Beth Cottingham, President of the Friends of the Spicewood (Texas) Community Library, was the 2022 recipient United for Libraries Outstanding Friend Conference Grant sponsored by ThriftBooks. She received free registration to the ALA Annual Conference and $1000 for travel expenses.
Cottingham has served on the Friends board since 2012, and became board president in September 2019. She retired in 2020 from the corporate world and now gives most of her free time to the library. During the last 10 years, on the board she has worn many hats, and is first and foremost a volunteer and works regularly at the library helping patrons and staff.
Until recently, the Spicewood Community Library has been operated and funded 100% by volunteers and this Friends group – for most of the past 15 years with no public support. Within the past few years, the Friends group was able to convince Burnet County to contribute first one, the two part‐time employees and some operational support. The building, land, and all assets (books and computers) continue to be supported and funded 100% by this Friends group.
Cottingham attended and contributed to many United for Libraries programs at the ALA Annual Conference, including the preconference The ABC's of Preserving Intellectual Freedom - Anticipating, Bridging and Conversing: How to Help Protect Your Library and the Friends & Foundations Discussion Group. She was recognized at the Gala Author Tea sponsored by Data Axle Reference Solutions.
