Lois Miller, Library Foundation Development Director, is excited for the event because it will bring awareness and funding to the foundation’s charitable efforts. The foundation was formed in 2007 in order to enhance and deepen the services of the Anne Arundel County Public Library that are otherwise unfunded or under-funded by local, state and federal funds. According to Miller, this event was the brainchild of Barnes and Noble, who contacted the Library Foundation, although Miller admits that “it was a natural partnership—something [Barnes and Noble] has done with other businesses and organizations.”
During the week-long event, Barnes & Noble will donate up to 20 percent of each purchase to the foundation when shoppers mention the Library or cite ID #10244077 at any B&N retail store or when shopping online at www.bn.com. The proceeds from the book fair will be used to support the mission of the foundation.
Eventually, Miller says, “we want to bring authors to the branches.” But for now, this speaker series is a great way to connect authors and readers, as well as parents and children. “Libraries are really at the heart of our communities… [they] are fundamental to who we are as Americans. They give free and equal access to information and ideas, and they support community values—respect for other people, and sharing resources.”
Miller is working on ideas for national library week, and is constantly brainstorming ways for the public libraries to engage students and families.
You can support the Library Foundation’s initiatives by coming to Barnes and Noble during their speaker series, with dates as follows. You can also mention the Library at checkout, or use ID #10244077 online, when making a Barnes and Noble purchase any time from Nov. 9¬–15. Or, you can make a charitable donation to the Anne Arundel County Library Foundation. Send checks to Library Headquarters, 5 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401.
Here are some highlights from the speaker schedule:
- r
- John Shields, the acclaimed author of Coastal Cooking and owner of Gertrude’s restaurant at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Tuesday, November 9 at 7 p.m. r
- r
- E.D. Baker, author of The Frog Princess, a Book Sense Children’s Pick that was recently made into a Disney animated movie, among others. Tuesday, November 11 at 6 p.m. r
- r
- Eric McAllister Smith, The Capital’s award winning columnist and cartoonist and author of Not By the Book: A Combat Intelligence Officer in Vietnam. Thursday, November 11 at 7 p.m. r
- r
- Ellen Weber Libby, a Washington, D.C.-based clinical psychologist and author of The Favorite Child. Sunday, November 14 at 2 p.m. r
- r
- Nancy Fink, author of The Perfect Job: Fact or Fiction, will speak on outplacement consultant job placement. Monday, November 15 at 6:30 p.m. r
- r
- There will also be a “Think Fun Game Night,” for families on Friday, November 12 from 5 to 9 p.m., as well as a special session of the Anne Arundel County Public Library’s popular Babies in Bloom program for caregivers and babies up to two years of age on Monday, November 15 at 10 a.m. r
- r
- In addition, shoppers at the Annapolis Harbour B&N are invited to meet and greet Foundation volunteers throughout the week, and register for door prizes from local businesses. Prizes will also be offered to patrons who excel at “Book Quest,” a scavenger hunt for all ages that will be held among the stacks for the duration of the Book Fair. r
For more information, see the Library Foundation’s fall newsletter, found on their website.
