Lee Child to Keynote Literary Lions Gala

Bring together talented authors and devoted readers and you have the premier Northwest event: the KCLS Foundation's Literary Lions Gala, March 10, 2012.

The Gala is a literary feast where you'll meet a bounty of talented writers, celebrate the joy of reading, toast new and favorite authors and help raise funds for literacy and lifelong learning programs.

Author Lee Child will keynote the event. Lee Child is the author of 16 Jack Reacher thrillers, including the #1 New York Times bestsellers Nothing to Lose, Gone Tomorrow, 61 Hours and Worth Dying For. His debut, The Killing Floor, won both the Anthony and the Barry Awards for Best First Mystery, and The Enemy won the Nero Wolfe Award. Foreign rights in the Jack Reacher series have been sold in 40 languages, and there are more than 50 million copies in print of his novels worldwide. One Shot is under major motion picture development with Paramount. See a lsit of all Lee Child's Books available at KCLS.

Recently released, and currently topping the bestseller list,The Affair goes back in Reacher's past to give readers the history behind one of literature's most revered loners and the breaking point that turned him into the incorruptible vigilante hero he is today. Child, a native of England and a former presentation director for Granada Television, lives in New York City.

Thirty popular Northwest authors and their new books will be featured. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the authors, buy their books and get their autographs. Nancy Pearl, the nation's most popular book reviewer, will emcee the event.

Due to construction at the Bellevue Library, the Gala is moving to the Hyatt Regency Bellevue for this event. Watch for invitations in the mail.

For more information on sponsorships or to reserve your tickets, contact Claire Wilkinson, cwilkins@kcls.org, 425.369.3448 or visit www.kclsfoundation.org/literarylions.

Free Book Lover's Diary

Start the new year off with a free Book Lover's Diary for all your reading lists and notes.

The KCLS Foundation, in its continuing efforts to conserve resources, is moving toward online newsletters and we need your email address to keep you informed. To get your Book Lover's Diary, simply go to www.kclsfoundation.org and click on the button requesting your email address. The KCLS Foundation respects your privacy. We will not share your information with third parties. Thank you.

Meet the Author: Jez Alborough

The KCLS Foundation recently hosted British children's author and illustrator Jez Alborough and his visits to the Library Connection @ Crossroads, Covington and Sammamish Libraries.

A great storyteller, Alborough enjoys telling and sharing stories. Check out Hug, Some Dogs Do, Duck in a Truck and a score of popular titles in the KCLS collection..

Summer Reading: A Highlight for All Ages

If you saw thousands of children reading this summer, they were likely participating in the annual Summer Reading Program or Read 3, Get 1 Free. The Summer Reading Program attracted more than 45,000 pre-school and elementary school-age children.Young adults read 14,745 books in the Read 3.

Get 1 Free Summer Edition
The KCLS Foundation funds prizes and hosts the buses that bring summer school students to library programs.

Legacy Gift to Transform Woodinville Library

The KCLS Foundation is pleased to announce that a donation of $150,000 received in June will benefit the Woodinville Library. The donation was a gift in memory of Woodinville residents Ed and Karen Forys. Ed and Karen Forys spent many hours in the Woodinville Library and found the King County Library System to be a great resource for both professional and recreational information and reading materials.

Ed and Karen were avid readers who loved the library. Puget Sound area residents since 1980, Ed and Karen moved to Woodinville in 1987. It was their wish to make a significant donation to the KCLS Foundation to support library programs and activities in the Woodinville library.

Edward J. Forys was born in Queens, New York. He graduated from City College of New York with a degree in Political Science and joined the Air Force during the Vietnam War. Ed was a highly decorated flight navigator receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross on three occasions, and numerous air medals for valor. He rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel before retiring from the Air Force in 1987 after 22 years of service. After earning a Masters degree in Finance, Ed worked as a Financial Planner until he retired in 1993. Ed enjoyed music, films, books, photography and long peaceful walks. He was bright, witty, good-humored, gracious and endearing to all his friends. Ed passed away January 12, 2011.

Karen Ann Olson Forys was born in Rochester, New York. After moving to California she earned a PhD in Education. Dr. Forys progressed through many teaching and administrative rolls before taking positions of Superintendent in the Clover Park and Riverview School Districts. In 1994 she accepted the position of Superintendent of the Northshore School District and held that position until her death in 2007 after 13 years of service. In 1999, Dr. Forys was named Washington State Superintendent of the Year and was one of four finalists for the national title. She was a compassionate educator who devoted her life to helping children. Dr. Forys was a shy and endearing person to all who knew her. She enjoyed reading, handicrafts, gardening, walking and cycling. She and Ed both enjoyed skiing and hiking in Sun Valley.

"Thanks to this gracious and welcome gift, KCLS will enhance literacy, learning and library access for all members of the Woodinville community" said KCLS Foundation Director Jeanne Thorsen. "On behalf on behalf of the library patrons in King County, we offer profound thanks to Ed's three sisters for this generous donation."

The donation will be used to remodel the meeting room in the Woodinville library. Part of the meeting room's interior wall will be replaced with glass doors that slide open. This will open up and transform the space so it can be used for a variety of purposes such as additional study area or overflow for children's programming. New windows will be added in the meeting room to provide natural light. The library will also have new paint, furniture and an overall update of the space.

In their honor, KCLS will name the "Forys Meeting Room" and the "Forys Atrium," ensuring their memory will live on in the library they loved.

Buying Books Online Benefits the KCLS Foundation

If you are looking for a used book, your copy may be as close as your computer. Go to www.thriftbooks.com/kclsf and check out the inventory available. Enter a title, author or subject and you'll see the listing. Proceeds support literacy and lifelong learning programs.

ReadGive
ReadGive gives back 50% of every subscription. Go to www.readgive.com and choose from hundreds of magazines and designate the KCLS Foundation as the organization of your choice.

Maximize Your Year-End Gift Benefits

From October through December, Americans respond to charitable appeals more than at any other time during the year. Here are some ideas on how to map out a strategy for making a difference at your favorite causes.

How can I help? Give cash. To document a cash gift of any amount, you must have a receipt from us prior to filing your return that states the date of the gift, the amount and whether you received any goods or services in exchange for your donation. Make certain you receive one. A cancelled check provides sufficient documentation only for gifts by check if they are less than $250. Give stock or other property. If the property has depreciated in value, sell it and deduct the loss to the extent allowed by law. You may donate the cash received from its sale. That way you have another deduction. If it is worth more than what you originally paid for it, do not sell it. Donate the property to the Foundation. We'll sell it and you will eliminate all the capital gains tax you would have paid had you sold it. Your gift will be deductible at its full fair market value on its date of delivery if you have held it for more than one year. Sell an appreciated asset for less than its current value to us (a bargain sale gift). The difference between the fair market value of the property and what you receive in the sale is considered the gift and the charitable deduction. With a gift to a qualified charitable organization, such as King County

Library System Foundation, you can receive the greatest tax advantages.

Contact Cindy Sharek at 425.369.3225 or cjsharek@kcls.org with any questions about your entitled benefits or your options for giving.

Season's Readings

It's that time of year to stock up on books as gifts. KCLS librarians recommend books for children, teens and adults in Season's Readings: Books to Give, Receive, and Enjoy!

Watch for the list in your mail or look on www.kclsfoundation.org.

KCLS Foundation Annual Report Available Online The 2010 Annual Report is posted on the Foundation's web page: kclsfoundation.org. If you would like a printed copy, send an email to foundation@kcls.org and we'll send you one.