NJ Sports & Exhibition Authority Recognized as Library Champion

 The New Jersey Sports & Exhibition Authority was recognized as a 2011 Library Champion by the New Jersey Library Association at its annual conference, May 3, in Long Branch. 

Accepting the award was Melissa Klein, marketing coordinator (center), shown with Gary Cooper, public relations & news media contact for the State Library, and Nancy Dowd, director of marketing.

“We feel the New Jersey Sports & Exhibition Authority’s commitment to the students and families of New Jersey through their support of the Read Like a New Jersey Library Champion campaign has been vital to the success of keeping children reading with over 10,000 entries for the contests, and winners from all over the state,” said Norma Blake, NJ State Librarian in her nomination letter.  “The NJSEA signed on as a partner from the outset of this program. They truly deserve this recognition.”

With the assistance of the NJSEA, NJ Nets player Devin Harris, Circus Ringmaster Jonathan Lee Iverson and Harlem Globetrotter Blenda Rodriguez became Library Champions. Globetrotter Moo Moo Evans visited the Jersey City Library, Iverson & circus clowns put on a show at the Hasbrouck Heights Library, as did Princess Belle from Disney on Ice Princess Wishes. They provided tickets per to IZOD Center events such as NJ Nets games, Disney on Ice, Monster Jam, Stars on Ice, Harlem Globetrotters, Nuclear Cowboys, Barnum & Bailey Circus, the Wiggles, Sesame Street Live and Disney Live. They also organized a Harlem Globetrotters Goodwill Ambassador contest with NJ schools to win a visit by the Globetrotters and have them do the school’s community goodwill suggestion.

“The New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority works with many partners,” said Klein in accepting the award. “Working with the libraries is one of the most rewarding.  It is great to know that we have helped encourage more children and adults to read and to get involved in their library.  We are very proud of this partnership for the benefits it brings to New Jersey library communities and the increased number of families our show information reaches.”