Library mascots are more than hot, stinky costumes. A mascot can ignite interest in patrons, introduce children to reading, make the library fun and engage the community. The Sonoma County Library researched mascot possibilities, engaged the community to vote for their favorite critter, engaged staff to name Otto, our North American River Otter mascot, and invested time in high quality graphics. Otto appears on signs, posters, stickers, shirts, bookmarks, animations, a giant inflatable, and more. Staff take their Otto stuffies on trips and submit photos of him in faraway lands. We will share our process, what worked, what didn't, and our next steps to make Otto more relevant and engaging for our community.
