The Arlington Public Library is excited to announce that we have been awarded the Branding Iron Award in the Special Events and Exhibits category for the marketing and branding associated with last year’s Centennial Celebration! The Branding Iron Awards are presented through the Texas Library Association and recognize creative marketing, public relations, and community outreach initiatives in Texas libraries.
Arlington Public Library turned 100 last March—a long way from the first Arlington library that was opened in 1923 in a downtown bank. The Library now has seven locations spread across the city and serves a population of almost 400,000. To celebrate the milestone, the Library developed graphics, signage, a limited-edition library card, programs, and a comprehensive marketing campaign.
Central to the campaign was the Centennial graphic image. Designed to unite old and new aesthetics, the Centennial graphic image encompassed vintage deco aesthetics while also embodying the City’s modern color schemes. Programs were designed to bring the whole community together to celebrate the memories and history of the American Dream City. From parties and galas to tiny art and storytimes, we had over 4,500 people attend our 32 programs. Additionally, more than 1,000 people registered for a Centennial reading challenge, contributing to 805,892 minutes and 18,261 books read!