Minnesota Book Awards Gala

Tickets for the 22nd Annual Minnesota
Book Awards Gala now on sale

Minnesota Book Awards Gala
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Crowne Plaza - Riverfront in Saint Paul
The opening reception begins at 6:30 p.m.,
followed by the awards ceremony at 8 p.m.
Emcee: Marianne Combs

Click here for a recap and slide show from last year's gala.

Here at The Friends, we're busily putting together the details for another fabulous gala celebration. With the phenomenal success of recent Minnesota Book Awards presentations, we know we have a winning formula but strive to make it better each year.

Book Awards will be presented to winners in 8 categories, plus:

The Readers’ Choice Award, sponsored by the Pioneer Press and TwinCities.com. Log on at www.twincities.com and vote anytime during March 2010.

The Kay Sexton Award, presented annually to an individual or organization in recognition of long-standing dedication and outstanding work in fostering books, reading and literary activity in Minnesota, sponsored by Common Good Books.

The Minnesota Book Artist Award. This annual award, co-sponsored by the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, recognizes a Minnesota book artist for excellence of artistic work in the book arts throughout his or her entire career, as well as significant contributions to Minnesota's book arts community.

Marianne Combs, Minnesota Public Radio

Our Host for the Evening: Marianne Combs

2010 emcee, Marianne Combs is a reporter for MPR's Arts Desk, where she reports on the arts for Minnesota Public Radio News. Combs joined Minnesota Public Radio in 1993. Since then, she has hosted State of the Arts, a weekly program dedicated to Minnesota's arts community, and worked as a reporter, producer and anchor at stations in Duluth, Rochester and St. Paul. In 1997 Combs left Minnesota Public Radio to work with the Peace Corps in Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa, where she served for three years.

The Book Awards Gala will be taped and broadcast at a later date by SPNN-Cable TV and TPT-Minnesota Channel. The 21st annual Minnesota Book Awards gala is now available on DVD, along with interviews of the Award-winning authors.

The Willie August Project - Inspired by the small group jazz of the 1960s and 70s, The Willie August Project builds its sound around extraordinarily cohesive ensemble playing, with an emphasis on collective improvisation. Each member of the group is both a fine soloist and an excellent supporting musician and listener. As a result, this trio is able to maintain a remarkable consistency of mood throughout each tune.

22nd Annual Minnesota Book Awards Gala - Tickets

Please reserve early, as seating is limited. Individual seats are general admission and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets include complimentary champagne and dessert during the Awards ceremony. This is not a dinner event, so please plan accordingly. Sponsored tables and complete tables purchased together (10 seats per table) will receive priority seating. Tickets are non-refundable.

Reservations are $40 per person. Members of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library and the Minnesota Library Association are eligible for a $5 discount. Members' discount may not be taken on the website. Please call 651-222-3242, or fax or mail in your order to receive the discount.
All attendees will receive their table assignment at the event. Individuals wishing to sit together should make their reservations together or contact The Friends’ office no later than April 9 to make a seating request. The Friends will do their best to honor seating requests made for tickets purchased at different times, but cannot guarantee fulfillment of these requests.
Physical tickets are not issued for this event. Instead, confirmation of seat purchases will be provided by email or phone.
Additional donations to The Friends in support of the Minnesota Book Awards are welcomed and appreciated. Donations will be dedicated to support future Book Awards and/or statewide Book Awards outreach activities.
Parking is available at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, on the street, and in nearby ramps.

Individual seats are $40 each.

Reserved, priority tables (10 tickets @ $40) are $400 each.

Put a table together with your friends so you can all sit together...
Host your favorite clients... Book Clubs welcome!

ARE YOU PURCHASING A TABLE OF TEN? Please fill out the table attendee information form and return it to The Friends’ office no later than April 9, 2010. Thank you!

SUPPORTING THE BOOK AWARDS IS GOOD BUSINESS. Sponsored tables (which include recognition in various Book Awards venues) and priority seating are also available beginning at the $1,000 level. For more information, please contact Wendy Moylan at 651-366-6484 or by email at wendy@thefriends.org.

JOIN THE FRIENDS AND SAVE! If you would like to join The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library and receive a $5 discount on all your Book Awards tickets, as well as other discounts and notification of free events (membership levels: $25, $50, $100 and $500), please call 651-222-3242 and place your order over the phone; or download, print, and mail or fax in your order (Fax: 651-222-1988). Click here to download the order form.

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Readers' Choice Award

sponsored by

All Minnesotans are invited to take part in voting for the Readers' Choice Award. The finalists have been chosen, and now it's your turn to have a say. Anytime during March 2010, readers can visit TwinCities.com to vote for one of the Minnesota Book Award finalists in 8 categories. The finalist with the most popular votes will be awarded the Readers’ Choice Award. Please, only one vote per person.

Here's how to take part:

Visit your local library or bookseller.
Read (or read up on) the finalists in contention for the 21st Annual Minnesota Book Awards.
Choose your favorite book from among the 32 finalists.
Vote!!!

The winner of the Reader's Choice Award will be tabulated by TwinCities.com and announced at the Minnesota Book Awards gala on Saturday, April 17, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Saint Paul. The winner will receive a $500 prize in addition to the Award. Be sure to check back on April 18th for a list of all of this year's Minnesota Book Award winners.

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The Minnesota Book Awards is a project of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library,
in consortium with the Saint Paul Public Library and the City of Saint Paul. Outreach partners
and supporting organizations include: MELSA, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minnesota
Department of Education—State Library Services, and Minnesota Educational Media Organization.

Contact:
Ann Nelson, Minnesota Book Awards Coordinator
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
651-222-3242
mnbookawards@thefriends.org

RBC Wealth Management presents the 22nd annual