2025 Annual Conference

National Library Card Sign-Up Month is more than just a promotional campaign, it is an opportunity to reinforce the library's role as a vital community anchor. This session will showcase how Orange County Public Library transformed this initiative by focusing on community engagement, deepening connections, and expanding our marketing and social media presence. As a result, we saw a significant increase in library card sign-ups, achieving the highest number of new cards for the year and surpassing previous years' totals.
Attendees will learn how our initiative:

1. Built Stronger Community Partnerships: We connected with over 10 local businesses, many of which were new collaborations, offering library cardholders exclusive discounts and free items, reinforcing the library's role as an economic and cultural hub.
2. Expanded Outreach to New Locations: We extended our reach to new locations, including the Orange County Sportsplex and Eno River Brewing, and established ongoing, monthly outreach efforts at these locations, leading to new partnerships and sustained engagement.
3. Boosted Patron Engagement Through Creative Marketing & Social Media:We offered new library card members a chance to win an Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, as well as for all patrons a chance to win a "Cozy Book Lovers Basket" via social media, driving both online and in-person interactions. Our strategic campaigns resulted in a 25.1% increase in Facebook content interactions, 94.4% growth in followers, and a 5% increase in reach. On Instagram, content interactions grew by 96.5%, and followers increased by 85.2%, with reach expanding by 252%.
4. Engaged Staff Across All Library Divisions: This initiative fostered internal collaboration across divisions, leading to themed programs like a library-themed storytime, a bookmark competition, and library tours, bringing the entire library together for a shared mission.

This session will provide practical strategies for libraries of all sizes to create high-impact, community-centered initiatives. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas to expand outreach, boost patron engagement, and position their library as an essential community anchor.

About Caroline Clucas
Caroline Clucas is the Outreach and Community Engagement Coordinator for the Orange County Public Library. Caroline graduated early from Appalachian State University in 2019 with a B.A. in English Literary Studies and History. While awaiting the start of her graduate program, she worked as a Children's Librarian Assistant in her hometown of Goldsboro, NC. What began as a temporary job quickly turned into a passion for libraries and community engagement.
Encouraged by her supervisor, Caroline decided to shift her path and pursue a M.S. in Library Science at UNC Chapel Hill. During graduate school, she returned to the same library where her journey began, serving as the Children's Department Head and fostering literacy through meaningful connections with families.

Now based in the Triangle, Caroline coordinates engaging adult programming, builds community relationships, expands the library's communications and social media presence, and broadens its reach through strategic outreach. Though she misses leading storytime, she finds joy in connecting the library with the community. Fun fact: During college, Caroline interned at Walt Disney World, where she created magic for guests, a skill she now channels into cultivating memorable experiences in her library work.