How many libraries are there in the US?
122,566.
The American Library Association (ALA) estimates there are 122,566 libraries in the US: 9,214 public, 3,827 academic, 99,180 school libraries, 8,906 special libraries, 289 Armed Force libraries and 1,150 government libraries. The largest library in America is the Library of Congress, with over 32 million volumes, followed by Harvard University and Boston Public Library, both having over 15 million volumes.
With this many libraries in the United States, I would think there must be a variety of recognition events at local and national levels. Like any good award ceremony, I would expect there to be a variety of categories to compete and gain recognition in too.
So when I received a system-wide email today from one of my librarian colleagues indicating that she was on the Library Association’s 2011 Awards Committee, I wasn't surprised. She wanted to encourage everyone to check out the awards offered. I did, and noticed these were the award categories:
- FLA Leader of the Year
- Librarian of the Year
- Library of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement
- Outstanding Citizen
- Friends, Foundations and Boards Outstanding Member
- Intellectual Freedom
- Library Web Site
- Maria Chavez-Hernandez "Libraries Change Peoples' Lives"
- Exemplary Learning Design
- Library Innovation Award
- Outstanding Business/Media Partner Award
Member Group Awards
Of course, I noticed there were no awards given for publicity and marketing of libraries--particularly in the visual realm. The closest thing that came to it was "Library Web Site," which also included the component of "creativity and/or innovation in overall design and appearance of the web site."
Now, I'm not surprised that there are no design awards related to library marketing. Really. I hadn't expected there would be. But I couldn't help to wonder again--as I have done from time-to-time: how many graphic designers work for libraries? Maybe I can track down someone in the ALA that can find out for me. What do you think the number might be? 50%? 25%? 10%? 2%? My curiosity is growing, so I'm going on the hunt to find out. Stay tuned!
UPDATE 12/10/10:
ReplyDeleteI sent an email to the librarian that is on the award committee, seeing if she could point me in a good direction to learn the answer to my question. She in turn sent my questions to the ALA directly. Here is their email exchange:
"Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2010 8:56 AM
To: ala@ala.org
Subject: Questions re: Graphic Designers
Dear ALA staff members,
Hi, could you please help me with these three questions regarding public libraries:
1. How many libraries nationwide employ in-house graphic designers?
2. And by extension: how many libraries employ outside design firms to do their graphics?
3. Or how many libraries utilize other staff members to produce visual communications/marketing items to promote library events and services?
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
I am a Library Assistant at the Alachua County Library District in Florida, and I am pursuing my MLIS at the University of South Florida. A co-worker asked me to look into this matter of graphic design services, and I would appreciate any leads.
I looked at some links regarding statistics, but didn't see anything specific regarding the above questions. Any leads would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again for your time!
Sincerely,
Pat C.
And the ALA's reply:
"Subject: RE: Questions re: Graphic Designers
Hello,
There is no survey I know of that reports this information.
If you or another member of the staff is subscribed to PRTalk (see http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/pio/electronicdiscussion/electronicdiscussion.cfm) you might ask the readers of that discussion list, but you will not have responses from other than a small subset of libraries.
My guess is that libraries get design work in whatever way is best for them…and their budget, utilizing in-house talent for some things and using a design firm for other things.
Karen M., MLS
Librarian and Knowledge Management Specialist
American Library Association
Toll free: 1-800-545-2433 x 5031
Direct: 312-280-5031"
Well, um...my guess too, of course.
I sent Pat my thanks for assisting me with this and indicated my next step toward securing any potential information:
ReplyDelete"Hi Pat,
Thanks so much for forwarding my questions to the ALA. I had already anticipated the answer (“my guess is…”). The need for library graphic services is as diverse as the libraries themselves, so it’s only natural to predict that delivery of marketing communications runs the gamut based on ability and need from one library to the next. I wonder if the ALA would ever be interested to do a survey on it (or any reference librarian). I might approach Leonard Kniffel of the American Libraries magazine to see if they might be interested to consider a piece on library visual marketing communications.
Thanks again for your help, and I’ll look forward to meeting you at one of the future staff meetings! =)
Cheers,
Scot"
Oddly, later in the day I found myself needing to send an email to the Florida Library Association (FLA www.flalib.org) to ask for a high-resolution FLA logo to use in our marketing materials. The Executive Director responded promptly with a variety of logos for our use. I sent her a thank you reply, and while doing so, I decided why not strike while the iron is hot and ask her about the graphic design question du jour? Thus, the following email:
ReplyDelete“Thank you very much; these will be very helpful.
While I have you on the topic of design, do you know of any information generated by the FLA, ALA, or other library organizations/news media related to library use of graphic design services (ie a head-count of in-house design staff vs outside design firm use, number of designers working within/for libraries, a survey or poll of libraries to determine how they go about producing print &/or web design services, etc.)? I know library use of these services run the gamut based on need and finances, but I’ve not found any reportage on it whatsoever.
The American Library Association estimates there are 122,566 libraries in the US, yet virtually nothing I’ve seen reports on support staff services regarding the promotion of library programs and services. Web designers and building architects get a sliver more attention with a couple of award contest categories, but nothing about graphic designers that I’ve been able to find--short of a brief NYTimes article, way back some years ago, about one library using the high-profile NYC design firm Pentagram for developing a system of murals. If you have any ideas or leads, I’d be most interested to follow the trail to enlightenment.
Thank you, and best regards,
Scot Sterling”
Faye was quick to reply with a thoughtful response, much to my delight.
ReplyDeleteFrom: Faye R.
Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 4:38 PM
To: Scot Sterling
Cc: mariagfla@gmail.com
Subject: Query regarding design services in libraries
Scot,
I think you’ve identified an unplowed field. Not to mix metaphors, but this seems like it would be difficult to get your arms around the issue from the library side, although one possible approach might be through the ALA Graphics people. A different approach - and maybe a better one – might be from the graphic design side. If you can connect with professional associations of graphic designers, they might have some leads. Given how little information you’ve found, I’d start on the national level rather than the state level.
Keep good notes – this might make an interesting article for Florida Libraries, accompanied of course by some cool graphics. Speaking of which, try contacting the new editor of Florida Libraries, Maria G., email mariagfla@gmail.com who is herself a graphic designer with Broward County Library. I’m copying this to her.
Best,
F.
Faye R., Executive Director
Florida Library Association
www.flalib.org"
And so I thanked her again for her insight and good suggestions:
“Thank you very much, Faye. Great ideas. I was holding off approaching Leonard Kniffel, editor and publisher of American Libraries, and later, the AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Designers), until I exhausted all the library association leads.
Much appreciated!
Scot”
And so with that, I contacted Maria with my quest:
ReplyDeleteHello Maria,
Faye R. of the Florida Library Association has referred me to you while on my quest to unearth any information that may be available related to graphic design services specifically for libraries.
Specifically, I have been interested to get a comprehensive and comparative sense of how libraries go about promoting their programs, services and general aesthetic nature to the public. I’m interested to see how many, out of the estimated 122,566 libraries in the US use in-house graphic design support staff or other in-house staff to produce their promotional material, and, how many use outside design services—independent design firms or organizations such as the Collaborative Summer Library Program that produces extensive visual programs for libraries.
So far as I know, web design gets a scant amount of attention and recognition; architects of libraries even get some notice. But print designers seem to be overlooked entirely. I was wondering if you may have any information from your experience as a designer for a library. Perhaps we need to start a little club just for ourselves to share ideas, insights, inspirations and resources!
Advance thanks for your consideration on this topic.
Cheers,
Scot"
Maria replied after I sent her my email twice. Here's here response:
ReplyDeleteHi Scot,
I asked all of the marketing contacts I have in local libraries about this. Most replied that since their budgets have been drastically cut, they simply do the best they can with Web design.
I asked if they would be interested in a wiki or some other form to communicate about Web design, but no one responded to that.
I wonder if anyone is going to present a program at the FLA conference about Web design. That could be really interesting!
If I hear anything else, I will let you know right away.
All my best,
Maria
[my note: no mention of print design...only web design!]
I wrote back and thanked Maria for her thoughtful efforts and reply:
Thank you very much, Maria, for your efforts reaching out to other marketing contacts. In regards to budgets and web design, it’s always good to know what are the current trends we face as designers working in the library environment.
An FLA conference workshop on library design communications via web or other means would be interesting to have, considering it is one of the few remaining tools used by libraries to bring attention to their community offerings.
I imagine for designers, however, we’ll continue to find our design-driven needs best handled through design organizations like the AIGA (although it is almost certain most libraries wouldn’t invest in paying a for a workshop or professional membership for their staff and we’d have to pick up the tab on our own).
Thanks again for your reply. If I hear of any significant design news within the library circles, I’ll keep you posted as well.
Cheers,
Scot
Thanks O Staff, good to get your comment! I understand your sentiments 100%!
ReplyDeleteFrom what I'm coming to appreciate, I believe I'm in a very unique position among libraries. I'm not a librarian who has to work on the side as a designer. Rather, I'm designer who focuses full-time on print promotional marketing. And with 11 libraries to serve, I'm kept quite busy.
We are fortunate to have another library staff member who is dedicated full-time to handle the library website content and coordinate with an outside agency that provides the back-end development and support. Its a Drupal and Dreamweaver world over there, for which I'm oblivious to from where I sit.
If I had to do both print and web work together, the flow would grind to a complete halt as fast as an L.A. freeway with a major pile-up on it. So I wish you the best. Hang in there, do the best work you can, and drop by Library Graphic Design anytime to share!