Two Friends groups win National Friends of Libraries Week Awards

BRYN MAWR, Pennsylvania -- Friends of the Glendale (Ariz.) Public Library and Holdrege (Neb.) Area Friends of the Library are winners of United for Libraries’ 2016 National Friends of Libraries Week Awards.

Each group received $250 and were recognized at United for Libraries’ Gala Author Tea, sponsored by ReferenceUSA, at the ALA Midwinter Meeting. Friends of the Stirling Road Branch Library (Hollywood, Fla.) and Friends of the Tellico Village Library, Inc. (Loudon, Tenn.) earned honorable mentions for their efforts.

As part of National Friends of Libraries Week, the Friends of the Glendale Public Library kicked off a membership drive and presented a Fall Library Tour, which included the library’s 3D printer and IDEA Center. Guests included two members of city council and Mayor Jerry Weiers, who honored Friends President Char Sharp with a special proclamation commending the work of the Friends, who have helped develop successful library programs, raised money for special equipment, helped connect with city leaders, and engaged library customers with ALA’s Libraries Transform Campaign.

Holdrege Area Friends of the Library hosted an event for each day of National Friends of Libraries Week, including a partnership with Humanities Nebraska to host a Native American storyteller, a Patron Appreciation Day, a Membership Appreciation Evening, a book sale, and a Staff Appreciation Supper. The successful week followed a yearlong revamping of the Friends group after it nearly folded in 2015. A group of younger volunteers stepped up to form a new board of directors, who organized the group’s first National Friends of Libraries Week celebration.

Friends of the Stirling Road Library hosted a National Friends of Libraries Week celebration that included a family sing-along, raffles, storytelling, a lecture, and a reading of the Broward County proclamation declaring National Friends of Libraries Week. They also produced a video to mark the week.

Friends of the Tellico Village Library, Inc.’s events for the week included “An Evening Under the Stars” fundraisers in the library courtyard sponsored by several local businesses, a membership drive, and the “4 Bs Festival” featuring barbecue, bluegrass, beer, and books. The Friends received television and newspaper coverage of their events.

The next National Friends of Libraries Week will be held Oct. 15-21, 2017. For more information, visit www.ala.org/united/events_conferences/folweek.For more information on the National Friends of Libraries Week Awards, visit www.ala.org/united/grants_awards/friends/friendsweek.

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association that supports those 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 Wentworth at (312) 280-2161 or jwentworth@ala.org.