gave us a chance to remind the world why libraries matter.
Too often, people assume libraries are outdated or only for borrowing books. Some may not feel the need to use library resources because they can afford other options, forgetting that libraries remain a vital safety net for many. With this campaign, we wanted to go deeper: to spark new connections, meet people where they already are, and show that libraries are here to stay—and they are for everyone.
Key Elements of Innovation
This campaign was designed to showcase the transformative power of libraries by inviting the community to share personal library stories. Our goals were to highlight the library’s relevance, build civic pride, and spark new connections. We structured the campaign around multimedia storytelling—professional videos, blog submissions, social media features, and in-branch displays—supported by targeted digital advertising. Key partners included local influencers, businesses, six coffee shops with custom sleeves, and a video production company. What makes this innovative is how it positioned the library within the Spokane community by blending traditional library engagement with unique marketing strategies, creating a highly visible, citywide celebration of library impact.
Achieved Outcomes
- 38% increase in cardholders compared to the previous 90 days
- 19 organizations and influencers shared their library story on social media
- 66 story submissions on our blog from customers
- 35% average read rate on three targeted emails
- 203% increase in Facebook engagement; 102% increase on Instagram
- 4 earned media stories
- 665,366 total ad impressions (Spotify, Hulu/Disney+, social media, YouTube)
- 6 new coffee shop partnerships with custom sleeves
- 7 in-person displays
- 1,000 bookmarks distributed
- 126,400 campaign video views
This campaign not only expanded visibility but also created new partnerships, strengthened community ties, and inspired both customers and staff to share why libraries remain a critical part of our lives.
