Salt Lake library honored as best

It's the top of the stack for the Salt Lake City public library system.

The city's library was named 2006 Library of the Year by a national library journal and a research firm. The distinction comes with a $10,000 prize and an awards ceremony at the American Library Association Annual Conference later this month in New Orleans.

The library nominated itself based on its programs and community involvement, said Colleen McLaughlin, community-affairs manager for the library. Library Journal, an industry magazine, and Thomson Gale, a research and publishing company, sponsor the annual competition.

"One of the things that they mentioned that led them to select us is that we really do have the philosophy that public libraries are where citizens practice democracy," McLaughlin said. "We operate that way."

McLaughlin said she emphasized the library's programs in her nomination, including the Dewey Lecture Series and the "thinking ahead" program that encouraged librarians, teachers and community leaders to consider the future of library use. Planned speakers for the lecture series this year include Calvin Trillin, a writer for The New Yorker, poet and author Frances Mayes and author Russell Banks.

The library is also home to public radio station KCPW.

The library will use part of the $10,000 prize to send board and staff members to the library association's conference in late June.

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