"If possible, be visible from passers-by entering the library, and audible with the music – people step in to see what’s going on."

~Liz Danforth
Pima County Library System
Tucson, AZ

Marketing and Publicity

Press Releases :: Posters :: Blogs :: Multimedia :: News & Articles

It is never enough just to hand out fliers or put up posters in the library. Send your press releases out to your traditional library venues, like newspapers, cable, and radio, but think outside the box too.

Use gamer networks hosted by publishers like Red Octane and Wizards of the Coast. Get online and advertise your events on Meetup.com, Eventful, or Craig's List.

Post your fliers in places gamers frequent, like hobby shops, bingo halls, pizza joints, and bowling alleys with arcades. Bring on community partners with crossover audiences, such as youth serving organizations, senior centers, groups and clubs. Don't forget to use archival footage of your events as PR for the next session! AADL's video website does this admirably.

Templates and samples follow.

National Gaming Day PR Toolkit
Press release, poster, postcards, PSAs.

Sample Videogame Program Survey
Ask your users what games they want to play at your videogame program. Modify for other types of games, or to reflect your own collection.

Blogs

AADL-GT, Ann Arbor District Library (MI) Big Read blog, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (NC) Gaming Zone Blog, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenberg County (NC)

• Senior Spaces Blog, Old Bridge Public Library
  Focuses on library services, including gaming, for older adults.

Press Releases

• Game Nite Press Release, Colby College (ME)
• Rock Band Tournament PR,Our Town, Nanuet/Pearl River Libraries (NY)
• Sample Press Release

Posters & Flyers

April Calendar (advertising gaming event), Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (NC) Carver's Bay Digital Film Festival Flyer, Carver's Bay Branch, Georgetown Public Library (SC) Cyber Night Poster, Reidland High School (KY) Game On! & Tutoring Brochure, Northwest School of the Arts/PLCMC (NC) Game Master's Guild Flyer, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (NC)

• Game Night Poster, Phoenix College Library
• Gaming Club Flyer, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (NC)
• Geocaching Poster, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (NC)
• Harry Potter Scene It Poster, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (NC)
• Kid's Gaming Poster, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (NC)
• Madden Tournament Flyer 1, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (NC)
• Madden Tournament Flyer 2, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (NC)
• Music Trivia Poster, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (NC)
• Rock Band Tournament Poster, Nanuet/Pearl River Libraries (NY)
• Summer Gaming Tournament Poster, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenberg County (NC)
• Guitar Hero Poster template
• Dance Dance Revolution sample press release

Articles and News Coverage

• Cyber Night Article, Reidland High School (KY)
• Computer game night at a liberal arts college library, Colby College (ME)
• "Movie Magic at the Library: Digital Arts." Carvers Bay Branch Library, Georgetown County Library (SC)
• Rockland Magazine PR, page one & page two, Nanuet/Pearl River Libraries (NY)

Websites

• Ace of Games Festival &Tournament, Kellogg-Hubbrd Library (VT)
• Game Maker Academy, Wilmette (IL)
• Library Gaming Initiative, University of Illinois Urbana-Campaign (IL)

Multimedia