Unique Awards 2021

Unique Awards 2021

Unique Library

2021 Library Awards

Honoring Libraries for Exceptional Community Impact

Award Categories

Unique created these awards to celebrate high-impact libraries for providing vital services, protecting public assets and keeping patrons in good standing. Winners were chosen by Unique’s team who partner with more than 1350 libraries across the country to effectively recover materials while preserving patron goodwill. Libraries were categorized by size, region and volume to determine the top-performing partners who made the biggest impacts on their communities.

For libraries who have shown excellence in recovering overdue materials.
For libraries who provide exceptional customer service to their patrons.
For libraries who have shown excellence in returning patrons back to good standing.

2021 Award Winners

Defender of the Collection

Honoring libraries that have recovered a high volume of overdue materials in the past 36 months to defend public assets and ensure availability of useful and critical materials for all patrons.

East Region

Overall Winners

Charleston County Public Library (Charleston, SC)
Staunton Public Library (Staunton, VA)

Midwest Region

Overall Winners

Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library (Cleveland Heights, OH)
North Kansas City Public Library (North Kansas City, MO)

South Region

Overall Winners

Frisco Public Library (Frisco, TX)
Blount County Public Library (Maryville, TN)

West Region

Overall Winners

Palo Alto City Library (Palo Alto, CA)
Show Low Public Library (Show Low, AZ)

Honorable Mention

Chester County Library System (PA)
Lincoln City Libraries (NE)
Central Rappahannock Regional Library (VA)
Waynesboro Public Library (VA)
West Hempstead Public Library (NY)
George F. Johnson Memorial Library (NY)

Honorable Mention

Twinsburg Public Library (OH)
Worthington Public Library (OH)
Columbus Metropolitan Library (OH)
Warsaw Community Public Library (IN)
Brimfield Public Library District (IL)
Way Public Library (OH)

Honorable Mention

Jacksonville Public Library (FL)
Gadsden-Etowah County Library (AL)
Brazoria County Library System (TX)
Richardson Public Library (TX)
Austin Memorial Library (TX)
Athens-Limestone Public Library (AL)

Honorable Mention

Las Vegas-Clark County Library District (NV)
Fort Vancouver Regional Library (WA)
Solano County Library (CA)
Pinetop-Lakeside Public Library (AZ)
Rio Rancho Public Library (NM)
Burlington Public Library (WA)

Librarian at Your Service

Honoring librarians who have provided exceptional service to their patrons including smart utilization of Unique’s Gentle Nudge® material recovery, MessageBee, UniqueChat, Curbside Communication and call services.

East Region

Overall Winners

Anne Arundel County Public Library (Annapolis, MD)
Sussex County Library System (Newton, NJ)

Midwest Region

Overall Winners

Worthington Public Library (Worthington, OH)
Natrona County Public Library (Casper, WY)

South Region

Overall Winners

Frisco Public Library (Frisco, TX)
Gadsden-Etowah County Library (Gadsden, AL)

West Region

Overall Winners

Sacramento Public Library (Sacramento, CA)
Glendale Library (Glendale, CA)

95% Of Libraries Say Excellent Patron Service Is Extremely Important

See How Sacramento Public Library Is Using Unique To Help Make This Happen

Back in the Fold

Honoring libraries that have returned a high percentage of patrons to good standing (or brought them ‘back in the fold’) to be able to continue utilizing library services supporting equity and accessibility in their communities.

East Region

Overall Winners

Arlington Public Library (Arlington, VA)
Rockville Centre Public Library (Rockville Centre, NY)

Midwest Region

Overall Winners

Johnson County Library (Overland Park, KS)
Traverse Area District Library (Traverse City, MI)

South Region

Overall Winners

Frisco Public Library (Frisco, TX)
Blount County Public Library (Maryville, TN)

West Region

Overall Winners

Seattle Public Library (Seattle, WA)
Burlingame Public Library (Burlingame, CA)

Honorable Mention

Fairfax County Public Library (VA)
Charleston County Public Library (SC)
Howard County Library System (MD)
Mt. Lebanon Public Library (PA)
Middletown Township Public Library (NJ)
Kennedy Free Library (NY)

Honorable Mention

Olathe Public Library (KS)
Naperville Public Libraries (IL)
Carmel Clay Public Library (IN)
La Porte County Public Library (IN)
Interlochen Public Library (MI)
Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library (IN)

Honorable Mention

St. Johns County Public Library (FL)
Austin Public Library (TX)
Knox County Public Library System (TN)
Sullivan County Public Library (TN)
Central Mississippi Regional Library System (MS)
John P Holt Brentwood Library (TN)

Honorable Mention

San Mateo County Library (CA)
OC Public Library (CA)
Livermore Public Library (CA)
San Mateo Public Library (CA)
Alameda Free Library (CA)
Redwood City Public Library (CA)

Want to learn more about Unique Library?

Unique has a rich history of serving the library industry with a range of patron and staff friendly services. We can help with a wide variety of material recovery and patron communication services – contact us today to learn how Unique can help your library conquer its patron service challenges.

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Fine-Free Gentle Nudge

Recover long-overdue materials while preserving patron goodwill. Restore access, return items to circulation, and support the goals of a fine-free library.

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Patron Communication

MessageBee

Connect with patrons through email, SMS, and voice messaging from one library-focused platform. Improve outreach through the channels patrons use every day.

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Frontline Support

Patron Services

Expand patron support with live phone and chat assistance. Reduce frontline workload while providing timely answers and a better patron experience.

PhoneChat
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Grow Membership

New Mover Service

Reach new residents soon after they move into your community. Targeted postcards build awareness, drive registrations, and help grow library membership.

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Protect Collections

Material Recovery

Bring valuable materials back into circulation through proven library outreach. Improve collection availability while maintaining positive patron relationships.

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Verified Borrower Registration

Simplify online card registration through automated identity verification. Reduce staff work, improve data quality, and give eligible residents faster access.

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Automated Borrower Renewal

Renew eligible borrower accounts while validating patron information behind the scenes. Reduce repetitive tasks and maintain uninterrupted patron access.

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