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Dana Award-Winning Television Program Celebrates 100th Episode

NEWS RELEASE
September 17, 2007

For further information contact:
Judy Hoffman, (847) 353-7137

 

The award-winning cable television show, What’s New in Libraries?, has reached a milestone of 100 continuous episodes beginning in 1999. The program is hosted by Sarah Long, executive director of the North Suburban Library System and past president of the American Library Association.

 

What’s New in Libraries? airs on Comcast cable in over 70 communities in the North Suburban Library System which is located in the northern suburbs of Chicago.  The total viewing area reaches nearly two million people. The half hour program is produced monthly and features three or four individual libraries in each episode.

 

“Our goal has been to educate librarians on how to work with the media as well as to educate the public about all that is taking place both in the library and online,” said Long. Our goals are being met. Comments from those we have interviewed regularly cite their appreciation for the increased exposure for their library, as well as the positive reception by library board and staff.”

 

What’s New in Libraries? won a 2002 John Cotton Dana Public Relations Award. The show has also been recognized with a Telly Award.  A visit to the website (www.whatsnewinlibraries.org) offers a sampling of the segments on the program along with a list of the communities where the show is broadcast.

 

“A value added aspect of our program is that we have been able to expand the use of our materials to help our libraries.  It is not always possible to use all of the valuable interviews in one television segment, so we are able to place content on YouTube, produce podcasts, and develop content for my weekly newspaper column.  This gives us an opportunity to make our libraries more visible while reaching our community in a multiple of ways,” said Long.

 

Over 200 library staff, board members, and supporters have been interviewed for What’s New in Libraries?  Uri Toch, reference librarian at the Schaumburg Township District Library recently spoke about libraries and Google on the program. He believes that the show helps raise respect for libraries and librarians. “We live in a media age with a heavy emphasis on the visual. This well-produced show gives librarians increased exposure as a current and relevant information resource.”

 

What’s New in Libraries? is the ultimate example of a productive library partnership. The program is produced in conjunction with the Library Production Studio (www.librarytv.org) and Comcast Cable. 

 

“Information is now being disseminated via many different venues, and we in libraries need to be on the cutting edge.  With What’s New in Libraries?, the North Suburban Library System has developed a strong and efficient model for assisting and supporting our member libraries to be on that edge,” concluded Long.

 

The North Suburban Library System ( www.nsls.info ) is an organization of 650 public, academic, school and special libraries in the north Chicago suburbs. Located in Wheeling, Illinois, it is one of nine multi-type library systems funded through the Illinois State Library.