For immediate release | June 14, 2011

Friends of the New Orleans Public Library and ALTAFF to dedicate a Literary Landmark honoring Frances Parkinson Keyes during 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference

91´«Ã½

PHILADELPHIA - The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF), a division of the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½), along with the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library, will dedicate the Beauregard-Keyes House, 111 Chartres St., New Orleans, as a Literary Landmark in honor of Frances Parkinson Keyes at 9 a.m. CDT on Monday, June 27.

Author Frances Parkinson Keyes made the house at 1113 Chartres St. her winter residence from 1945 until her death in 1970 at the age of 85. Of her 51 books, "The Chess Players" and "Madame Castel’s Lodger" are set at the house and tell of its construction and early habitation. It was at the house that she wrote "Dinner at Antoine’s," her best known work.

Speaking at the dedication will be Scott Cunningham, president of the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library; Gary Williams, chairman of the Beauregard-Keyes Foundation; Kristin Gisleson Palmer, a New Orleans city council member and Donna McDonald, ALTAFF president-elect and board member of the Arkansas State Library. All are invited to attend.

In addition to the dedication, ALTAFF will present a panel discussion on “Recognizing Your Community’s Literary Heritage: How to Designate a Literary Landmark” at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 25 at the 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference. The program will be held at the Doubletree Hotel, Madewood B. The event is free for conference attendees; for more information about registration options, visit . Those purchasing the Exhibits Plus package ($35) will have access to hundreds of vendors on the exhibits floor, plus programming on the PopTop Stage, the Opening General Session and all non-ticketed programs of ALTAFF. For more information about ALTAFF events at the 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference, visit .

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is a division of the 91´«Ã½ 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 , or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org

Contact:

Jillian Kalonick