"Read a Book, Share its Treasures!" poster wins two ADDY® Awards

"Read a Book, Share its Treasures!" wins two ADDY® Awards

April 26, 2009: Friends of the St. Thomas Public Libraries (FOSTPL) has garnered two local ADDY® Awards in the Public Service and Cultural Diversity categories in a ceremony hosted by the local Advertising Club of the Virgin Islands (ADVI). Both citations were for the FOSTPL Literacy Project poster "Read a Book, Share Its Treasures".

Sponsored by the American Advertising Federation (AAF) and billed as "The World's Largest Advertising Competition", the national ADDY® Awards take in entries from all over the world, and are presented at the organization's annual conference. Entries also come in from 200 member advertising clubs and 15 districts within the U.S.

As with other local chapters, the local Ad Club's ADVI ADDY® Awards take into account unique expressions targeting its own constituents. At an awards gala held on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Prior Jollek Hall on St. Thomas, FOSTPL was awarded a Silver Award for Collateral Poster in the Public Service Category, and the Gold Mosaic Award for Cultural Diversity (one of the top final awards for all categories).

FOSTPL Past President and member Carol Lotz-Felix submitted the poster for the 2009 Addy Awards in recognition of the efforts of artist and photographer Luis Ible, Jr. and program coordinator Jason Budsan, as well as David A. Simon, MSLIS, current FOSTPL President Judy King Edmeade, and Anita Davis who assisted with the print, online and radio publicity campaign. Funding was provided by First Bank Virgin Islands as part of its corporate support of literacy programs.

Since September of 2008, the posters continue to grace various public spaces on St. Thomas (including schools, day care centers and libraries, and in participating businesses) with its message to "Read a Book, Share its Treasures!" The posters portray community members of all ages sharing a classic fairy tale. As FOSTPL

celebrates its 27th year, the "Read a Book, Share its Treasures" promotion will hopefully stimulate parents, friends, colleagues and family members to spend time reading with and to each other.

"We'd like to encourage the public to visit our public libraries across the territory, and to recognize that the Friends of St.Thomas Public Libraries will continue to serve St. Thomas for the next 27 years with your help and generous contributions," says FOSTPL member, businessman and community activist Jason Budsan.

As then-Advocacy Committee Chair, Budsan provided coordination in 2007 among FOSTPL Board members and models alongside renowned graphic artist Louis Ible, Jr. No stranger to the power of words to change lives, Ible is a publisher (Flair magazine), graphic designer, musician, and a multiple winner of V.I. Carnival Committee's Calypso King title and M.S.I. Calypso of the Year Awards. With input from FOSTPL, a theme of sharing the treasures to be found within the pages of books took shape. Ible's photographic and artistic acumen bring life to engagingly animated twosomes who toss bits and pieces of "Little Red Riding Hood" among each other.

FOSTPL President Judy King-Edmeade congratulates all involved for their teamwork. "What an honor! This is the icing to the cake! Thank you, Carol for obtainining the grant from First Bank VI to get the project on the road AND for submitting the poster to the ADVI committee."

"Thank you, Jason for getting Mr. Ible to do the project," she continues. "Thank you FOSTPL board members, for sharing the ideas to develop the design for the posters and for distributing them throughout the island." And to her predecessor, former FOSTPL President JJ Estemac, King-Edmeade extends gratitude for his initial support of the project, whose completion extended into her term. And finally, those who grace the poster receive her kudos: "Thank you to all who shared your beautiful faces to make this poster a hit in the community."

The Friends of St. Thomas Public Libraries continues its advocacy efforts with a Day Care Literacy Program, Hospital Book Cart, a Summer Reading Program, and support of the Enid M. Baa Public Library's BookMobile, and Saturday Children's Reading Program, and Student Library Volunteers. Additionally, the organization joins the community in advocating for the completion of the St. Thomas Regional Library and Records Center in Tutu.

To sign up for FOSTPL's e-Newsletter, join FOSTPL or volunteer, visit www.fostpl.org or email helping@fostpl.org.