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Friends of the Ennis (Texas) Public Library (Winner)

The Friends of the Ennis Public Library collaborated with library staff to create a portrait gallery of “Famous Friends” in the library. More than 60 portraits were exhibited throughout the library during the celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week. “Famous Friends” portraits included the oldest Friends member (age 93), the Friends website designer, a local author and columnist who is a library Friend, the 2011 Teen Volunteer Scholarship winner and many others. In addition, Mayor Russell Thomas issued a proclamation for National Friends of Libraries Week, and residents were encouraged to take a quiz about the Friends online for the chance to win a prize. The celebration surrounding National Friends of Libraries Week resulted in increased membership and a 25 percent increase in attendance at the November Friends meeting.

Friends of the Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Public Library District (Winner)

As part of National Friends of Libraries Week, the Friends of the Poughkeepsie Public Library District held the inaugural Adriance Honors on Monday, Oct. 17. The honorees were Roland (Skip) and Marion (Chad) Patterson, in recognition of their support of Adriance Memorial Library. More than 130 people attended the event, which was held at A Taste of Asia. The celebration was followed by a Friends event each day of the week as part of the library’s Thornton Wilder Month, with Poughkeepsie and the surrounding area reading The Bridge of San Luis Rey and Our Town. Events included a trip to the Tenement Museum in New York City, a membership campaign launch, a book discussion and a book fair at the local Barnes & Noble.

Friends of the Roxbury Township Public Library (Succasunna, N.J.) (Honorable Mention)

The Friends of the Roxbury Township Public Library kicked off National Friends of Libraries Week with a proclamation from the town council. The group created a Friends song for youth, a Friends rap for teens and an adult interactive Friends song. On Monday, teens helped the Friends by making a variety of buttons, with slogans such as “I’m a Friend, Are You a Friend?” The buttons were worn by members and given out to patrons who joined the Friends during the week. Also held during the week was a celebration for teens with pizza, soda and a book discussion, sponsored by the Friends and in conjunction with Teen Read Week.

Friends of the San Benito County (Calif.) Free Library (Honorable Mention)

The Friends of the San Benito County Free Library held a coloring contest for preschoolers, and winners received "Frog and Toad are Friends," in keeping with the “friend” theme. The Friends held a celebration marking the week on Oct. 19, when they presented a proclamation from the San Benito County Board of Supervisors designating the week as Friends of the Library Week in the county. Those attending the celebration included local dignitaries, library staff, Friends, local business owners and the winners of the coloring contest and their families. The week was capped off by a Friends booksale.