The award honours organizations that have implemented creative, results-oriented marketing projects or campaigns that promote the library and information services industry.
The top three winners were The University of British Columbia – Canada, for the “2018 UBC Library Digital Colouring Books Campaign” project in first position; Vantaa City Library in Finland in second place with their innovative App promotion and marketing strategy Taskukirjasto (translated as Pocket Library) and Sunshine Coast Libraries, Australia who came third with their 10 Seats, 10 Stories, 10 Parks Story Seats project.
A record number of applications were received this round: 116 submissions from 30 countries. These included 43 submissions from China, 23 from Russia, 3 from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Sweden and Zimbabwe, 2 from Columbia, Ecuador, India, Kazakhstan, Korea, and The Philippines and 1 from Bahrain, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Finland, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Spain, Uganda, US, and Zambia.
“Coming up in the Top ten in such a hotly contested competition is fulfilling, humbling and inspiring”, was the response by the New Zealand based project sponsor Driden Kunaka. “We gave it our best with the little resources we had, and being among the top 10 in the world proves that overall, our cause is worthy and worthy pursuing. Morale is high in the camp”, he added.
Buoyed by the album’s good showing in the competition, ZRSLT is planning to officially launch the album in Zimbabwe. “We are planning on taking it further than merely being announced winners and bring the sweet, inspiring and informative music to the people. We want the powerful message carried in the album to reach the people of Zimbabwe, and we hope there will be some take-aways” said an enthused Wadzanai Ndlovu who is coordinating the album plans in Zimbabwe.
We have some resource constraints though launching the album, and are appealing for support from well-wishers to make the launch a memorable event.
Consisting of 16 songs on CD and 21 on the electronic version, the musical album is a unique innovation by the ZRSLT to inspire learning, reading and use of libraries, but importantly, to drive a strong message to authorities on the need for libraries in people’s lives, especially in the lives of children of school going age.
Music is contributed by musicians based in Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe, namely Hamilton School (New Zealand) 2016 Room 20 Class, Gift Amuli, Sandra Ndebele, Ronald Nyandoro, Tonderai Ronald Machiwenyika, Elvis Muchenje, Denzel Mombeyarara, Lloyd Mukumba, Pastor Charles and Mrs. Olivia Charamba, Tariro ne Gitare, Jeys Marabini, Selmor Mtukudzi, Jesse O’brien and Grace Falls, Faith Kunaka, Jah Prayzah, Leonard Zhakata, Edith We Utonga, Geormal 2TSI and Bkay and Kazz.