Last week, I was in Jacksonville, FL, leading a workshop with Florida public libraries on marketing to and working with schools and students. Spending the day sharing strategies — and talking about success stories — got me thinking about back-to-school season.
For the workshop, I highlighted several examples of library–school partnerships. These partnerships are the foundation of sustainable, high-impact outreach. They’re how libraries support students, teachers, and families in ways that go beyond a single season — embedding library services into everyday school life. We discussed initiatives like:
- Hartford Public Library’s Boundless program, which gives every student a library card and places library staff right inside school media centers.
- Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s ONE Access, which connects every public school student to digital resources, homework help, and up to 10 checkouts — no activation needed.
- Nashville’s Limitless Libraries, where student IDs double as library cards and resources are delivered straight to schools.
These partnerships don’t just improve access — they change lives by removing barriers, supporting literacy, and building a lifelong connection between students and their library.
But beyond partnerships, back-to-school season is also a great time to have some fun with creative marketing campaigns that build visibility and energy around the library. Here are a some great examples I’ve seen recently:
Davenport Public Library (IA) – Mometrix eLibrary
Earlier this month, Davenport Public Library highlighted e-resources for students, raising awareness of the fact that students can access digital study guides, flashcards, and practice tests for over 1,500 standardized exams—just in time for back to school.
Nashua Public Library (NH) – “Back to School” Community Event
The library hosted a “Nashua Goes Back to School” event at the library plaza, drawing families, students, and educators. Attendees met school staff, received school supplies, and engaged with local services—creating a festive and supportive kickoff to the school year.
Kaukauna Public Library (WI) – School Supply Drive + Prize Draw
The library ran an annual school supply drive, helping students start the year strong. Families picked up needed items and students had the chance to enter a bike giveaway in partnership with local police. “Our goal… is to get them a really good start,” said Library Director Ashley Thiem-Menning.
I also found lots of fun examples in this SLJ article from 2017: https://www.slj.com/story/33-winning-back-to-school-ideas
Why Back-to-School Marketing Matters
For libraries, this season is an opportunity to:
- Build awareness of resources for homework help, digital access, and enrichment.
- Reach new families who are in “fresh start” mode for the school year.
- Reinforce partnerships with teachers and schools.
- Position the library as a trusted, go-to partner in education and community connection.
And while the most sustainable impact always comes from partnerships, creative campaigns add energy, visibility, and — importantly — fun to the mix.
What’s your favorite example of a back-to-school library promotion? Have you seen something new this year? I’d love to hear your ideas in our Facebook Group!
Cordelia Anderson Consulting 