Three groups win United for Libraries’ Baker & Taylor Awards

PHILADELPHIA — Three groups will be recognized with Baker & Taylor Awards from United for Libraries during the Gala Author Tea, sponsored by ReferenceUSA, from 2 to 4 p.m. CDT on Monday, July 1 at the ALA Annual Conference Chicago.

United for Libraries’ Baker & Taylor Awards recognize Friends groups and library Foundations for outstanding efforts to support their library. The winners of this year’s Baker & Taylor Awards are the Friends of the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library (Eau Claire, Wis.), the St. Tammany Library Foundation (Mandeville, La.), and the Friends of the Atascadero (Calif.) Library. Each group will receive a $1,000 check and a clock from Baker & Taylor to honor their achievements.

In 2012, the Friends of the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library held its busiest Give-A-Kid-A-Book project ever. In its 18^th year, the Give-A-Kid-A-Book project was implemented to make sure that every underprivileged child in the Chippewa Valley would receive a new book during the holiday season. In 2012, with the help of the library community and local organizations, the Friends received more than $3,000 in donations for the project and distributed 4,771 books to 16 community agencies.

The St. Tammany Library Foundation was established in 2003, but after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the population of St. Tammany Parish increased by 35 percent, and the sudden influx strained the parish’s infrastructure and led the foundation to fall into disarray. In 2012, committed supporters resurrected the foundation, appointing a new board and advisory group, securing donations, conducting outreach into the community and launching their first project, a library patio and garden dedicated to Walker Percy. The new foundation recruited 75 charter members and raised $9,700.

In 2012, the Friends of the Atascadero Library was in the second year of the group’s “Open the Doors” campaign to open a new library in the community and needed to raise another $300,000. The Friends’ primary benefit event, “Atascadero: Dancing with Our Stars,” was in its third year. Thanks to a dedicated team of volunteers and an innovative and creative event that recruited community leaders that rallied support for votes (which were purchased with a donation to the library), “Dancing with Our Stars” netted $70,000 toward the campaign.

Baker & Taylor Awards have been given since 2000. Baker & Taylor is a leading distributor of books, videos and music products to libraries, institutions and retailers. For more information about Baker & Taylor Awards, and a detailed description of the award-winning programs, visit http://www.ala.org/united/grants_awards/friends/bakertaylor.

The Gala Author Tea, sponsored by ReferenceUSA, will be held at McCormick Place, N228. Advance tickets cost $49 ($45 United for Libraries division members); the event code is UFL1. On-site tickets will cost $55, if seats are available. The Tea will feature Melanie Benjamin, Mark Billingham, Jeffrey Deaver, Wally Lamb and Jojo Moyes. Attendees will enjoy tea, finger sandwiches and a variety of sweet treats. Some books will be given away, while others will be available for purchase at a generous discount. ReferenceUSA will provide attendees with a free tote bag.

For more information about United for Libraries programs and events at the ALA Annual Conference, visit www.ala.org/united/events_conferences/annual.

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association that supports citizens who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. United for Libraries brings together library Trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information or to join United for Libraries, visit the United for Libraries website or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org.

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