The Traveling Book Campaign

One Book, One Community is a simple initiative with the potential to make a huge impact in the community. The initiative began as a way to create a shared experience. A way to develop a starting place for open discussion within the community without the usual barriers of culture, social and socioeconomic hierarchy. Somewhere along the way that message had become diluted, communicating One Book as a simple literacy program. One Book had the potential to accomplish so much more. The message that  the goal was to support literacy was too broad, and it was not connecting with the community as a whole; it was barely connecting with library staff. The Traveling Book Campaign was developed to clarify to staff and the public the purpose of One Book, One Community and elevate it as a powerful tool to start discussions throughout the community. 

With 400 traveling, trackable books and clever guerilla marketing tactics, the library made a splash in a very public way. The results of the Traveling Book Campaign? It has provided a new, impactful way to talk about the library and a foundation for strategic, measured growth in future years. 

Books were labeled with a message to read them, pass them on and join in the conversation.

To engage staff and show the importance of encouraging community, each person was given a copy. They were encourage to read and share the book in creative ways.

Creative distribution was key. Just before a community concert lit balloons containing branded books were left to be found in a community fountains.

A staff led advocacy team made waves at community festivals and farmers markets, having hundreds of conversations about the library.

As if overnight, books were found across Kitsap in fountains, hanging from trees and attached to monuments. The media quickly picked up on what the library was doing.

To launch the campaign, we reached out to our community and, with their help, created a commercial creating excitement while showcasing the diversity of the community.