Nonprofit Let’s Move in Libraries awards Gila Valley Arts Council for their work with Safford City-Graham County Library.
GREENSBORO, NC – On Friday, November 8, 2024 the international non-profit Let’s Move in Libraries honored Gila Valley Arts Council (GVAC), alongside 20 other organizations and individuals across North America, as recipients of the 2024 I Partner with My Public Library Awardees & Honorable Mentions. Gila Valley Arts Council was nominated by Safford City-Graham County Library for a variety of collaborations. They have offered afternoon performances at the library since 2016, bringing world-class artists to a population who may not venture out for evening public performances or may not be able to afford the cost of a concert ticket. GVAC has also served as judges and funded prizes for the art competitions corresponding to the library’s Big Read projects. For the past three years, they have joined other organizations in funding the library’s Early Childhood Concert Series, which brings authors and performing artists to Graham and Greenlee Counties’ youngest (pre-school through grade 2) population. A team of 30 expert reviewers convened during the month of September to examine 61 nominations submitted by public libraries in 34 states, provinces, and territories in the United States of America and Canada.
“These awards were started in 2023 after a three-year national (U.S.) study determined that the most impactful public library initiatives require strong community partnerships with a wide range of collaborators. We’re thrilled to shine a light on library partnerships through this endeavor,” said Dr. Noah Lenstra, Founder of Let’s Move in Libraries, a registered 501(C)3 non-profit organization. In addition to being celebrated at this Awards Ceremony, the partnership between Gila Valley Arts Council and Safford City-Graham County Library is documented on the Let’s Move in Libraries webpage with the complete list of Awardees and Honorable Mentions. Read more about the award and the partnership at LetsMoveInLibraries.org/partner-award.
“No organization can thrive while operating in isolation”, notes Tom Green, GVAC President. “We believe in the power of partnerships. Our relationship with the Safford City-Graham County Library has enhanced the services they provide to their patrons while expanding our reach to the community. It’s a win-win for both parties. This long-standing collaboration is truly worth more than the sum of its parts.”
The goal of these annual awards is two-fold: (1) to celebrate the amazing work that is only possible when public libraries collaborate with community partners, and (2) to highlight opportunities for both public libraries and potential community partners to start and extend collaborations.
“Complex community needs can only be addressed through community collaborations,” said Dr. Lenstra. “It is an honor to award and celebrate the work these amazing community collaborators and their public library partners have done across North America.
