Local group one of two to receive recognition
The Friends of the San Benito County Free Library was recognized
Jan. 10 at the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends
and Foundations Gala Author Tea in San Diego with the 2010 National
Friends of the Libraries Week Award. The local Friends group is one
of two to receive the award, which came with a check for $250, a
certificate and national recognition.
According to the announcement, San Benito County’s group, along
with the Friends of the Ennis Public Library, were recognized for
their
”
creativity and innovation; involvement of Friends, library
staff, Trustees and/or advisory committee; recognition of Friends
group and promotion of Friends group to the community during
National Friends of the Libraries Week Oct. 17-23.
”
Local group one of two to receive recognition
The Friends of the San Benito County Free Library was recognized Jan. 10 at the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations Gala Author Tea in San Diego with the 2010 National Friends of the Libraries Week Award. The local Friends group is one of two to receive the award, which came with a check for $250, a certificate and national recognition.
According to the announcement, San Benito County’s group, along with the Friends of the Ennis Public Library, were recognized for their “creativity and innovation; involvement of Friends, library staff, Trustees and/or advisory committee; recognition of Friends group and promotion of Friends group to the community during National Friends of the Libraries Week Oct. 17-23.”
“For Hollister and San Benito County to win this award is amazing,” said Ruth Erickson, the president of the Friends of the San Benito County Free Library. “We have to gloat a little. This is a national award.”
The local friends of the library celebrated its 30th anniversary in conjunction with National Friends of the Library week in October, and sponsored an essay contest for local middle school and high school students. The essay contest asked students to write about why the library is their best “Friend.”
The students were awarded at an evening meeting in the Barbara Memorial Room at the San Benito County Free Library, where the Friends also received a variety of proclamations from government agencies commending their efforts.
Erickson said the group planned the festivities and after the fact learned that they had met the criteria for the award, and decided to enter.
“It shows the spirit – the heart of the community,” said Nora Conte, the county librarian, of the Friends’ award. “It has been the mission of the Friends of the Library to support the library over the past 30 years.”
She added that the Friends volunteers network, collaborate and fundraise all in an effort to increase use of the library as well as the resources available to the community.
“When I go out to California library events, people are always astounded by the things our library is able to do,” Conte said. “What I always remind them is no one does anything by themselves. It takes a unity of purpose.”
Erickson prepared a folder of information that included the many proclamations the Friends received during National Library Week, from the city of Hollister, the San Benito County Supervisors, the State Assembly and State Senate, and Congress. It also included copies of the winning essays by high school student Mia Vodanovich and middle school student Riley Scherr, as well as mentions in local media outlets.
“I had all the stuff,” Erickson said. “All I had to do was copy it and send it off. I wasn’t thinking about it when someone called and said we won one of two awards. We are just a small organization. We are just a small Friends group. It was super.”
The group has a busy year ahead, with an event or fundraiser planned most months of 2011, Erickson said. One of the fundraisers coming up is an afternoon tea the Friends are coordinating with the Women’s Club of Hollister. Erickson pointed out that one of the early efforts of the Women’s Club when they were founded was to start a local library.
They hosted the afternoon fundraiser for the first time last year and plan to have the upcoming event March 25, at San Juan Oaks. It will include tea, prizes, auction items and more.
As for the next National Friends of the Library week, Erickson is already thinking about ways to get younger students involved.
“I thank the Friends and all their endeavors,” Conte said. “I thank them for their unity of purpose.”
Friends of the Ennis Public Library won the other award. The group organized an awareness campaign that included a first ever Friends Fair to promote 16 ongoing Friends-sponsored library activities and programs. The event also introduced Friends members to the community and was attended by city officials. The Friends provided a barbecue lunch for the Ennis Library staff. The Friends of the Joliet Public Library and the Friends of the Rains County Public Library both received honorable mention.
According to a press release: “National Friends of the Libraries Week offers a two-fold opportunity to celebrate. Friends groups can use the time to creatively promote their groups in the community, to raise awareness and to promote membership. The celebration also offers an excellent opportunity for the library staff and Board of Trustees to recognize the Friends for their help and support of the library.”
The News To You
The Friends of the San Benito County Free Library is always accepting new members. Members can volunteer in a variety of ways – in the library, as a literacy tutor, book sorting and sales, computer technology support, special events and programs, endowment planning, mailings, word processing, general fundraising/development, telephoning, translating, storytelling and more. There are a variety of membership and sponsorship levels.
An individual membership is $15 a year, a family membership is $25 a year, student and senior memberships are $7.50, and there are other levels as well.
To find out more, pick up an application at the library, 470 Fifth St., in Hollister, visit www.sanbenitofl.org or call 636-4107.
