The Trustees of the Richards Free Library are pleased to announce that renowned filmmaker, Ken Burns, will receive the 2008 Sarah Josepha Hale Award on November 8, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Newport Opera House.

A cinematographer and a writer, Mr. Burns is best known for his work as a director of documentary films, including Brooklyn Bridge, 1981; The Shakers: Hands to Work, Hearts to God, 1984; The Statue of Liberty, 1985; Huey Long, 1985; Thomas Hart Benton, 1988; The Congress, 1988; The Civil War, 1990; Lindbergh, 1990; Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio, 1991; The Song of the Civil War, 1992; Baseball (miniseries), 1994; Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery, 1997; Frank Lloyd Wright, 1998; Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, 1999; Jazz (miniseries), 2001; Mark Twain, 2002, Horatio's Drive: America's First Road Trip, 2003; Unforgivable Blackness, 2005; and The War, 2007.

For fifty years, the Sarah Josepha Hale Award has been given by the trustees of the Richards Free Library in recognition of a distinguished body of written work in the field of literature and letters. The award honors Sarah Josepha Hale, author, poet, and essayist, who as editor of Godey's Lady's Magazine shaped the opinion of nineteenth century American women. A list of Hale Award winners may be found on the library's website at www.newport.lib.nh.us/HaleAw.html.

For more information about the Hale award, please contact Andrea Thorpe, Library Director at (603) 863-3430 or rfl@newport.lib.nh.us.