Largo, Maryland – Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) received a 2023 Core PR Xchange Award for its “Hard Hat Librarian” series. PGCMLS Chief Operating Officer for Support Services Michael B. Gannon hosts the series, providing humorous, yet informative construction updates about library branches in the county. The annual PR Xchange Awards Competition recognizes public relations materials produced by libraries in the past year and is coordinated by Core, a division of the American Library Association (ALA).

PGCMLS won in the External Communications category for electronic products from library systems with annual budgets over $20 million. A 15-member jury made up of marketing professionals, graphic designers, librarians and visual artists judged the entries based on quality of content, format, design, creativity, and originality.

In the series’ most recent video, showing updates at the Surratts-Clinton Branch Library, Gannon starts his tour peeking out of the location’s book drop, before telling the camera that he doesn’t think he can get out again. “A little help here, please!” he cries. 

“These videos started out as a fun way to inform our customers about the progress of the Library’s various construction projects,” Gannon said. “Then the videos suddenly went viral and I started hearing from people from all over who had discovered them on YouTube. Once that happened, the challenge became for me to make them even more over the top.”

In all, the Core PR Xchange Committee judging the competition received more than 215 entries for print and electronic products from more than 100 institutions, giving awards to 27 print winners and 34 electronic winners. 

Watch the video of “Hard Hat Librarian: Surratts-Clinton Branch Library Renovation” and the video of “Hard Hat Librarian: Hyattsville Branch Library - It’s Done!”

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About the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System

The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) helps customers discover and define opportunities that shape their lives. The Library serves the 967,000+ residents of Prince George’s County, Maryland through 19 branch libraries, a 24/7 online library, and pop-up services throughout the community. PGCMLS is a responsive and trusted community-driven organization. Programs, services, and outreach activities serve book lovers, immigrants and refugees, job seekers, children, young professionals, seniors, and families alike. PGCMLS is the recipient of the 2021 Urban Libraries Council Top Innovator Award for Workforce and Economic Development. Learn more at pgcmls.info/about-us.

About Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures

Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures is the national association that advances the profession of librarians and information providers in central roles of leadership and management, collections and technical services, and technology. Our mission is to cultivate and amplify the collective expertise of library workers in core functions through community building, advocacy, and learning. Follow us on our Blog, Instagram, or on Twitter.