Batavia library group wins award for bulldogs project
Submitted by Batavia Public Library
The bulldogs have done it again!
The Batavia Public Library Foundation has won a national Baker & Taylor Award for Bulldogs Unleashed from the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, a division of the American Library Association.
ALTAFF’s Baker & Taylor Awards recognize library Friends groups and Foundations for outstanding efforts in support of their library. The Library Foundation won the award for Bulldogs Unleashed, Batavia’s 2011 community arts project, a collaborative effort among three Batavia groups — the Library Foundation, the Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence, and the Batavia Parks Foundation.
The three foundations worked together to unleash 25 larger-than-life fiberglass bulldogs in downtown Batavia — works of art created by 22 Illinois artists. The project raised over $75,000 for the three organizations.
Library Director George H. Scheetz will accept the award, a $1,000 prize and plaque, during ALTAFF’s Gala Author Tea, June 25, during the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif.
“We believed the project had great potential for success from the beginning,” said Scheetz. “To receive an award at the national level is a remarkable affirmation of Batavia’s spirit of community. The recognition is even sweeter because the Batavia Public Library Foundation is the very first foundation (as opposed to a Friends group) to win a Baker & Taylor Award, in the very first year that foundations were eligible.”
Baker & Taylor Awards have been given since 2000. Baker & Taylor is a leading distributor of books, videos, and music products to libraries, institutions, and retailers.
Library Foundation President Lynn M. Elam said “ Working in collaboration with other foundations made Bulldogs Unleashed a unique community-based project. I am delighted that Batavia is being recognized at such a high level.”
Two Friends groups also won a Baker & Taylor Award — the Friends of Hackley Public Library, Muskegon, Mich., and the Friends of the Troy, Mich., Public Library.
Bulldogs Unleashed brought recognition to Batavia Access Television earlier this year when BATV received the Award of Distinction from the Communicator Awards 2012 Video Competition for its video “Bulldogs Unleashed — The Documentary.” The award-winning video was produced by BATV volunteers and documented the entire Bulldogs Unleashed project from start to finish.