NEWS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      DATE: 11/22/05

CONTACT: LESLIE SCHALER, COMMUNICATIONS ASST., (413) 545-0162\

The Great Bay State Library Fundraiser

December 2 & 3, 2005

Amherst, MA - The Massachusetts Library Systems (MRLS), the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA), the UMass Amherst Libraries, and Barnes & Noble have teamed up for a two day state-wide event. The Great Bay State Library Fundraiser , to be held on December 2 and 3, will raise much needed funding for Massachusetts libraries. Barnes & Noble will donate a percentage of every sale from every customer who presents a book fair voucher at any Massachusetts Barnes & Noble store on those two days. The collaboration represents a growing trend in libraries to seek out partners to help fund programs that improve the quality of life for residents. Through partnerships with organizations and individua ls , MRLS and MLA continue to discover alternative ways of funding high quality library programs and services statewide.

John Ramsay, Administrator of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System based in Whately adds "This is a natural partnership between the six Massachusetts Regional Library Systems, the Massachusetts Library Association and Barnes & Noble. And the timing couldn't be better! On December 2 and 3, as library lovers shop for books and other materia ls for their holiday gift-giving, a large percentage of their purchases will be used to benefit libraries. It's a real win-win situation.”

Individua ls need to present a book fair voucher when visiting any Massachusetts Barnes & Noble store on December 2 and 3. Vouchers are available at the Library's website: http://www.library.umass.edu/ and at the Information Desk at the Entrance to the Du Bois Library, at the Circulation Desk at the Integrated Sciences and Engineering Library, and at the Music Reserves Lab at UMass Amherst. Vouchers are also available at The Great Bay State Library Fundraiser web site http://www.wmrls.org/mrls/bn/BookfairVoucher2005.pdf and by request at the cash register area of any Massachusetts Barnes & Noble store on December 2 & 3.

Partner with the MRLS, the MLA, the UMass Amherst Libraries and Barnes & Noble during The Great Bay State Library Fundraiser, December 2 & 3, to help support Massachusetts libraries.

For more information on this special event contact Emily Silverman at (413) 545-0995 or essilverman@library.umass.edu.

How Anyone Can Be A Partner:

• Present a book fair voucher at any Barnes & Noble retail store in Massachusetts on December 2 & 3 when you make a product purchase.

How To Obtain A Book Fair Voucher:

• Visit the UMass Amherst Libraries or any public library.

• Download the voucher from The Great Bay State Library Fundraiser web site - http://www.wmrls.org/mrls/bn/BookfairVoucher2005.pdf

• Request a voucher at the cash register of any Massachusetts Barnes & Noble store on December 2 & 3. Vouchers will only be given out to those who request them.

For more information:

http://www.wmrls.org/mrls/bn/index.html