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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-84-05281.0 QL V CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM WE TO. Howard V. Gary DATE: April 20, 1984 FILE: City Manager SUBJECT: Item for CoffniSSion Agenda FROM Maurice A. Ferrf REFERENCES: Mayor ENCLOSURES: VEa I have just received a letter frcin Dr. Eduardo J. Padron, Miami Book Fair International ,requesting a grant of $50,000 from the City of Miami to underwrite the expenses associated with the Miami Book Fair International. The Fair is to be held November 8, 9 and 10. Please place tl-ds item on the next regular Cctwiission meeting agenda. /ist 7'. A I Miami -Dade Public Library 1 Biscayne Boulevard Miami, Florida 33132 (305) 579-5005 STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIR Crag PaI!ock Bookworks,Inc. (305) 661-5080 Cif -CHAIR Mitchell Kaplan Books & Books, Inc. (305) ad2-4408 PcquelPoque Do.,: n!own Book Center, Inc. iPt' cUrF.i; ch_ G o: , nk„n i,s:Omt Easiness Association CC ''r!, U£IR A' p ( r!r Ccrden -r)n:,r Fubhc Library System r;79-5005 SECF.ETAPY Bonnie Fot';schild Community Relations Department M omi-Dode Public Library System (305) 579.5016 Margarita Cono, Project Director Community Relations Coordinator Miami-Dode Public Library System (305) 579.5016 Eduardo Lomas, Assoc. Vice -President Spiilis Condelo & Partners, Inc. (305) 444-4691 EduorooJ.Podron V,ce-President Miami-Dode Community College moche)) WoAon New World Center (305) 577-6730 Juonao Johnson Librarian /.licmi-Done Community College Mitchell lNolfson tJew World Center (305)577-6890 Audrev Ryan c5+ LlubDeoarrmentHeod ".liomi-Done Public Library System 1305)579-5233 November 8, 9, 10 March 26, 1984 Mr. Maurice Ferre Mayor, City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 Dear Mr. Ferre: The Miami Boot: Fair International will be held November 8, 9, and 10, 1984, in downtown Miami, Florida. This is the first annual book fair to be held in Miami. The site of the Book Fair is the College Plaza (N.E. Third Street, between First and Second Avenue) - a pedestrian plaza r;'hi c:h is part of the f ii ami -Dade C01ITTIUni ty College Mitchell Wolfson New Ulorl d Center Campus -- as v:ell as other open and enclosed spaces in the three soui�rc blocl's (,t,;ned by the College. The liianri fool: -i�, street. fair with a theme which ernp(rl�ize'i> t.i'rat. t,oc:tl.s ;rc for evcr,c,ll Thi,, will be demonstrated by a broad range of activities 1,ji)ich r,fill connect books to people's everyday lives, There will be close to 100 booths taken by local bookstores in the Dade and Brov.ard area, national and international publishers. A broad spectrum of popular authors will be present to meet with the public, sign books and present seminars. Symposiums on serious literary topics will be held, as well as discussions on subjects like health and fitness, cooking and others, given by popular authors in the field. Continuous entertainment will be provided by performers from PAVAC and PACE, and jugglers and clowns will be part of the street scene. Demonstrations will include rare book appraisals and book binding and repairing. Authors being sought include Alexander Sol zhen itsyn, Octavio Paz, David Kaulfelt, Robert Ludlum, Nikki Giovanni, James Michener, Nathan Pritikin, and Sidney Sheldon. The target audience of the Fair includes the full range of people vlho work, shop and visit downtown and the enormous "book public" ,':hick is active in South Florida. This includes library users, young people, senior citizens, and the very active book buying public, which 11-,J.es up the twelfth largest book ]Market in the nation. Our marketing plan will make a special effort. to target the national and international tcurisnr markets. We feel that famous authors and special features such as rare collections will help attract out-of-town visitors. SPONSORS: Downtown Miami Business Association, Downtown Devetopmem Authority, Miami -Dodo Public library System. Miami -Dodo Community College Mitchell Wolfson New World Center Campus and The Miami Herold. CO-SPONSORS: WLTV-Channel 23, Diana Las Amwicos, Friends of the Miami -Dods Public Library, inc. 84-526 March 26, 1984 Page 2 The organizing committee is composed of individuals with both knowledge and experience in the field as well as deep concern for developing the kind of activities that will enhance the image of downtown specifically and the City of Miami in general. Several national and international publishers have already expressed great interest in the idea. Five members of our committee will be attending the American Book Association convention in Washington at the end of June to promote and finalize arrangements with publishers. Various public and private organizations have already agreed to support the effort financially and also assist with logistical support. These include WLTV Channel 23, The Miami Herald, Miami -Dade Community College, Miami -Dade Public Library System, and General Federal Savings. Other commitments are presently being obtained. It is extremely important that the first Fair be successful. It is our intention that the major portion of the financing come from the private sector, and that eventually it become completely self-supporting. However, during the first year we need public seed money to create the necessary infrastructure to attract the private sector. It is projected th�.( a minimum of $200,000 will be required to undertake this effort to cover the costs of a small administrative and support staff; advertisement and pioHr,,tion; display booths; consultants; travel, lodging and fees for nativn6l and international authors; insurance; postage; print- ing; supplies; sucur•ity, etc. The Miami Bonk Kir Inlernat.ional requests a grant of S50,000 from the City of Miami to help underwrite the expenses associated with the venture. We respectfully request that you submit this proposal for the consideration of �! the City of Miami Commission at your earliest convenience. Sincerely, Eduardo J. Padron for the Steering Committee lcr cc: Mr. Howard Gary 844)2K.