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<p class="Default"><span style="color:windowtext"></span><b><i><span style="font-size:44.0pt;color:windowtext">News Release
</span></i></b><span style="font-size:44.0pt;color:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">Contact: Martin Ackley, Director of Public and Governmental Affairs, 517-241-4395
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">Bill Disessa, Spokesperson, 517-335-6649
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><b><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:windowtext">Benzonia Public Library Earns 2016 State Librarian’s Excellence Award
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">September 26, 2016
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">LANSING – The Benzonia Public Library (BPL) has earned the 2016 State Librarian's Excellence Award for its superior customer service, State Librarian Randy Riley announced today.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">Riley presents the annual award, including $2,000 in privately-donated funds, October 28 at the Michigan Library Association's annual conference in Lansing.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">“Michigan libraries are doing amazingly creative things to serve their communities,” Riley said. “Benzonia Public Library has been able to provide its users with an experience that rivals or
exceeds those offered by much larger or greater-funded library systems.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">The Library of Michigan Foundation and Library of Michigan (LM) present the State Librarian's Excellence and Citations of Excellence awards each year to highlight the importance of services
provided by Michigan's libraries. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">This year’s Citations of Excellence went to the Troy Public Library (TPL) and Orion Township Public Library (OTPL). Each library receives $1,000 as a Citation of Excellence winner.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">The State Librarian's Excellence Award is sponsored by Roger Mendel and his late wife June. The Citation of Excellence Awards are funded by Martin L. Gibbs in memory of his late wife, Carole
Sorenson and the Library of Michigan Foundation in recognition of former Executive Director Carolyn “Sparky” Mowery.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">“The staff, board, volunteers and friends of Benzonia Public Library could not be more delighted with this incredible honor,” said Benzonia Public Library Director Amanda McLaren. “It is always
our goal to give our best to our community. Our community is our purpose, our focus and our inspiration.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="page-break-before:always"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">Riley said BPL’s proactive, collaborative approach to establishing meaningful partnerships in its community is a model for other libraries of all sizes.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="page-break-before:always"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">Some BPL programs and partnerships include:
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.65pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Symbol;color:windowtext"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">Selected by the University of Michigan School of Information to host a three-day “Making in Michigan Libraries” workshop
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.65pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Symbol;color:windowtext"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">Partnering with three other Benzie county libraries to offer the Great Benzie Read Program
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.65pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Symbol;color:windowtext"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">In response to an increase in local teen overdoses and suicides, worked with a local child psychiatrist to offer a session on childhood depression
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.65pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Symbol;color:windowtext"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">Teamed with Frankfort Community Credit Union to offer a program during Money Smart Week
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.65pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Symbol;color:windowtext"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">The Summer Reading program “Building S.T.E.A.M. at the Benzonia Public Library” provided weekly sessions focusing on science, technology, engineering, art or mathematics
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.65pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Symbol;color:windowtext"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">Active member of the Crystal Lake Community Business Association
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Symbol;color:windowtext"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">Presented the “Power Tool Basics for Women” program
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">State Librarian's Excellence Award evaluation factors include: demonstrating that the library provides superior service to its customers and community in a cost-effective manner, with a can-do
attitude; always delivering on promises; and fulfilling the library's commitment to high standards of customer service.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">In earning Citations of Excellence, the Troy and Orion Township libraries also are recognized for customer service.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">TPL has embraced its community’s teens and challenged them to help make the library more teen-friendly, to grow the next generation of users and to improve services overall. Young patrons responded
enthusiastically and actively took on more “ownership” of the facility. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext">OTPL strives to provide superior service with a goal to engage a thriving community of lifelong learners. It successfully has positioned itself as a community gathering and learning place where
children, teens, entrepreneurs, educators and seniors are all welcome. OTPL received the first annual Library of Congress Award from the Michigan Department of Education for its work on early literacy initiatives.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext"># # # <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt">The Library of Michigan – Michigan’s official state library agency for more than 175 years – is part of the Michigan Department of Education. To learn more, visit
<span style="color:blue">www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan</span>.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A">Sonya Schryer Norris<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A">Library of Michigan<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A">702 W. Kalamazoo St.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A">PO Box 30009<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A">Lansing, MI 48909<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A">517-373-4457<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A"><a href="http://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan"><span style="color:#0563C1">http://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A"><a href="http://www.mel.org/"><span style="color:#0563C1">http://www.mel.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A"><a href="http://www.michlibrary.org/"><span style="color:#0563C1">http://www.michlibrary.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#2E74B5">Our collective efforts can help make Michigan a Top 10 education state in 10 years! Here are the goals and strategies:
</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:#2E74B5"><a href="http://mi.gov/top10in10"><span style="color:#2E74B5">http://mi.gov/top10in10</span></a>/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="255" height="136" style="width:2.6583in;height:1.4166in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D217FC.CD9A88E0" alt="cid:image001.png@01D2039A.4E4BC0C0"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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