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BRYN MAWR, Pennsylvania — United for Libraries is sponsoring the 11th annual National Friends of Libraries Week Oct. 16-22, 2016.

Friends of the library groups across the country are celebrating by holding membership drives, book sales and special events, and officials are issuing proclamations to mark Friends of Libraries Week in their town or state. Libraries are also honoring their friends groups and saying “thank you” for all they do for their libraries. Friends groups are being highlighted in local media to demonstrate their importance in the library and community.

United for Libraries encourages friends groups who are celebrating to apply for the National Friends of Libraries Week awards. Two awards of $250 will be given to friends of the library groups for activities held during the celebration. Application materials are available at . Entries are due by Dec. 2, 2016.

United for Libraries will also be highlighting National Friends of Libraries Week activities in an upcoming newsletter. To submit your activities and photos, email them to united@ala.org.

Friends groups, library trustees and library staff can access a variety of online resources to help them celebrate National Friends of Libraries Week. Materials available at include promotional ideas, editable publicity materials, camera-ready bookmarks, ideas from past celebrations and much more. Future National Friends of Libraries Week dates can also be found here.

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the 91´«Ã½ that supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. United for Libraries 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 or to join United for Libraries, visit the or contact Jillian Wentworth at (312) 280-2161 or jwentworth@ala.org.