RELEASE: IMMEDIATE        DATE: 4/5/04

CONTACT: EMILY SILVERMAN, (413) 545-0995

SECOND ANNUAL “DINNER WITH FRIENDS”
RAISES OVER $8,000
FOR THE UMASS AMHERST LIBRARIES

     Amherst , Mass. – The second annual “Dinner with Friends” on Saturday, April 3, 2004 , was a great success. Sponsors, friends, and attendees raised over $8,000 for the Library collections. The event, hosted by the Friends of the UMass Amherst Library, featured presentations by authors Jeannine Atkins (children's literature), Elinor Lipman (fiction), Ron Welburn (poetry), and Barry Werth (nonfiction).

     Several sponsors contributed to the event: Dell, Inc., National Evaluation Systems, Inc., Arnold 's Meats, Bonbons de Bourguignon ® , Boyden & Perron, Florence Savings Bank, Fowler & Hunting Co., Gravity Switch, Hadley Garden Center , Jeffery Amherst Bookshop, Thurston Foods, and Trader Joe's.

     The goal of the event is to raise awareness of and support for the UMass Amherst Library. The Library is the largest public research library in the region and is open to all residents of Massachusetts .

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