Texas Library Association Honors Fort Worth Public Library

The Fort Worth Public Library is celebrating being named a recipient of the 2026 Branding Iron Award by the Texas Library Association.

According to a Wednesday blog post, the library system was recognized in the Fundraising, Annual Report, and Strategic Plan Marketing category for its innovative promotional campaign surrounding the Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report.

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The Texas Library Association's Public Relations and Marketing Committee selected Fort Worth for its thoughtful planning and ability to evolve community engagement practices. The award highlights the system's success in generating community enthusiasm through comprehensive, effective communication strategies.

In addition to a printed book, the library also published a digital version for community stakeholders and promoted key achievements in social media and email marketing as well as during community outreach activities.

"This recognition reflects the dedication of our team to transparency and community connection," Fort Worth Public Library Director Midori Clark said. "By reimagining how we share our impact, we've been able to show residents exactly how their library supports them in their daily lives and goals."

The Fort Worth Public Library just experienced a year of unprecedented growth and record-breaking community engagement, according to the Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Report. More than 1.2 million people visited the library's 20 locations, marking the highest visitation levels since the pandemic.

The library system offered nearly 11,000 programs, drawing a record-breaking 130,000 attendees over the fiscal year. Over 58,000 visitors attended 2,363 story time sessions, providing essential building blocks for pre-reading and early literacy skills.