91´«Ã½

BRYN MAWR, Pennsylvania -- United for Libraries has awarded the 2017 United for Libraries/Thrift Books Friend Conference Grants to Sandi Caulkins of the Friends of the Kirbyville (Texas) Library.

Caulkins will receive $850 plus full conference registration to attend the 2017 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference in Chicago. A formal presentation to the grant winners will be made at the conference at “Nuts & Bolts for Trustees, Friends and Foundations” on Friday, June 23, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (for more information, visit ).

Caulkins is a former two-term secretary and now active member of the Friends of the Kirbyville Library. For the last five years she has spent 24 hours a week as a Friends of the Library volunteer, leading projects such as a Reader of the Month program for youth, summer reading programs, book sales, and local author events.

“As someone who has lived within the military lifestyle in one aspect or another until recently, I moved around a lot,” said Caulkins. “Through it all, I have had books. It was always the first thing I sought out when we moved somewhere new. If it wasn't the school libraries, it was the public ones. It was the one thing that was the same wherever we went. Anyone who ever knew me growing up would never be surprised to know that I have now chosen to live and work with books.”

The United for Libraries/Thrift Books Friends Grant enables one member of a Friends of the Library group at a public library to attend the 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference. Applicants must be first-time attendees, and must be active in their public library Friends group. The Conference Grant, made possible by a gift from Thrift Books, is administered by United for Libraries. For more information about the United for Libraries/Thrift Books Friend Conference Grant, visit .

Thrift Books is proud to again sponsor the United for Libraries/Thrift Books Friend Conference Grant. Every day Thrift Books helps extend the life of books by finding them new readers through online sales, while providing needed fundraising for libraries, schools, and literacy programs worldwide. Thrift Books LLC is the largest online seller of used books in North America, and likely the world. Founded in 2003, Thrift Books has 11 distribution affiliates throughout the United States that purchase, sort and distribute used books. Based in Seattle, Wash., Thrift Books relies on proprietary software to identify, value, sell, and ship used books using a variety of online platforms, including Thriftbooks.com.

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the 91´«Ã½ 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 or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161.