Another South Texas Book Festival is in the books! This year was unique in that we included “Countdown to the Eclipse” as part of our STBF festivities. Our eclipse viewing event was educational as well as fun, as viewers got to see the annular eclipse via our telescope with an eclipse filter, two sunspotters, and bilingual solar science kits thanks to a NASA@ My Library Grant. Altogether, we served more than 15,630 people at our festivities which spanned across dates in October. I am again indebted to our Official Sponsor, H-E-B Helping Here, and our Casino & Taquiza Fundraiser sponsors, McAllen Orthodontic Group and Strategic Insights at the Bestseller Sponsor Level; Atlas Hall Rodriguez, DHR Health, Gonzalez Castillo Moya, LLP, Judge Joanne Garcia, Rio Bank, Texas Regional Bank, Tijerina Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, and OCF Oral and Craniofacial Center at the Goodreads Sponsor Level. Special thanks to all of our Supporting Sponsors, North American Midway, Kendra Scott, iHeart media, Common Space, Bubba’s 33, Jeremiah’s Italian Ices, and our exclusive bookseller, The Storybook Garden, as well as all of our community partners. Thank you so much for your support!

 

Food for Fines is our annual campaign to reduce fines and increase donations to the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley. It runs from November 1-December 10 and every acceptable donation equals $3 off a patron’s fines. An acceptable donation is an item that is sealed, non-perishable, not expired, preferably multi-servings, and in a non-glass container. Even if you don’t owe fines, you can still donate items to benefit others. Donations will be collected at all three MPL locations.

 

MPL was honored at the 66th Annual International Festival and Events Association (IFEA) Convention at the McAllen Convention Center with 17 winning entries, including the prestigious Grand Pinnacle Award for the South Texas Book Festival. The Grand Pinnacle recognizes outstanding accomplishments and top quality creative, promotional, operational, and community outreach programs and materials produced by festivals and events around the world. Congratulations to MPL Staff and our amazing Library Advisory Board!

 

Grand Pinnacle Award for STBF Best Individual Sponsor Follow-Up Report for STBF Best Sponsor Activation for STBF Best Social Media Campaign for STBF

Best Event Within an Event to Benefit a Cause for Wild West Casino Night

 

Best Ad Series for Día

Best Facebook Site for STBF Best Invitation for STBF

Best Sponsorship Program for Individual Sponsor for STBF

Best Educational Program for STBF Youth Contest

Best Event Within an Existing Festival for STBF Youth Contest

 

Best Multimedia Component for Community Health Fair

Best Promotional Brochure for Día

Best Children’s Programming for Día

Best New Event for Holly Jolly Party

Best Targeted Sponsor Solicitation Proposal for STBF Best Volunteer Program - TAC

 

To all of our MPL friends and family, have a wonderful November and a blessed Thanksgiving!