- Share - [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://about.ebsco.com/markdownify/node/86263) - []() - []() - []() # The 17 Best Library Marketing Emails of 2023 ![](https://assets.ebsco.com/asset/02e8f558-01c1-495e-a428-6a49f926af38/best-of-the-year-emails-blog-image-780.jpg) 7 December 2023 I've been on a year-long quest to find and highlight the best of library marketing. That means I’ve been watching libraries and their promotions very closely! But don't worry, no creepy lurking involved — this is all centered around my love of library email marketing. My inbox has basically become a treasure trove of incredible and effective library messaging — and I love it. Why the obsession with library emails, you ask? It’s because they are the single most effective way to promote your library. According to [Zero Bounce](https://www.zerobounce.net/email-statistics-report/), a whopping 88% of people check their emails every single day. And get this: 39% of people dive into that inbox multiple times a day. So yes, I am intentionally drowning in library emails because I've been on a mission to curate a list of the absolute best emails from libraries. Here are my top picks for the outstanding library marketing emails from LibraryAware customers in 2023. I hope you’ll find an idea or two or 17 to inspire your email marketing in the New Year. **Best use of a countdown timer:** Scranton Public Library used a [timer](https://libraryaware.com/3937/Posts/View/5b732860-0699-4285-9f8c-3b45c4e8b86b) to build excitement and a bit of FOMO for their Swinging on Vine benefit. Want to do the same thing? [It's easy](https://libraryaware.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/1989673-how-do-i-add-countdown-timers-in-the-drag-drop-e). **Best onboarding series:** Pewaukee Public Library’s [simple, straightforward email](https://libraryaware.com/3490/Posts/View/6be01ec7-10c1-43a5-ad10-bb9f544e964d) gives new cardholders what they need to know about how to use the library without overwhelming them with too much information. **Best email to tweens:** Community Library manages to [make email cool](https://libraryaware.com/2619/Posts/View/98eb648e-d397-41a1-9c6f-d526051d8a97) for this tricky age group by keeping it simple and fun. **Best newsletter for kids:** Williamsburg Regional Library knows exactly how to get young readers and their parents to check out books and events with [this alternating layout](https://libraryaware.com/248/Posts/View/b36e8ac6-64be-4889-b656-6c757af60930) that's easy to scroll. **Best use of table of contents:** Have a lot of information to share in your email? Take a page from Thayer Public Library’s book of tricks and [use a table of contents](https://www.libraryaware.com/3089/Posts/View/8ff85da0-067a-432d-bc6f-43c5323e35e6) to help email receivers navigate to the content that’s most interesting to them. **Best call to action:** Delafield Public Library [makes it impossible](https://www.libraryaware.com/3477/Posts/View/26580616-fa1c-4bc2-bd21-7c6a8186185b?SID=6073826e-e37b-4c72-a0a2-832735f61c40) to resist clicking on their fundraiser link with a clever, mouth-watering phrase. **Best customized NextReads newsletter:** I love everything about [this collection promotion newsletter](https://libraryaware.com/1190/NewsletterIssues/ViewIssue/babee115-031b-41f0-bc60-35972fdd5218?postId=882e9912-07c9-48e5-b271-2c431cb3ee02) from Waimakariri Libraries: the bold, beautiful header, the book club promotion, the format key, the annotations... it makes me want to put all the books on hold RIGHT NOW! **Best inclusive email:** When St. Helena Public Library launched a new mobile app this year, they sent [this email announcement](https://libraryaware.com/1117/Posts/View/2a090d03-7e51-422b-a1aa-c8fd4e2c4584) to their cardholders in both English and Spanish to ensure everyone in their community got the news. It’s a simple but welcoming gesture. **Best use of white space:** Pauline Haas Public Library sent [this beautifully designed email](https://www.libraryaware.com/3491/Posts/View/784a86bc-e3fa-4c02-aa2b-b2ef60224b37) to about 219 teenagers. It had a 53% open rate and a 9 percent click-thru rate. Why? Because its modern, clean design caught the attention of these rising library fans. **Best weather-related email:** Oxford County Library took advantage of a winter snowstorm earlier this year to [send this email](https://libraryaware.com/232/Posts/View/ca12aeb0-84cd-4b28-9900-411b80413bfa) promoting one specific part of their Library of Things and their collection. Genius! **Best events email:** Another example of clean, beautiful design comes from the Atlantic County Library System, which [sent this email](https://libraryaware.com/2454/Posts/View/8228ba08-2091-42ad-aa9f-5e4688aecc09) to drive registration for select library events. Notice the eye-catching GIF in the header which is [easy to add](https://libraryaware.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/1996078-can-i-include-animated-gifs-in-my-e-blasts-in-the) in LibraryAware. **Best professional development email:** The Library of Virginia added career-related books to its collection and let library staff across the state know about it with [this well-designed email,](https://www.libraryaware.com/3744/Posts/View/ff79b202-6ec5-4733-8461-d7b9ac83790c) proving that email is an effective way to communicate with staff too! **Best email subject line:** Forsyth County Public Library has a lot of goodness packed into [this monthly newsletter](https://www.libraryaware.com/326/Posts/View/9df000a9-185e-4635-9a29-99281c417d6b?SID=abbf462b-98d2-4399-a762-6e24e80885d3), and they get recipients to open it using an irresistible subject line, complete with an emoji! ![](https://assets.ebsco.com/asset/94ac4c62-93af-46ca-8c28-d012466c676b/best-of-emails-screengrab-image-500.jpg) **Summer Reading Hall of Fame:** I couldn’t pick just one email to represent the best work of libraries during the most important/stressful/amazing ongoing program of the year. - W.J. Niederkorn Library used a ready-made LibraryAware template to put [this sunny email](https://libraryaware.com/3532/Posts/View/4e135de2-f77e-4c44-80b6-d9efa9acf76c) together to promote their Summer Reading Challenge for all ages. - Similarly, Sewickley Public Library used LibraryAware to send [this excitement-building email](https://www.libraryaware.com/2310/Posts/View/0b8f8cee-e84b-4e56-96b2-414cfe8939b2) for their summer reading program. It also has a section thanking their sponsor — a very smart idea! - Similarly, Kokomo-Howard County Public Library used the All Together Now theme and uploaded graphics to LibraryAware to create [their email announcement](https://www.libraryaware.com/1556/Posts/View/07c8eb33-ce8e-4f35-87f2-08f01461fae0) of summer reading. I love the weekly themes section and the videos that explain how to use the tracking app. - And Everett Public Libraries also used uploaded graphics for [their announcement email](https://libraryaware.com/3752/Posts/View/4769b0d5-68f3-4cb1-a6c5-cda32a87a837), which includes lots of white space and clear CTAs. You can have success like these libraries by sending more emails to your community. I guarantee it will be the best use of your time and energy in 2024. ### Are you ready to try email marketing at your library? We created [LibraryAware](https://live-ebsco-www.pantheonsite.io/novelist/products/libraryaware-1) specifically for libraries, so you’ll find thousands of library-specific templates and graphics. It also includes unlimited users and subscribers to meet your growing needs. [ Learn more ](/novelist/products/libraryaware) --- [Angela Hursh](/novelist/bio/angela-hursh "Angela Hursh") is the Manager of Engagement and Marketing for NoveList. She is currently reading *Dolly Parton Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones* by Dolly Parton and listening to *The Holiday Swap* by Maggie Knox. Category: [Articles ](/blogs/novelist/category/articles) Tags: [Email & newsletters](/blogs/novelist/tag/email-&-newsletters) [Library marketing](/blogs/novelist/tag/library-marketing) [LibraryAware](/blogs/novelist/tag/libraryaware) - Share - [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://about.ebsco.com/markdownify/node/86263) - []() - []() - []() ## Related Posts [ ![lnbp anatomy good newsletter blog image ](/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/lnbp-anatomy-good-newsletter-blog-image-780.jpg) ](/blogs/novelist/anatomy-good-newsletter) [Anatomy of a good newsletter](/blogs/novelist/anatomy-good-newsletter) 30 August 2023 [ ![](https://assets.ebsco.com/asset/127aaed0-b2fb-420b-99d2-0ff22e69c767/recipe-annual-reports-blog-image-780.jpg) ](/blogs/novelist/recipe-compelling-annual-reports) [Recipe for compelling annual reports](/blogs/novelist/recipe-compelling-annual-reports) 5 December 2023 [ ![multiple records product update blog image ](/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/multiple-records-product-update-blog-image-780.jpg) ](/blogs/novelist/announcing-easier-way-promote-your-collection) [Announcing an easier way to promote your collection](/blogs/novelist/announcing-easier-way-promote-your-collection) 8 November 2023