Enoch Pratt Free Library Named Godfrey Award Recipient

10/1/02

DENTON — The Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Md., has been named the recipient of the second annual Godfrey Award for Excellence in Public Library Services for Families and Children.

The award will be presented at Texas Woman's University in Denton on Saturday, Nov. 23 during the annual Lillian Bradshaw Lecture. The lecture is named in honor of Mrs. Lillian Bradshaw, director of the Dallas Public Library from 1962-1984

The award is administered by the Center for Consulting in the School of Library and Information Studies at TWU. It was created and is funded by PROVIDENCE Associates Inc., Library Consultants and Planners.

The Godfrey Award, which includes $2,500 and a small sculpture for public display, honors a public library for outstanding programming for young children and families. The Enoch Pratt Free Library's “Mother Goose on the Loose” program was recognized as a strong contributor to a comprehensive set of library goals relating to children's services.

The program was nominated by children's programming specialist Betsy Diamant-Cohen and children's services coordinator Ellen Riordan. Dr. Carla Hayden is director of the library.

“Mother Goose on the Loose” is an interactive nursery rhyme program for parents and their children from infancy to age 3. The program comprises developmentally appropriate activities, incorporating nursery rhymes with music, games and puppets to encourage literacy in young children. The program began at the library in 1999 and has since met its goals in supporting early literacy and increasing public library usage by families with young children.

The Godfrey Award jurors are:

• Lynn Akin, assistant professor, School of Library and Information Studies, TWU
• Laurie Bonnici, director, School of Library and Information Studies, TWU
• Michael Cart, author, consultant and Bradshaw Visiting Professor, TWU
• Elaine Meyers, Phoenix Public Library
• Keith Swigger, dean, College of Professional Education, TWU and director, Center for Consulting
• Sylvia Vardell, professor, School of Library and Information Studies, TWU
• Marjorie Waters, PROVIDENCE Associates Inc., Cottonwood, Ariz.

For more information on the Godfrey Award, or to find out how to apply, go to www.twu.edu/cope/slis/godfrey.htm

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