Explore MORE ‘24

It rhymes!

The program will run June 1 to August 30, with the staff program running until September 15. Watch this spot for updates.

• Canva template for prize poster, use as-is or customize it
• Prize poster pdf

• Runner-up png

We’ve collected an assortment of the best individual prizes for an additional 9 winners! See all the details at https://iflsweb.org/exploremore2024/  Pick up your passport at the library and start collecting stamps so you can enter to win!

Runner-up prizes include:

• 2025 State Park sticker and 2025 State Bike Trail passes (delivered to your home library when they become available in December)
• Stasher silicone reusable snack bags, set of 2 
• Black diamond outdoor rechargable light 
• Kanoodle 
• …and more to be announced!

I added a little animation in Canva to make it pop. It’s easy to do, and it’s the trick I’ll be sharing at the next Marketing Tea. You can use a version without animation, too, if you’d prefer. (Right-click on PC or control-click on Mac to download.)

I’m also sharing the template, in case you want to make it your own.

• Animated social media post
• jpg
• Canva template

Explore MORE Passport program: All the details 

The easiest way to get your passport question answered is to submit a HelpDesk ticket. You can also email Reb directly at kilde@ifls.lib.wi.us. 

This is the online version of the toolkit you got in courier, and Reb will update promotional materials and info throughout the summer here. Weekly Digest, Marketing Tea, and Marketing Monthly will also share info about the Passport Program. 

What came in courier  

In this kit you’ll find the following items. Take a minute to customize your kit. (Linked items have printable versions.)

• Printed Passport and Plus-Five form inserts. .  
• Participation posters to display at your stamping location and another visible location. (Go to printables)
• Entry form master. 
• Tally sheet with instructions, and additional tally sheet. You’ll return the tally sheet to IFLS on September 1.  
• Stamp and stamp pad. 

Why participate in the Explore MORE passport program? 

This is your chance to let visitors know about all the great things at your library and in your community! Each time you hand out a passport, stamp a passport or accept an entry form you have a chance to engage with your visitor. Here are some ideas that you could pick from.  

• Hand out a library brochure, flyer or bookmark. 
• Share what your library has added to the program (swag-bag, library-specific drawings, passive programming.) NOTE: if your library is doing something specific just for Passport Participants, that can count as program attendance for the annual report. See Leah’s full explanation below.  
• Tell people about any upcoming events or special exhibits. 
• Point out what you’re proud of at your library, and other community highlights you’d like to share. 
• Ask if you can help your visitor find anything. 

The passport program is also an opportunity to demonstrate how the library is an active participant in your town’s business community–that the library draws people to town and that they spend money while they’re there. Invite local businesses and elected officials to participate! 

Set up and how-to 

• Hang up your posters. There are printable PDFs and Canva template links in the Online Toolkit if you’d like to print more. If you don’t have a color printer, submit a HelpDesk ticket for additional posters, which will be sent through courier. 
• Identify a place that people will go to get their passport stamped. Most libraries locate the stamp at the circulation or information desk. Use one of the posters at this location so people can easily find your stamping station, and stock it with:
  • the stamp and stamp pad  
  • tally sheet 
  • entry forms 
  • Passports and Plus Five inserts 
  • anything else your library wants to add (swag bag, bookmarks, scavenger hunt) 

Hand out passports 

Anyone can get a passport. We’ll be keeping track of how many passports we hand out, so please keep track of any additional passports that you print. Offer people a Plus Five insert to collect stamps at non-MORE libraries.  

Passport stamp for in-person participants 

NOTE: One stamp per person per library. Exception is Price and Rusk county libraries that get two stamps each.  

• Passport stamping should NOT be self-service. 
• Stamp the box next to your library’s information. Price and Rusk counties get two stamps.  
• Immediately stamp the tally sheet as well. The tally sheet tracks visits, so only one stamp on the tally sheet per person including Price and Rusk counties.  
• Participants may have a stamp from an out-of-system library! They might have a brochure or other item to show they visited another library. They might have a photo of themselves at that library. Be generous! Use the Plus Five form to keep track. You can count up to 5 out-of-system library visits. 

Passport Stamp for phone-in & E-mail participants 

• ALL phone or email passport requests count as one stamp, including Price and Rusk counties.  
• Phone and e-mail participants will be asking for a book or movie recommendation. You could leave that up to each person or create a list ahead of time that people can use.  
• Once you’ve answered, give them your code. (NOTE: you can use any code you like, as long as it’s consistent!) Your phone code is your 2-letter IIRC code plus your phone exchange (the three numbers after your area code). Write this code on your tally sheet to make it easier to find. If you need help figuring out what that is, submit a HelpDesk ticket. 
  • Stamp the tally sheet like you do with an in-person visit.
  • Phone and email requests don’t work for non-MORE libraries. 

Use the Plus-Five insert to keep track of out-of-system library visits 

• Participants may have a stamp from five libraries anywhere in the world! They might have a brochure or other item to show they visited another library. They might have a photo of themselves at that library. Any of these work when counting these visits! Attach a Plus-Five insert to the last page of their passport and use it to keep track. You can count up to 5 out-of-system library visits. 

Handing out and collecting entry forms 

• Add your library’s name to the master sent to you, and make copies as needed. 
• Verify that the participant has 10 stamps (this can include out-of-system stamps). 
• Cross out those ten stamps so they don’t get counted again. Remember that Price and Rusk county libraries each count as 2 stamps. 
• Give the participant an entry form. 
• When you collect the entry form make sure that the name and contact info is legible. 

Does this count as a program? 

From Leah: Participating the passport program is not counted as “program attendance” for the purposes of the annual report, unless the library is doing something special and specific for passport participants (some sort of passive program that they can do when they are there).  Otherwise it is a terrific promotional thing that doesn’t fit the definition of a program for the annual report. 

We love hearing from you! 

If you’re having a problem or have a suggestion for how to do something better, other people can probably use that information 

If you need additional supplies or are having technical problems, please submit a HelpDesk ticket. If you need help with design or communication resources, please contact Reb. kilde@ifls.lib.wi

MORE adventures, MORE prizes, MORE libraries poster

• MORE MORE MORE poster PDF to print
• MORE MORE MORE poster Canva link