JENSEN BEACH – The Library Foundation of Martin County and the Martin County Library System celebrated the 25th anniversary of BookMania!, a free event for the public, on March 1 and 2.

On Friday evening, the foundation’s popular A Literary Affair hosted the BookMania! authors for an evening of fine dining and literary conversation at the Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa. Guests mingled with the authors during the cocktail hour and then were seated with authors at each table for more intimate conversation during the three-course dinner.

“This year’s BookMania! was our 25th anniversary year and headlined the prolific and ever-popular James Patterson. The funds we raise during A Literary Affair underwrite BookMania!,” said the foundation’s president, Stacy Ranieri. BookMania!, including transportation and accommodation expenses for the authors, as well as facility expenses and other hard costs, are covered through the generosity of the foundation’s sponsors and dinner attendees.

“Thrillers, mysteries, historical fiction and more were served up alongside a delicious dinner at this year’s A Literary Affair,” said Michael Kenny, the foundation’s executive director. “The event supports so much of what we do all year long while providing our guests with the opportunity to talk literature with some of the leading authors of the day.”

“Proceeds from this event and other foundation fundraising underwrote many other programs,” said Ranieri. “Over the last year, these programs helped more than 1,400 adults in Martin County improve their literacy skills. 2,800 adults and children increased their art and cultural literacy through Gateway to the Arts classes and provided nearly 3,100 Martin County children with a critically needed summer reading program and an impressive 41,260 educational enrichment programs provided to Martin County children through its vibrant library system.”

About The Library Foundation of Martin County
Founded in 1992, the mission of The Library Foundation of Martin County, Inc. is to acquire and administer funds to enrich library services and facilities not met by public funding and to endow the library system for future generations. In addition to the Kiplinger Literary Award Luncheon, the foundation hosts the annual A Literary Affair dinner in March in conjunction with the Book Mania! Festival and a Young Literary Leaders awards event. For more information, visit www.libraryfoundationmc.org.

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