Dear DCLA Colleagues,

We are thrilled to announce that the national launch of ALA’s new multi-year public awareness campaign, Libraries Transform, will take place in Washington, D.C. on October 29, 2015. Libraries Transform showcases the power of libraries of all types to transform people’s lives, the communities in which they serve, as well as how libraries and the profession itself are evolving to meet these needs.

We are already working with the D.C. Public Library, the Smithsonian library and a number of other local libraries about special events on launch day, but we’re hoping that all DCLA libraries will join us in the launch. As part of the launch that day, teams will also be roving the streets of DC, passing out free coffee, swag and spreading the word about the transformational role of libraries.

To help you celebrate the launch in your library, we would be delighted to provide those participating in the launch with a free 3’x 5’ Libraries Transform banner that can raise curiosity and engage the public in learning about how your library is transforming your community - and your user’s lives. As part of the day’s events, we are asking you to display the banner on the exterior of your library, take photos and share via social media. Many more ways to get involved, ideas on how to make the campaign work for your library and information on the campaign “Because” statements can be found at: http://www.librariestransform.org/toolkit/.

If you would like to be part of the launch and receive a banner (or if you have a question), please contact Megan McFarlane at mmcfarlane@ala.org by October 9, 2015.

We hope that you will join us in this great opportunity to raise public awareness of libraries and all we do!

Julius C. Jefferson Jr., DCLA President

Sari Feldman, ALA President