This bag has a story: Library Month at OPL
Ottawa Public Library, Ontario
Innovation Synopsis
The Ottawa Public Library celebrated Library Month 2017 with a special initiative in customer appreciation. Employees stationed at busy bus stations offered special book bags to thousands of city residents. These beautiful denim bags were made sustainably, fairly and locally by women at a nonprofit charitable organisation called EcoEquitable.
Challenge/Opportunity
OPL showed customer appreciation in a fresh way during Library Month 2017. Affirming the library’s value is key, and conversations with residents about their library experiences created shareable #LibraryMoments for social media engagement. In collaborating with city transit, we reached current and potential customers in an innovative way. Residents appreciated and valued our book bag for its message, “This bag has a story,” that linked to our 2017 celebration of storytelling in all its forms.
Key Elements of Innovation
Sourcing and procuring the bags was a key element, as we wanted to ensure that we were offering a quality item to our customers. Finding EcoEquitable in our own city and working with this nonprofit to create these bags was a rewarding experience and significantly added to the value of the bags. Delivering these bags across our extensive geographic service area was also critical to ensuring our appreciation and engagement was equal and representative.
Achieved Outcomes
Our conversations on social media between our customers and with library systems across the country throughout October included stories about customers receiving our beautiful denim book bags at branches and bus stops. People were delighted to receive an item that was made ethically and locally, and we quickly saw these bags appear all across the city. We hope to continue inspiring residents to support their library with more engagement and outreach during Library Month 2018!
