Silver
Non-Traditional
Creative Use of Data
| Entrant: | FCB Chicago, Chicago |
| Brand: | Digital Public Library of America |
| Title: | "Banned Book Club" |
| Corporate Name of Client: | Digital Public Library of America |
| Client Company: | Digital Public Library of America, Washington, DC |
| Clients: | John Bracken, Micah May |
| PR Company: | Current Global, Chicago |
| PR Companies Account Manager(s): | Chris Hamilton/Shannon McGovern/Bonnie Mallari/Andrea Blythe/Melina Weil |
| Agency: | FCB Chicago, Chicago |
| Agency Chief Executive Officer: | Kelly Graves |
| Agency Creative Chairman: | Danilo Boer |
| Global Chief Creative Officer: | Andres Ordonez |
| Chief Creative Officer: | Pedro Perez |
| Senior Creative Directors: | Alan Shen/Chris Walker |
| Creative Directors: | Kelly McGuckin/Jake Roland |
| Senior Copywriter: | Nick Farley |
| Senior Art Director: | Max Franklin |
| Agency Head of Design: | Michele Morales |
| Agency Designer: | Megan Musgrave |
| Agency Executive Producers: | John Bleeden/Lexie Tankersley |
| Agency Senior Producer: | Anita Koltun |
| Agency Social Media Manager: | Samantha Merkin |
| Agency Project Manager: | Lily Clark |
| Agency Group Account Director: | Rocki Hunter |
| Agency Senior Account Director: | Mack Hans |
| Agency Account Team: | Jennel Oddo/Jack Dunaway |
| Agency Planning Director: | JP Palmer |
| Digital Company: | FCB Chicago, Chicago |
| Digital Technical Director: | John Skibicki |
| Post-Production Company: | 456 Studios, Chicago |
| Edit Facility: | 456 Studios, Chicago |
| Editor: | Gus Spelman |
| Sound Design Company: | 456 Studios, Chicago |
| Sound Engineer: | Batsirayi Zesaguli |
Description:
In 2023 alone, 3,059 books were banned - more than in any other year. The Digital Public Library of America holds that our democracy relies on our freedom to read. And believes books should always be available to everyone.
The DPLA created the most up-to-date database of all books banned in America. Then, geo-fenced the exact footprint of every library that banned the books - and made those books available via a mobile app for anyone when they are within those very libraries. Sending a strong message - that every time they try to take a book off the shelf, we'll put it right back, virtually.
The Banned Book Club launched in partnership with President Obama, the most notable defender of our freedom of speech.
The campaign reached more than 20 states that have books banned with geo-located Instagram and Facebook ads, that alerted people just as they were near those offending libraries.
The Banned Book Club is a digital solution for today and the future. Whenever a book is banned, it’s added to our database, making it available instantly. Ensuring no book is ever banned again.
We collaborated with the most credible sources on the issue of banned books including Pen America, the ALA, and libraries across the country to develop the most comprehensive database of book bannings in America.
We researched the book bannings happening across thousands of municipalities across the country. Using available third-party data, we updated the database to include the precise geolocation coordinates for over 2,000 libraries.
We brought together the database of banned books, geolocation and our existing app that houses over a million digital book titles.
We used this data to target people in communities most affected by the issue. So, when they were in proximity to a library with banned books, we alerted them and provided immediate access.