Literary Lions Gala
March 7, 2009
Bellevue Regional Library
Save the Date! Circle March 7 on your calendar today and make plans to attend the 2009 Literary Lions Gala. Join us at the Bellevue Regional Library for an evening of books, banter, and bidding.
- Everybody's favorite librarian, Nancy Pearl, will emcee the event and regale you with humorous notes from the reading life
- National Book Award winner, Garth Stein , will be the featured speaker
- Third Place Books hosts the book sale, which features titles by all 30 guest authors - Check back soon for a list of authors attending the 2008 event
- Silent auction features unique items and adventures - Check back for our catalog in January
- The three-course dinner features a different Northwest author at your table for each course
Interested in hosting a table? Corporate sponsors enjoy many promotional perks with their support. Tables start at $2,500. Contact Claire Wilkinson at 425.369.3448 for information.
Interested in donating a literary-related item or experience for the silent auction? Give Claire a call!
Want to be added to the invitation mailing list? Claire can put you on the list!
Garth Stein - Keynote Speaker
Garth Stein is the author of the New York Times best selling 
literary novel, The Art of Racing in the Rain. Now Published in 23 languages, The Art of Racing in the Rain was the #1 BookSense selection for June, 2008, the Starbucks spring/ summer 2008 book selection, and has been on the bestseller list since its publication.
Stein’s previous novel, How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets, won a Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award, and was a BookSense Pick in both hardcover and paperback.
With an M.F.A. in film from Columbia University, Garth worked as a documentary film maker for several years and directed, produced, or co-produced several award-winning films.
After spending his childhood in Seattle and then living in New York City for 18 years, Garth returned t Seattle, where he currently lives with his wife, three sons, and dog comet.
Nancy Pearl - Emcee
Since the release of the best-selling Book Lust in 2003, More Book Lust in 2005, Book Crush in 2007, and the Librarian Action Figure modeled in her likeness, Nancy Pearl has become a rock star among readers and the tastemaker people turn to when deciding what to read next.
Having worked as a librarian and bookseller in Detroit, Tulsa, and Seattle, Pearl's knowledge of and love for books is unmatched. The former Executive Director of the Washington Center for the Book, she celebrates the written word by speaking at bookstores and libraries across the country and appearing on local community television and on NPR affiliate stations KUOW in Seattle and KWGS in Tulsa.
Awards
Friend of the Year
Hundreds of community members volunteer their time and talents through their neighborhood Friends of the Library groups. Each year on Friends Day, the KCLS Foundation recognizes the outstanding contributions of the committed volunteers who ensure that our libraries are at the heart of their community.
Scholarships
The KCLS Foundation values the contributions of our talented and dedicated staff and provides scholarships for KCLS employees to attain their master's degrees in library science. You can help support future generations of librarians through your donation to the KCLS Foundation, which can be designated for the Scholarship Program. For more information, please contact Jeanne Thorsen, or call 425.369.3450.