Sno-Isle Curates Community Conversations
Sno-Isle Libraries, a system that covers two counties in the state of Washington, has been organizing a series of civic discussions called Issues That Matter. Charles Pratt and Sonia Gustafson, who work on the project, explain how library staffers have been working together to poll community members about their concerns, to find panelists who can address the topics, to secure diverse locations, and, of course, to promote the events to draw large crowds. Organizers are using PLA’s Project Outcome model to measure their success.

Interviews With Marketing Masters

BPL’s Nicole Paterson Puts Strategy Before Tactics
By Judith Gibbons
In this interview, Nicole Paterson discusses her marketing communications background and how it led her to Burlington Public Library in Ontario. She realizes “There is no such thing as ‘marketing to all’” and that community analytics and segmentation are crucial. Paterson also shares, with IMM series author Judith Gibbons, how BPL has been strengthening relationships with local organizations and citizens.

Tech Tools and Hacks

Finding Quality Free Images
There are lots of stock-photo websites out there, but which ones are really free, trustworthy, and full of high-quality images that librarians would actually use? Get the answers from shutterbug and marketing expert Jennifer E. Burke. In this issue, she lists a dozen sites and what they offer, along with URLs. Don’t miss her photo tips at the end.

Learn about United for Libraries’ new executive director and an award the organization recently bestowed. Other news covers the winners of three annual honors: the PR Xchange Awards, the Excellence in Library Programming Award, and Library of the Year. See also the call for entries for ALA’s I Love My Librarian Award.