PHILADELPHIA - Three Friends of the Library groups will be recognized with Baker & Taylor Awards from the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), during ALTAFF’s Gala Author Tea, held from 2 to 4 p.m. CDT on Monday, June 27 at the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans.

ALTAFF’s Baker & Taylor Awards recognize Friends groups for outstanding efforts to support their library. The winners of ALTAFF’s 2010 Baker & Taylor Awards are the Friends of the Salt Lake City (Utah) Public Library, the Friends of the Carpinteria (Calif.) Library and the Friends of the Princeton (N.J.) Public Library Each group will receive a $1,000 check and a plaque to honor their achievements.

The Friends of the Salt Lake City Public Library won for their overall activities on behalf of the library in 2010. In that year, the Friends made financial contributions to the library totaling $143,439, raised through special book sales, continuous sales at The Friends’ Store and online through Amazon.com. The Friends also initiated Buddies of the Library, a new program that brings kindergarten students from 16 local Title I schools to their neighborhood libraries. In addition, the Friends held a 50th anniversary celebration featuring NPR’s Scott Simon, host of Weekend Edition.

The Friends of the Carpinteria Library won for a fundraising event to celebrate the library’s centennial. The Friends group organized a fundraiser that featured a silent auction of book covers creatively covered and adorned by more than 30 local artists. More than 300 people attended the centennial celebration, and nearly $10,000 was raised for the library’s renovation thought the sale of tickets and the auction of artworks.

The year 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the Friends of the Princeton Public Library, and 2010 was the library’s centennial. The Friends won for the group’s overall activities on behalf of the library in 2010, including supporting the library’s centennial celebration by organizing a gala that featured Terry Gross, host of NPR’s Fresh Air, and raised $225,000; creating a new profit center by completely transforming the Friends’ store, and conducting an extremely successful annual appeal.

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, visit www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/altaff/grants_awards/friends/bakertaylor/.

The Gala Author Tea will be held at the Morial Convention Center, Room 293-296. Advance tickets cost $49 ($45 ALTAFF division members); the event code is ALT2. On-site tickets will cost $55, if seats are available. The Tea will feature Eleanor Brown, Nevada Barr, Dorothea Benton Frank, Amanda Kyle Williams, and Susan Wiggs and Elizabeth Wiggs Maas, as well as special guest Karin Slaughter. 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. This event is sponsored by ReferenceUSA, which will provide all attendees with a free tote bag.  

For more information about the Gala Author Tea and other ALTAFF events at the ALA Annual Conference, visit www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/altaff/events_conferences/annual.

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ALTAFF is a division of the American Library Association that supports citizens who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. ALTAFF 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, visit www.ala.org/altaff, or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org

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