Materials are judged on the quality of content, originality, design, and format. Judges will consider criteria such as the creativity of the approach, audience appeal, presentation of information in a clear and informative way, attractive appearance, appropriateness of design/graphics/photos and uniqueness of format.

The panel of judges is made up of 10 in-person judges and ten 10 virtual judges, all of whom are volunteers. The panel represents a diverse group of experts in the areas of marketing, communications, public relations, and graphic design. They are not members of the PR Xchange Committee or the co-chairs of the Awards Competition.

Original materials (such as brochures, newsletters, posters, bookmarks) may be submitted in electronic formats. Please submit singular promotional items, not your library’s marketing campaign. Library Marketing Campaigns may contain many promotional items. The PR Xchange Awards is a contest that evaluates one singular promotional item.

If you have questions about whether a particular item can be submitted to the competition, please email us at questions@prxchange-awards.org.

The categories are:

• External Communications (newsletters, calendars, patron orientation materials, email marketing);
• Advocacy / Fundraising / Annual Reports /Strategic Plans;
• Special Events and Exhibits;
• Reading Programs (Summer, or any season);
• Materials promoting collections, services, or resources (booklists, bibliographies, signs, postcards, flyers, swag).

We accept both print and electronic (born-digital) submissions. For materials that are born digital, please submit your materials as PDF or JPG. For printed promotional materials, please scan and send as a digital file.

If you have promotional materials that do not fit into the categories, please contact the co-chairs to determine suitability for the PR Xchange Awards.

Please limit your submissions to no more than 5 proposals per library.

The PR Xchange Awards do not accept library websites as submissions. Although they are an important part of your marketing efforts, they are excluded from the competition.

However, the following web-based examples are accepted:

• An orientation video that resides on the Library website.
• A virtual exhibit on the Library website.

Winners in each category will be selected in the following library operating budget (not promotional campaign budget) divisions.

There are 5 library operating budget categories:

1. Under $1 million
2. $1 - $5 million
3. $5- $10 million
4. $10 - $15 million
5. $15,000,000+

Entries for the PR Xchange Competition must be submitted no later than March15 each year.

Electronic submissions are the only type of material we accept.

Please upload a file (or include the URL) at the end of the online application process.

Please limit your proposals to a total of 5 entries per library. Please submit single promotional items, not your library’s marketing campaign. Library campaigns may contain many promotional items. However, the PR Xchange Awards Competition is a contest that evaluates one singular promotional item.

Winners are notified in early May. They will be asked to submit 50-75 copies of each winning entry for display and distribution during the PR Xchange event at that year's 91��ý Annual Conference.

The notification will include the address to which the copies should be sent and directions for preparing the mailings. Winners will also have their winning materials displayed and they will be invited to present their work at the PR Xchange event.

Winners will also receive their award certificates at the PR Xchange Awards ceremony held during the 91��ý Annual Conference. We encourage winners (or another library representative) to attend this event to accept their award.

The PR Xchange Event is traditionally held on Sunday from 11:00am -1:00pm at the 91��ý Annual Conference. The PR Xchange Awards ceremony is on Sunday afternoon from 1:00 - 2:00pm in the same space. Please check to confirm the day, time, and location for this year's events.

The co-chairs will be checking email at the conference so that they can also help you. Email us at questions@prxchange-awards.org, and we will be able to reply right away.

If your promotional materials are in print, please mail extra copies of your library’s promotional materials to the 91��ý Conference site, even if your library did not win a PR Xchange Award.

Mailing information (including a special mailing label) will be sent out in the weeks prior to the 91��ý Annual Conference. Look for information regarding mailing labels (in May) to be posted on the Core website and across many library mailing lists.

We are actively looking for virtual judges as the submission materials will be digital this year. If you choose to be a judge, you cannot submit any materials on behalf of your library for that year.

Please contact us at questions@prxchange-awards.org if you are interested in volunteering your time.