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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June
11, 2009
Contact:
, Austin Public Library, (512) 974-7379
Fax: (512) 974-7442
Austin Public Library Receives a $5000 Grant from the Texas Book Festival
The Texas Book Festival has awarded the Austin Public Library a book grant of $5,000. The grant will be used to expand the Southwestern Art book collection at the Pleasant Hill Branch and the Western book and DVD collection at the Manchaca Road Branch. Additionally, a portion of the funds will be used to provide programs that highlight Texas’ role in Southwestern Art and Western culture.
“We are extremely grateful to receive this grant,” said Brenda Branch, Director of Libraries. “The funds will enable us to enhance our history and art collections, which benefit Austin citizens and Texans alike.”
Every year public libraries across Texas apply to the Texas Book Festival to receive grant funds. The grants are intended to help initiate or continue innovative literacy and technology programs and to complete book collections. This year, the Festival is distributing more than $150,000 in grants to 51 public libraries across the state. Since 1996 the Festival has contributed more than $2.3 million in grants to Texas public libraries.
The Texas Book Festival raises money for the grants from corporate, private, and foundation sponsorships, the First Edition Literary Gala and from book sales at its annual event at the State Capitol in Austin. The 2009 Texas Book Festival is scheduled for October 31st and November 1st.
“We are committed to supporting the important work of Texas public libraries,” said Heidi Marquez Smith, Executive Director of the Texas Book Festival. “Public libraries continue to adapt to meet the needs of their communities and we are proud that we can help them make a difference.”
About the Texas Book Festival
The Texas Book Festival was founded in 1996 by Laura Bush and a group of interested volunteers and has been attended by half a million people from across the nation since its inception. The Festival raises money for Texas public libraries and has given more than $2.3 million in grants to fund book collections and literacy and technology programs in libraries throughout the state.
AT&T was the 2008 Festival underwriter. Events of the two-day festival are free to the public and take place in and around the State Capitol in Austin.
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