Fat Tuesday...and this is a good thing

The following is press release provided by the New Haven Free Public Library:

New Haven Public Library 121 years old and still celebrating Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras has become a New Haven tradition with its celebration of the fun, frivolity and funky jazz of New Orleans and the birth of a local democratic institution: New Haven Free Public Library.

Held at the New Haven Lawn Club at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 5, the local "Fat Tuesday" celebration raises money to benefit the collections and programs of the Public Library and boasts an evening of celebration that includes a silent auction, New Orleans style fare, Dixieland music and local award honorees.

"Mardi Gras is a signature fundraiser for us" notes Jim Welbourne, New Haven’s city librarian. "It’s a time to celebrate the founding of the Public Library in New Haven as well as a time to recognize those individuals and groups who help keep the library vital and vibrant for all our public today," he said.

Keeping the library vibrant in difficult economic times has also been the challenge of the Library Board headed by Keith Bradoc Gallant and the Patrons Board chaired by Michael Morand.

Patrons is the library’s 501(c )(3), which raises funds to ensure that the public library has the necessary resources to provide programs and enhance services.

Mardi Gras 2008 will honor Dr. Alice Prochaska, University Librarian and Yale University Library with the Noah Webster Award for feeding a passion for education and literacy beyond the formal classroom. Mary Ives Award will be given to; Read to Grow, Inc. and The New Haven Reads Community Book Bank, Inc. two community organizations that support the public library’s life long literacy mission. Mardi Gras 2008 also features a list of corporate and Foundation sponsors, including the Presenting Sponsors: Yale University and United Illuminating.

For more information about sponsorships, ads, auction items and tickets for the New Haven Public Library’s Mardi Gras visit the patrons Web site at: www.newhavenlibrarypatrons.com or by calling Barbara Segaloff at 946-8130 ext. 314.