MPL wins 23 International Festivals & Events Association Awards (2024)
McAllen Public Library is proud to announce that we have been honored with 23 Pinnacle Awards in 2024 from the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA)! These awards recognize the library’s outstanding achievements in programming, marketing, and community engagement, including our South Texas Book Festival. We are deeply grateful to our dedicated team, sponsors, and the McAllen community for their continued support, which helps us bring award-winning events and services to life. Thank you for celebrating with us as we continue to inspire and serve!
Gold: Grand Pinnacle for South Texas Book Festival, Best Ad Series for Día, Best Invitation for World Languages Festival, Best Targeted Sponsor Solicitation Proposal for South Texas Book Festival, Best Individual Sponsor Follow-Up Report for South Texas Book Festival, Best Sponsorship Program for Individual Sponsor for South Texas Book Festival, Best Overall Sponsorship Program for South Texas Book Festival, Best Volunteer Program for Teen Advisory Committee, Best Community Outreach Program, Best New Event for Countdown to the Eclipse, Best Giveaway Item for Summer Reading Challenge
Silver: Best Newspaper Insert for South Texas Book Festival, Best Promotional Brochure for World Languages Festival, Best Commemorative Poster for Holly Jolly Party, Best Sponsor Partner for South Texas Book Festival, Best Sponsor Activation for South Texas Book Festival, Best Educational Program for South Texas Book Festival, Best Event Within an Event to Benefit a Cause for Fiesta Casino Night Fundraiser, Best Event Within an Existing Festival for Countdown to the Eclipse
Bronze: Best Organization E-Newsletter for MPL Connect, Best Cover Design for South Texas Book Festival, Best Children’s Programming for Día, Best Overall Media Relations Campaign for South Texas Book Festival
Fiesta! Casino Night Fundraiser awarded a Branding Iron Award (2024)
McAllen Public Library has once again received the prestigious Texas Library Association’s Branding Iron Award which honor inspiring and creative marketing and public relations work and activities for libraries. The McAllen Public received the award in the Public Library Division of the Fundraising category for its 2023 Fiesta! Casino Fundraiser & Taquiza Night in the annual award competition. This esteemed award recognizes the McAllen Public Library’s exceptional achievement and innovation in fundraising efforts.
MPL receives 6 Texas Association of Fairs & Events Awards (2024)
McAllen Public Library has been recognized for its outstanding achievements by receiving six awards from the Texas Association of Fairs & Events' Ray Cammack Shows Awards of Excellence. This recognition highlights the library's dedication to providing excellent services and programming to its community.
1st Place: Best Social Media Campaign for South Texas Book Festival, Best Premium Book for South Texas Book Festival, Best Follow-Up Sponsorship Program for South Texas Book Festival, Best Community Program for World Languages Festival
2nd Place: Best eNewsletter for MPL Connect, Best Miscellaneous Multi-Page Materials for the South Texas Book Festival Reading List
MPL wins 26 Texas Festivals & Events Association Awards (2023)
Exciting news! McAllen Public Library has proudly received multiple accolades at the Texas Festival and Events Association’s Kalliff Marketing Awards, including the esteemed Best in Texas Award!
Gold: Best in Texas Award for STBF, Best Facebook Site for STBF, Best Twitter Site for STBF, Best Promotional Brochure for Día de los Niños, Best Targeted Sponsor Solicitation Proposal for H-E-B Helping Here, Best Individual Sponsor Follow-up Report for STBF, Best Sponsor Activation for STBF, Best Volunteer Program for Teen Advisory Committee, Best Children’s Program for Día de los Niños, Best Community Outreach Program for World Languages Festival, Best Event Within an Event to Benefit a Cause for Casino Night Fundraiser, Best Event Within an Existing Festival for STBF’s Youth Bookmark Design Contest, Best New Event for Holly Jolly Party, Best Social Media Campaign for STBF
Silver: Best Educational Program for STBF, Best Overall Sponsorship Program for STBF, Best Sponsor Partner for STBF, Best Street Banner for STBF, Best Printed Materials (Single Page) for Holly Jolly Party, Best Printed Materials (Multiple Pages) for STBF, Best Single Digital Ad for Día de los Niños, Best Instagram Site for McAllen Public Library, Best Multimedia Component for STBF, Best Event/ Organization eNewsletter for MPL Connect
Bronze: Best Event Invitation for STBF, Best Digital Ad Series for World Languages Festival
MPL wins 18 International Festivals & Events Association Awards (2023)
McAllen Public Library has achieved multiple International Festival and Events awards, notably for events like the South Texas Book Festival, Wild West Casino Night, and Día! A highlight among these accolades is the esteemed Grand Pinnacle Award for the South Texas Book Festival. Check out the awards MPL received below!
Gold: Grand Pinnacle Award for STBF, Best Individual Sponsor Follow-Up Report for STBF, Best Sponsor Activation for STBF, Best Social Media Campaign for STBF, Best Event / Program Within an Event to Benefit A Cause for Wild West Casino Night
Silver: Best Ad Series for Día de los Niños, Best Facebook Site for STBF, Best Invitation for STBF, Best Sponsor Partner for STBF, Best Sponsorship Program for Individual Sponsor for STBF, Best Educational Program for STBF, Best Event (Within an Existing Festival) for STBF
Bronze: Best Multimedia Component for Community Health Fair, Best Promotional Brochure for Día de los Niños, Best New Festival for Holly Jolly Party, Best Targeted Sponsor Solicitation Proposal for STBF, Best Volunteer Program for Teen Advisory Committee
AWARDED THE ACHIEVEMENT OF LIBRARY EXCELLENCE AWARD, 2023
MPL has received the Achievement of Library Excellence Award from the Texas Municipal Library Director’s Association (TMLDA) for the eighth consecutive year. TMLDA is an affiliate of the Texas Municipal League. Each year TMLDA confers awards for outstanding contributions to public libraries.
To successfully receive the Achievement of Library Excellence Award, the applicant must exhibit excellence in providing services to underserved and special populations, in enhancing services, in marketing their programs and services in innovative ways, in promoting cultural, topical, and educational programming, in providing literacy support, in providing summer reading clubs, in pursuing collaborative efforts, in supporting workforce development, in providing for digital inclusion, and in comprehensively training staff.
MPL wins 7 Texas Association of Fairs & Events Awards (2023)
McAllen Public Library has been recognized for its outstanding achievements by receiving seven gold awards from the Texas Association of Fairs & Events' Ray Cammack Shows Awards of Excellence. This recognition highlights the library's dedication to providing excellent services and programming to its community.
Gold: Best eNewsletter for MPL Connect, Best New Program for World Languages Festival, Best Overall Sponsorship Program for STBF, Best Specialty Video for STBF, Best Community Program for Día, Special Premium Book for STBF, Best Miscellaneous Multi-Page Printed Material for SRP
MPL receives a TLA Branding Iron Award (2023)
MPL has received a Texas Library Association (TLA) Branding Iron Award in the Public Library Category for the 2022 South Texas Book Festival Strategic Plan.
MPL wins 28 Texas Festivals & Events Association Awards (2022)
We are happy to announce that McAllen Public Library brought home several awards from the Texas Festival and Events Association’s Kalliff Marketing Awards, including the prestigious Best in Texas Award!
Gold: Best in Texas Award for STBF, Best Ad Series for Día, Best Single Newspaper Display Ad for Día, Best Event within an Existing Festival for STR!, Best New Event for 10 Year Anniversary, Best Event Program for STBF, Best Promotional Brochure for Summer Reading Challenge, Best Twitter Site, Best Targeted Sponsor Solicitation Proposal for STBF, Best Sponsor Partner for STBF, Best Individual Sponsor Follow-Up Report for STBF, Best Overall Sponsorship Program for STBF, Best Volunteer Program for TAC, Best Sponsor Activation for STBF, Best Sponsorship Program for Individual Sponsor for STBF
Silver: Best Event Within an Event to Benefit a Cause for Wild West Casino Night, Best Children’s Programming for Día, Best Educational Program for STBF, Best Cover Design for STBF, Best Promotional Brochure for STBF, Best Digital Ad Series for STR!, Best Single Digital Ad for STBF, Best Instagram Site, Best Organization eNewsletter
Bronze: Best Single Magazine Ad for STR!, Best Event Invitation for Botanical Fridas, Best Organization Website, Best Facebook Site
MPL wins 22 International Festivals & Events Association Awards (2022)
McAllen Public Library has won several International Festival and Events awards for events such as the South Texas Book Festival, Botanical Fridas, and Día! Amongst those awards is the prestigious Grand Pinnacle Award for the South Texas Book Festival. Below are the awards MPL brought home!
Gold: Grand Pinnacle for STBF, Best Event Program for STBF, Best Cover Design for STBF, Best Targeted Sponsor Solicitation Proposal for STBF, Best Individual Sponsor Follow-Up Report for STBF, Best Sponsor Partner for H-E-B Helping Here at STBF, Best Sponsorship Program for Individual Sponsor for H-E-B Helping Here at STBF, and Best Event Within an Event to Benefit a Cause for Wild West Casino Night
Silver: Best Multimedia Component for STBF Video Promotion, Best Newspaper Insert for South Texas Reads!, Best Volunteer Program for MPL Teen Advisory Committee, Best Educational Program for STBF, Best Children's Programming for El Día de los Niños, and Best Virtual Festival for STBF
Bronze: Best Invitation for Botanical Fridas, Best Twitter Site for MPL, Best Organization eNewsletter for MPL Connect, Best Newspaper Insert for South Texas Reads!, Best Promotional Brochure for STBF, Best Street Banner for STBF, Best Event Within an Existing Festival for South Texas Reads!, Best New Event for South Texas Reads, and Best Social Media Campaign for STBF
MPL earns Texas Library Association Branding Iron Award (2022)
McAllen Public Library has received the Best in Show Award from the prestigious Texas Library Association's (TLA) Branding Iron Awards! The award was presented to MPL for the 2021 Wild West Casino Fundraiser, which directly supported the South Texas Book Festival (STBF) and was hosted by the McAllen Public Library Advisory Board.
MPL wins 20 Texas Festivals & Events Association Awards for STBF (2021)
McAllen Public Library brought home the gold at the Texas Festival and Events Association’s Marketing Awards, including the prestigious Best in Texas Award!
Gold: Best in Texas Award, Best Organization Website, Best Organization e-Newsletter, Best Miscellaneous Printed Material, Best Event Invitation, Best Sponsor Proposal, Best Sponsor Follow-Up, Best Sponsor Partner, Best Community Outreach Program, Best Social Media Campaign
Silver: Best 30-Second Ad, Best Promotional Brochure, Best Miscellaneous Printed Material, Best Company Image Piece, Best Cover Design, Best Children’s Program
Bronze: Best Promotional Brochure, Best Giveaway Item, Best New Event, Best Overall Virtual Event
MPL Received 12 Awards from the Texas Association of Fairs & Events (2020)
McAllen Public Library received 12 Ray Cammack Shows Awards of Excellence from the Texas Association of Fairs & Events (TAFE) for our South Texas Book Festival and Summer Reading Program! Those awards included:
1st Place: Best Premium Book, Best Miscellaneous Multi-Page Materials, Best Specialty Video, Best eNewsletter, Best Community Program/Event, Best New Program, Best Overall Sponsorship Program
2nd Place: Best Website, Best Social Media Campaign, COVID19 Best Re-Imagined Event, COVID19 Best Announcement
3rd Place: Best Flyer
MPL wins 22 Texas Festivals & Events Association awards for STBF (2020)
The Texas Festival & Events Association (TFEA) has awarded the City of McAllen 92 Marketing Awards, and we are thrilled to announce MPL’s South Texas Book Festival won 22 awards! Among those was the prestigious Zenith Award, TFEA’s highest overall award category in the Kaliff Marketing Awards Competition!
Gold: The Zenith Award, Best Organization Website, Best Event Program, Best Promotional Brochure, Best Miscellaneous Printed Material Multiple Pages, Best Miscellaneous Printed Material Single Page, Best Company Image, Best Cover Design, Best Event Invitation, Best Street Banner, Best Sponsor Partner, Best Volunteer Program, Best Children’s Programming, Best Community Outreach Program, Best Event Within an Event to Benefit a cause, Best Social Media Campaign
Silver: Best Miscellaneous Multimedia, Best Event Promotional Photograph, Best New Festival or Event
Bronze: Best Social Media Site, Best Miscellaneous Printer Material Single Page, Best T-Shirt Design
MPL wins 3 International Festivals &Events Association awards for STBF (2019)
McAllen Public Library has won our first ever International Festival and Events awards for the 2019 South Texas Book Festival! Amongst those awards is a Gold Award for Best Invitation for the Murder Mystery Fundraiser.
MPL wins 11 Texas Festivals and Events Association awards for the STBF (2019)
Your McAllen Public Library won 11 awards at this year’s Texas Festivals & Events Association Annual Conference! Among those awards were the following for STBF:
Gold: Best Event Program (South Texas Book Festival), Best Educational Program (Spirit Week, South Texas Book Festival), Best Event Within an Event to Benefit a Cause (Masquerade Murder Mystery Fundraiser), Best Social Media Campaign (South Texas Book Festival)
Silver: Best Social Media Site (South Texas Book Festival), Best Program Cover Design (South Texas Book Festival), Best Event Invitation (Masquerade Murder Mystery Fundraiser)
Bronze: Best Street Banner (South Texas Book Festival)
REBRANDING OF THE SOUTH TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL RECEIVES A 2019 TLA BRANDING IRON AWARD
The Texas Library Association (TLA) has awarded a 2019 Branding Iron Award to McAllen Public Library. This award honors the creative work libraries do to promote their programs, resources, and events. MPL received recognition in the Rebranding category for the promotional campaign that revamped the McAllen Book Festival to the South Texas Book Festival. The Branding Iron Awards, presented every year in ten public relations categories, are announced at the TLA Annual Conference.
LARK BRANCH LIBRARY RECEIVED A 2018 READER’S CHOICE AWARD BY THE MONITOR
In October 2018, The Monitor awarded the Lark Branch Library with a Reader’s Choice Award for Best Customer Service in Hidalgo County.
AWARDED THE ACHIEVEMENT OF LIBRARY EXCELLENCE AWARD, 2014-2022
MPL has received the Achievement of Library Excellence Award from the Texas Municipal Library Director’s Association (TMLDA) for seven consecutive years. TMLDA is an affiliate of the Texas Municipal League. Each year TMLDA confers awards for outstanding contributions to public libraries.
To successfully receive the Achievement of Library Excellence Award, the applicant must exhibit excellence in providing services to underserved and special populations, in enhancing services, in marketing their programs and services in innovative ways, in promoting cultural, topical, and educational programming, in providing literacy support, in providing summer reading clubs, in pursuing collaborative efforts, in supporting workforce development, in providing for digital inclusion, and in comprehensively training staff.
MPL NAMED MOST BEAUTIFUL LIBRARY IN TEXAS 2016 BY TECH INSIDER
In July 2016, McAllen Public Library’s Main Library went viral again when it was chosen as the most beautiful library in Texas by tech, science, innovation and culture digital publication, Tech Insider. The article listed the most beautiful library in each state in the nation. MPL was honored to be chosen to represent Texas libraries.
McAllen is ranked at the top once again. This time it’s for the transformation of an abandoned Walmart into the most beautiful library in Texas. To find the most beautiful libraries in each state, Tech Insider looked at past and current award-winners as judged by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Library Association (ALA) awards.
NAMED ONE OF THE TOP 100 LIBRARIES IN THE WORLD TO FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK
In 2013, MPL was ranked #38 on a comprehensive list of the top 100 libraries in the world to follow on Facebook by library, design, and marketing expert Matt Anderson.
WINNER OF THE AIA 2013 HONOR AWARD & COVER OF TEXAS ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE
MPL’s architecture continues to receive international attention by winning the American Institute of Architects 2013 Honor Award. The award is a coveted international prize that only 28 out 700 worldwide submissions received. In addition to the award, the March/April issue of Texas Architect not only features an article detailing MPL’s achievement, our unique teen wall that borders our teen social space, Area 3918, is featured on the cover of the issue.
NAMED WINNER OF THE 2012 LIBRARY INTERIOR DESIGN COMPETITION
The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and the Buildings and Equipment Section of the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA) selected MPL as the first place of the 2012 Library Interior Design Competition in the category of Public Library Over 30,000 square feet. The award honors excellence in library interior design, incorporating aesthetics, design creativity, function and satisfaction of the client's objectives.
After winning first place of the 2012 Library Interior Design Competition, MPL was featured in Time Magazine, Huffington Post, The New York Times, L.A. Times, NBC Latino, Texas Monthly, and Slate, among other notable publications, bringing the former Wal-Mart into the international spotlight.