Library District launches new ‘Free to Be’ Public Education Campaign!

This is an exciting time of change and transformation for libraries, and the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District is leading the way in telling this story with a new public education campaign. “We are launching a unique campaign, titled “Free to Be,” which is designed to share the library’s wonderful world of discovery, both in our buildings and digitally,” said Kelvin Watson, executive director of the Library District. The campaign was designed in both English and Spanish. 

“For children and young people who currently use our ever-evolving spaces and digital services, the word ‘library’ already means something fundamentally different than it did just a generation ago,” Watson said. “Beyond books, which will always be part of our mission, libraries have become centers for technology, hands-on learning, after-school tutoring, job training, economic empowerment, arts and cultural performances, and community-gathering spaces for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. This is the message we intend to send with our new campaign.” 

Free To Be Concept 

The Library District tagline, Free To Be, was inspired by hundreds of conversations with library staff conducted by the library’s branding and marketing department over a two-year period. The “Free To Be” concept was also sparked by Library of Congress Carla Hayden in a New York Times interview. She spoke about librarians as purveyors of free speech and quoted Frederick Douglas, who said, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” 

The “Free To Be” campaign spotlights seven words, which highlight the kinds of experiences that benefit children, teens, and adults at the Library District’s 25 branches. The words that illuminate these “Free To Be” experiences are: Curious, Connected, Captivated, Inspired, Fearless, A Trailblazer, and Yourself. The Library District is also unveiling a new logo which features an abstract image of a joyful person, symbolizing the people that the library serves and the dedicated staff who assist them. 

For more information on the “Free To Be” campaign, visit https://thelibrarydistrict.org/free-to-be/