The Friends of the Austin Public Library were recognized for outstanding library support at the recent MLA annual conference. The Austin Friends received the 2015 Evy Nordley Award for Best Project by Friends of the Library, the most distinguished award from the Minnesota Association of Library Friends (MALF).
The project grew out of a local need for new reading materials after the closing of a local bookstore. The Friends negotiated a partnership with the Rochester Barnes & Noble and offered buying opportunities for community members which coincided with special holidays.
Of the award, Friends President Sue Grove stated, “Winning the Evy Nordley Award is an affirmation that what our Friends group is doing is providing real services and benefits to our community. The $1,000 grant attached to the Evy Nordley will serve as ‘seed money’ as we explore other innovative projects.”
Click here to read more about their award-winning project and how the Friends of the Austin Public Library created a new and replicable holiday book sale model.