Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the 2019 theme of the Library’s annual all-ages Summer Reading Program, "Dare to Discover," featured books and activities with a space or science focus. The three-month initiative encourages both children and adults to read at least five books over the summer to earn a prize. Largely aimed at engaging youth while school is out, the program connects families to educational resources and opportunities; for adults, Summer Reading highlights the pleasure and reward of reading, whether for leisure or lifelong learning.
Working with internal staff from the Library's Readers Services team and the Youth and Family department, I help develop and refine the yearly theme for the campaign. I’m responsible for managing much of the yearly promotions for the initiative, which includes crafting a communications plan for campaign rollout and developing marketing strategies and tactics. I oversee production of marketing materials, including a suite of print and digital materials, and I write much of the content.
For the 2019 program, I designed a suite of original illustrations to fit the space theme that were used in the booklet, bookmarks, signage, and digital graphics. The images were also used for the prizes that readers earn after completing their five books.
The year's theme of space offered an opportunity to include a playful visual reference to the 1902 French short film A Trip to the Moon, directed by Georges Méliès, considered among the first cinematic adaptations of a work of science fiction (Jules Verne's 1865 novel From the Earth to the Moon). I adopted the iconic image of the rocket ship hitting the "Man in the Moon" in the eye, giving it a bookish twist. The illustration served as the primary visual mark for the Summer Reading campaign, used on a variety of materials.
The Summer Reading pint glass has become a popular incentive for adult participants. I introduced the idea of commemorative Library glassware prizes in 2015, and the tradition has become something Library patrons look forward to each year. Many who finish their five books and earn a pint glass enjoy touting their achievements on social media, which helps further promote the Summer Reading program and provides community engagement.
In addition to designing the materials and managing their production, I write the marketing copy and overview information for the promotional materials that is used in the booklets and online. Here's the synopsis for the 2019 Summer Reading Program.
The Library’s 2019 Summer Reading Program celebrates the spirit of discovery that half a century ago inspired humanity to do what once seemed only possible in stories: travel beyond Earth’s atmosphere and journey among the stars. As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, we invite readers to enjoy out- of-this-world books, events, and activities from the final frontier: your local library.
Our theme, Dare to Discover, is a nod to our collective spacefaring legacy and ambitions to explore the unknown, but it’s also an invitation – and a challenge – to use the Library and its resources to learn, grow, and endeavor to know more about our world and how it works. Science is the pursuit of knowledge with the goal of giving us greater understanding; libraries provide open access to knowledge so that everyone may pursue it. Discovery happens daily in libraries.
The Library has highlighted a universe of stories appropriate for all reading levels: Kids and teens will cover supernovas and super novels, rockets and robots, cosmic classics and futuristic fiction. Adult readers will go beyond the celestial shelves to explore books that tackle all things science fact and fiction.
Whether your destination is a galaxy far, far away or a better understanding of earthbound issues, your learning adventure launches at the Library. Dare to Discover what awaits.
