Friends of St. Thomas Public Libraries (FOSTPL) has won the Best Friends Award for “Special Project Publicity” for 2010 (Public Library Friends group without paid staff) from the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF). ALTAFF’s Best Friends Awards recognize Friends groups around the country for print and electronic materials that promote the group and its special programs and projects.
FOSTPL’s “Read a Book, Share its Treasures” promotion, which ran in 2009, included the winning entry: a poster designed and executed by noted Virgin Islands photographer and artist Louis Ible Jr. The program coordinators for the effort were Jason Budsan, David A. Simon, MSLIS, and the current FOSTPL president, Judy King Edmeade. Sponsored by FirstBank Virgin Islands, the poster was distributed for display in libraries throughout St. Thomas in order to encourage everyone to take the time to read to each other, whether children or adults . . . and share the treasure trove of experiences to be found in books.
Materials submitted for consideration included copies of the poster and miniature versions distributed as bookmarks, and the original Web site press release on the project. As a winner, FOSTPL will receive a certificate and will be recognized in the July 2010 edition of The Voice, ALTAFF’s print and electronic newsletter. In addition, the winning materials will be posted on ALTAFF’s Web site: ala.org/altaff (click on “Friends Groups,” then “Grants & Awards”). This is the second award won by the poster, as in April 2009, “Read a Book, Share its Treasures” also won two local ADDY® Awards in the Public Service and Cultural Diversity categories in a ceremony hosted by the local Advertising Club of the Virgin Islands.