The Library Foundation for Sarasota County welcomed 600 guests to its 12th annual “Love Our Libraries” Author Luncheon at the Municipal Auditorium on February 9, raising a record-setting $414,000 to support Sarasota County public libraries. The guest speaker was two-time Pulitzer Prize winning best-selling author Colson Whitehead. His talk was followed by a question-and-answer session led by Dr. Renee Di Pilato, Director of Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources. Event proceeds will help to fund Summer Learning programs at all ten Sarasota County public libraries, increase advocacy efforts, and send free books to Sarasota’s youngest residents through the Library Foundation’s partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. The “Love Our Libraries” Author Luncheon was supported by 45 community partners, including Presenting Sponsor, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, and Author Reception Sponsor, Bookstore1 Sarasota. Since its founding in 2011, the nonprofit Library Foundation for Sarasota County has raised more than  $8 million in private funds for the benefit of Sarasota County public libraries. To learn more about the Library Foundation for Sarasota County and how you can support its mission, please visit SarasotaLibraryFoundation.org or call 941-404-3139.