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PHILADELPHIA – The deadline to apply for United for Libraries’ National Friends of Libraries Week Awards has been extended to Dec. 31, 2013.

Two awards of $250 will be given to Friends of the Library groups for activities held during National Friends of Libraries Week (Oct. 20-26, 2013). Application materials are available at .

Applicants will be judged on 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, school, students and/or faculty.

National Friends of Libraries Week, coordinated by United for Libraries each October, offers a two-fold opportunity to celebrate Friends – promoting the group in the community, raising awareness and increasing membership and also giving libraries and boards of trustees the opportunity to recognize the Friends for their help and support of the library.

As part of National Friends of Libraries Week, United for Libraries Executive Director Sally Gardner Reed presented a free webinar on how to start a Friends of the Library group. The recording is available at no cost on the United for Libraries website at .

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 Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org.

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