United for Libraries to host free National Friends of Libraries Week webinar

EXTON, Pennsylvania — United for Libraries is hosting a live webinar on ideas to celebrate National Friends of Libraries Week (Oct. 20-26) on Tuesday, September 10 at 2:00 p.m. eastern. Featured speakers include Judy Bentzen (Friends of the San Juan Island Library) and Katie Norris (Friends of the Charleston Public Library). The webinar is free for anyone to attend live, and will be recorded and made available widely.

Coordinated by United for Libraries, National Friends of Libraries Week is an annual celebration of Friends of Libraries groups. The week is an opportunity for Friends to creatively promote their groups in the community, to raise awareness, and to promote membership. It also serves an excellent opportunity for libraries and Board of Trustee groups to recognize the Friends for their help and support of the library.

Library Trustees, advocates, Friends, Foundations, directors, and staff are invited to hear from past winners of the National Friends of Libraries Week Awards. Judy Bentzen, Treasurer of the Friends of the San Juan Island Library (Wash.), will discuss her group’s 2017 NFOLW Award-winning project, “Our Library is the Heart of the Island.” Katie Norris, President of the Friends of the Charleston Public Library (S.C.) at the time of their award-winning Board Reunion Celebration in 2018. A Q&A session will follow both presentations.

By attending this webinar, participants will gain a thorough understanding of the purpose of National Friends of Libraries Week as well as ideas on how to celebrate Friends groups within their groups, libraries, and communities. Friends will gain the inspiration to develop their own celebrations, and be encouraged to apply for the 2019 National Friends of Libraries Week Awards.

Judy Bentzen currently serves as Treasurer of the Friends of the San Juan Library. She is also known as a salty accountant with a love for books and libraries.  She is a mother of four and grandmother of five.

Katie Norris is a client account manager for a software company who lives and works in Charleston, South Carolina. A lifelong library lover and avid reader, Katie began volunteering at book sales before joining the board of the Charleston Friends of the Library in 2015 and served as Board President for the last two years. In her current role as Past President, Katie sits on the Executive Committee, chairs the Nominating Committee, and spearheads the effort to write the next strategic plan for the organization.

To register for the webinar, visit ala.org/united/nfolw. For information about other webinars offered by United for Libraries, visit ala.org/united/training/webinars.

The National Friends of Libraries Week Awards encourage Friends of Libraries to celebrate and promote their groups within the community. Each year, two Friends groups are awarded $250 each in honor of their celebrations during the week. For more information and to apply, visit ala.org/united/grants_awards/friends/friendsweek.

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. To join, please visit www.ala.org/united or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161.