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EXTON, Pennsylvania -- Friends of the LeClaire (Iowa) Community Library and Charleston (S.C.) Friends of the Library are winners of United for Libraries’ 2018 National Friends of Libraries Week Awards. Each group received $250 and will be recognized at United for Libraries’ Gala Author Tea, sponsored by ReferenceUSA, at the 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference on Monday, June 24 at 2 p.m.

The Friends of the LeClaire Community Library held several special library programs during National Friends of Libraries Week, including ''Pumpkin Decorating" and "Absolute Science" for the youth a talk from a local author who spoke about his book Time to Ship Another Steer and what it was like growing up on an Iowa farm. Being near Halloween, there was also a presentation about searching for eerie creatures - vampires, werewolves, and chupacabras.

In LeClaire Community Library, there is a display case adjacent to the circulation desk. For the month of October, the Friends displayed their "mascot" - a giraffe named “Stretch.” The display included a large collection of giraffes - toys, pictures, etc. The Friends solicited some longtime library supporters (Friends, Trustees, past Staff and patrons) to write a story about their involvement with the Library, and called them Stretch Stories. They received several great stories and included them in the display.

At each program, a Friends member was introduced by the Library Director and given a few minutes to make a short talk about the Friends. More specifically, they reminded everyone that the Friends fund most programs at the Library. Friends members remained after the programs concluded to talk with those in attendance, making sure to ask people to join the organization.

The Friends of the LeClaire Community Library were pleased to receive ten new membership applications during National Friends of Libraries Week! With approximately forty existing members, that represented a 25% increase. And just a few days later, the Friends received a very nice contribution to its endowment fund from one of the new members.

The Charleston Friends of the Library kicked off National Friends of Libraries Week by holding its first ever Friends of the Library board Reunion Celebration on Sunday, October 21 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Old Village Post House in Mt. Pleasant. The Charleston Friends seized the opportunity to celebrate all of its past and current board members over the course of 30+ years, and to honor Charleston Friends of the Library Founder, Sara Breibart.

More than 60 individuals attended the Reunion Celebration. All were treated to wine and appetizers and the chance to mix and mingle with Friends. Students from the Charleston Academy of Music played string music, and Charleston Friends of the Library Executive Director Brittany Mathis led a brief program that included remarks from herself, Charleston Friends of the Library Board President Katie Norris, and Charleston County Public Library interim Executive Director, Darlene Jackson.

In addition, words of reflection were given to honor Charleston Friends of the Library Founder Sara Breibart who, during her time with the Friends, developed a number of library programs that helped to educate and inspire the community—many of which continue to this day, including the Charleston MET Opera series.



In addition to the Board Reunion Celebration, Executive Director Brittany Mathis created posters that displayed the names of all Friends of the Library board members from the past 30+ years, thanking them for their dedicated service and commitment to making the Charleston County Library system a community gem. These posters were displayed at all 16 Charleston County Public Library branches during National Friends of Libraries Week. A framed copy of the poster was given to Charleston Friends of the Library Founder, Sara Breibart.

The next National Friends of Libraries Week will be held Oct. 20-26, 2019. For more information, visit . For more information on the National Friends of Libraries Week Awards, visit .

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.