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To: Library PR Specialists

RE: Seeking Contributions for new ALA Story Bank On getting your best stories publicized in the largest media

From: Joyce Kelly, Press Officer American Library Association

As the new press officer for the American Library Association's Public Information Office, I'd like to introduce myself and colleague Hildy Karp of Pro- Media Public Relations. Hildy and I would like to invite you to join an exciting publicity initiative that could put your library in the national spotlight.

As many of you may know, ALA's Public Information Office has been working with Pro-Media Public Relations, a social issue PR firmed based in New York city. You may recall seeing a profile of ALA past-President Betty Turock in the New York Times and a story about a teenage boy "sentenced" to visit the library three times a week in USA Today. Perhaps you saw library news features in Business Week, on ABC's "World News Tonight" or CBS Evening News.

Our office worked with Pro-Media to get those important stories placed and we are eager to get more national attention for libraries. Do you have a great story you got into your community paper or on the local news that you were sure belonged in a major daily or on network television? That's what we need for the ALA Story' Bank.

To get more national coverage for libraries and to get your library in the limelight, we need new stories to pitch to national media around National Library Week and throughout the year. As frontline story gatherers, we are looking to you to help us by submitting your top stories to us. Think how pleased your community would be with the results!

Below are some of the types of stories we hope you'll send our way:

• Creative ways you use new technology for kids or young adults
• Children or adults whose lives have been transformed because of information or training they got at your library
• Anyone who found a great job or started a business using the library's technology. Or someone who found a soul mate or cured an illness
• New and unusual services and/or projects
• Dynamic librarians and how they make a difference in the lives of children and adults Celebrity or famous politician who has worked in support of your library.
• Creative stories on how your library is changing to address ethnic needs, i.e., an excellent English-as-a-second-language program or a bookmobile that targets communities that would not otherwise be served.
• Dramatic changes in funding — a big increase or a drastic cut. Examples of creative fundraising and business partnerships.

Don't wait! We have media waiting to hear from us. Please fax or e-mail a brief description, news release or local media clip with contact numbers to: Joyce Kelly, ALA Story Bank. Fax: 312-944-8520. E-mail: jkelly8@ala.org.

Hildy and I are looking forward to working with you on this publicity initiative.

Editors Note: Joyce Kelly , a former reporter and freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and other publications, has joined ALA's Public Information Office (PIO) an press officer.