The 14th Annual

 
Honoring Tom Brokaw, Veronique Peck,
Larry Kirshbaum, and Union Bank
 
The honorees will be introduced by
Sidney Poitier, Norman Lear, and
The Honorable Pete Wilson
 
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
 
Beverly Wilshire Hotel
9500 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills
 

The Library Foundation of Los Angeles hosts the Library Awards Dinner each spring to augment funding for Library programs and services citywide. During the dinner, four honorees are celebrated for their outstanding contributions to literacy, the written word, and life-long learning.
 
The 2009 Library Awards Dinner gala will take place in the Ballroom of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel where guests will gather for a cocktail reception at 6:00 p.m., followed by the awards program, remarks by the honorees, and an elegant, seated dinner.
 
The Literary Award is awarded to a writer for his or her contribution to literature. The 2009 recipient will be television journalist and author, Tom Brokaw.
 
Mr. Brokaw, special correspondent for NBC News, is one of the most respected and trusted figures in broadcast journalism. Complementing his distinguished broadcast journalism career, Mr. Brokaw has written articles, essays, and commentary for several publications, as well as several best selling books including The Greatest Generation, The Greatest Generation Speaks, An Album of Memories, A Long Way from Home and BOOM! Voices of the Sixties.
 
The Light of Learning Award is given in recognition of an individual or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to reading, libraries, and learning. The 2009 recipient will be longtime Library supporter and advocate Veronique Peck.
 
Mrs. Peck collaborated with her husband on many of his film industry and personal projects, including the Gregory Peck Reading Series at the Central Library, which she continues to produce. Established over 15 years ago and under Mrs. Peck's leadership, the Series has evolved into one of the cultural jewels of the city.
 
The Library Foundation Publisher Award is given in recognition of an individual or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to the world of publishing. The 2009 recipient will be author, publisher, and agent Larry Kirshbaum.
 
Mr. Kirshbaum has been involved in all aspects of publishing for nearly 40 years working at Random House, Warner Books (later known as Time-Warner), and then as CEO and Chairman of the Time-Warner Book Group. In 2005, he left Time-Warner and founded LJK Literary Management, LLC.
 
The Corporate Philanthropy Award is presented to a corporation whose generosity and philanthropy have benefited the Library Foundation and the Library. The 2009 recipient will be Union Bank, N.A.
 
Union Bank is a full-service commercial bank providing an array of financial services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, and major corporations. It is also a generous corporate partner of the Library Foundation and the Los Angeles Public Library, providing financial support to the citywide children's reading enrichment program Read to Me L.A.
 
Make Reservations or Donate to the Library
 
For more information about the Los Angeles Public Library Awards Dinner, contact Charie Laugharn, (213) 228-7506.