Two groups win United for Libraries’ Baker & Taylor Awards

BRYN MAWR, Pennsylvania — The Williamsburg (Va.) Regional Library Foundation and the Friends of Smyrna (Tenn.) Library have been recognized with United for Libraries’ Baker & Taylor Awards for outstanding efforts to support their library. Each group receives $1,000 and a clock from Baker & Taylor to honor their achievements. The groups were recognized at United for Libraries’ Gala Author Tea, sponsored by ReferenceUSA, at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.

Through a capital campaign, the Williamsburg Regional Library Foundation raised more than $750,000 to help with construction costs for its new Stryker Center. By doing so the library gained critical space that more than doubled its community meeting space, added a museum-quality exhibit area, and created new administrative offices.

The Friends of Smyrna Library developed a “Spruce Up Smyrna Library” campaign to raise funds for improvements to the library’s aging facility. Due to the publicity the campaign received, a local real estate firm chose the project for its yearly volunteer day, and phase one was a collaboration between its employees and the Friends.

In addition, the Friends of the Orion Township Library (Lake Orion, Mich.) and Friends of the Chattanooga (Tenn.) Public Library earned honorable mentions for their efforts to support their libraries. The Friends of the Orion Township Library held a successful cultural fundraising gala, “Passport to Spring: Japan, A Festival of Seasons,” collaborating with several local organizations including the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit. The Friends of the Chattanooga Public Library opened the SkyLib Honor Bookstore at the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, raising funds for the library while providing a quiet space for reading in the library and increasing awareness of the library.  

Given annually since 2000, the Baker & Taylor Awards have recognized more than 45 groups for outstanding efforts to support their library. The two winning groups each receive $1,000. For more information about Baker & Taylor Awards, and a detailed description of the award-winning programs, visit www.ala.org/united/grants_awards/friends/bakertaylor.

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library Trustees, advocates, Friends, and Foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. To join, please visit www.ala.org/united or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161.