Minnesota Book Awards Gala

21st Annual Minnesota Book Awards Gala promises champagne, celebrities, and books galore!

Watch for information about the
21st annual Minnesota Book Awards gala presentation in early 2009.

For now, save the date!

Details about last year's Minnesota Book Awards gala:

6:30 p.m. - Reception, Book Sales and Signing, Cash Bar

8:00 p.m. - Awards Ceremony (featuring complimentary champagne and desserts; celebrity presenters; music by The Willie August Project)

Our Host: Cathy Wurzer, host of MPR's Morning Edition and TPT's Almanac

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

  • The Readers’ Choice Award, sponsored by the Pioneer Press. Log on at www.twincities.com during the month of March to cast YOUR vote!
  • The Kay Sexton Award, for outstanding contributions to Minnesota’s book community.
  • The Minnesota Book Artist Award. This annual award, co-sponsored by the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, recognizes a Minnesota book artist for the 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.

Additional autographing and book sales will follow. Cocktail or business attire suggested. The Book Awards Gala will be taped and broadcast at a later date by SPNN-Cable TV and TPT-Minnesota Channel.

The Crowne Plaza Hotel is located at 11 East Kellogg Boulevard. For parking and directions, click here.

Cathy Wurzer is the host of MPR’s Morning Edition and co-host of TPT’s Almanac. Her impressive resume also includes previous work as an anchor and reporter for WCCO-TV, talk show host for WCCO-AM radio, a producer for KMSP-TV, and political reporter for KSTP-AM radio. Wurzer has won three Emmy Awards for her work on Almanac.

Cathy Wurzer

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.

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. Sponsored tables and complete tables purchased together (10 seats per table) will receive priority seating. Tickets are non-refundable.

  1. 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.
  2. 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 1 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.
  3. Physical tickets are not issued for this event. Instead, confirmation of seat purchases will be provided by email or phone.
  4. 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.
  5. 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!

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.

If you would like to join The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library and receive a $5 discount on 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 PDF.

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Readers' Choice

Readers' Choice Award
All Minnesotans are invited to take part in voting for the Readers' Choice Award. During the month of March 2009, readers will be able to 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.  The award is sponsored by the Pioneer Press and TwinCities.com.  Please, only one vote per person.

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The Minnesota Book Awards is a Capital City project, led by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, in consortium with the Saint Paul Public Library and the Office of the Mayor of Saint Paul. Outreach partners and supporting organizations include: MELSA; Minnesota Department of Education—State Library Services; Minnesota Library Association; and Library Networks for Literature—a project of the Public Programs Office of the American Library Association. Media sponsors include the Pioneer Press, The Rake, Saint Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN), and TPT-Minnesota Channel. Generous support has been provided by the F.R. Bigelow Foundation, The Harlan Boss Foundation for the Arts, The Huss Foundation, The Katherine B. Andersen Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation, a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, and The Saint Paul Foundation.

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