PGCMLS at Work: Reopening Plan & Curbside Service
Prince George's County Memorial Library System, Md.
Innovation Synopsis
Prince George's County has the highest COVID-19 rate in Maryland and the library developed a Phased Reopening Plan that maximizes the gradual return of services with customer and staff safety at the forefront. The library developed an engaging and informative webpage (in English and Spanish) and marketing assets to demonstrate its value to the community.
Challenge/Opportunity
Like most public libraries across the country, PGCMLS had to develop a plan to fulfill the dual responsibilities of reinstating services impacted by COVID-19 and protecting all parties' health and safety. The library focused on ensuring bilingual access to information about reopening and curbside service, which was an entirely new service to PGCMLS. The digital and marketing collateral needed to be engaging, draw attention to the library's services and also communicate the values and stakeholders involved in the plan.
Key Elements of Innovation
PGCMLS' Phased Reopening Plan and Curbside Service promotional materials include a robust internal document, a public website (English and Spanish versions), a curbside booking portal at pgcmls.info/curbside, a social media and email marketing campaign, reopening artwork featuring the "Laurel Dinosaurs" (photo by Ella Alonso, design by Drew Clark) and curbside service videos created by Nestor Diaz and Ella Alonso. These assets were distributed through direct email, digital and print marketing and county communications.
Achieved Outcomes
This campaign successfully introduced and informed new library services and emergency operations procedures to customers in an engaging and clear manner. In the first two months of curbside service, 16 branches hosted over 13,000 curbside appointments. The campaign enabled the library to resume access to physical materials like wireless hotspots, Summer @ Your Library prizes, books, DVDs and essential Census informational materials. These deliverables represent many weeks of collaborative work by teams across PGCMLS.