DUBLIN, Ohio, 19 February 2020—OCLC is now accepting nominations for the OCLC Community Engagement Award, a recognition intended to highlight projects that help public libraries extend their reach, build strong partnerships and create programs that transform lives.

Submissions should highlight a current project or one completed within the past year that innovates, impacts and extends a library's reach by connecting with community members. Three libraries will be recognized with an award and each will receive $5,000 for their significant community engagement initiatives. OCLC is accepting nominations from public libraries in the Americas now through April 30, 2020.

"OCLC works closely with thousands of public libraries to help provide the technologies and programs they need to best serve their users," said Skip Prichard, OCLC President and CEO. "We are routinely impressed by the inventive approaches these libraries take to create new ways to engage with their communities. We hope that by highlighting best practices, these libraries can inspire others and spark ideas about how to amplify the amazing community engagement work they're already doing."

To participate, libraries must complete the OCLC Community Engagement Award submission form. Winners will be selected by a panel of OCLC member library leaders. Each winner will be contacted prior to a public announcement in June 2020.

Nominations are open to all public libraries in the Americas. Only one entry per public library system will be accepted, and awards must go to an institution, not an individual. Complete guidelines and a link to the submission form can be found at https://oc.lc/community-engagement-award.

About OCLC

OCLC is a nonprofit global library cooperative providing shared technology services, original research and community programs so that libraries can better fuel learning, research and innovation. Through OCLC, member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the most comprehensive global network of data about library collections and services. Libraries gain efficiencies through OCLC's WorldShare, a complete set of library management applications and services built on an open, cloud-based platform. It is through collaboration and sharing of the world's collected knowledge that libraries can help people find answers they need to solve problems. Together as OCLC, member libraries, staff and partners make breakthroughs possible.