October 24, 2005

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October 24, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Carol A. Berger; 630.653.1115, ext. 220

C. BERGER GROUP ANNOUNCES 2005 WINNER OF

SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR AWARD AT REACHING FORWARD SOUTH

Carol Stream, IL - C. Berger Group, Inc. (CBG), one of the nation’s oldest and largest library consulting and staffing firms, sponsored the Support Staff of the Year award for the eighth year at the ninth annual Reaching Forward South (RFS) conference. The prize was delivered during the awards ceremony which took place in Springfield, IL on September 9. CBG supplied a cash gift to the recipient and Reaching Forward South provided a certificate to the winner.

Charmaine Starman, Senior Readers Advisor/Office Supervisor at the Alliance Library System, Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center in Quincy, received the honor this year. Ms. Starman was cited for her dedication to personalized customer service, her in-depth knowledge of the talking book program and her problem-solving skills. Her sense of humor, creativity and commitment to improving operations of the Book Center were also considered by the four person awards committee members. "Charmaine embodies the best qualities of service to the public," said Joel Patrick Berger, CBG's President. "This award recognizes the many ways that Ms. Starman contributed to the success of the talking Book program in Illinois as well as her work as a member of the Library of Congress/National Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped CMLS Advisory committee." Ms. Starman resides in Quincy, IL.

The first Reaching Forward South conference in 1997 was modeled after the Reaching Forward meetings which are held in suburban Chicago. Its mission is to provide continuing education, professional growth, networking opportunities and social interaction for support staff of Illinois libraries. This year's conference theme was "The Library Puzzle, Putting the Pieces Together". Over 200 library assistants, clerks, and other non-MLS library support staff who work in downstate or rural Illinois libraries attended the two day event. Additional information about RFS can be found at www.reachingforwardsouth.org.

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The Support Staff of the Year Award is presented each September; it is one of several prizes CBG funds or sponsors annually for professional librarians and support staff of distinction. They include the Librarian of the Year Award for the Illinois Library Association each fall, the Karen J. Switt Leadership Award for the Leadership and Management Division of the Special Libraries Association in June, and the C. Berger Group Entrepreneurial Promise Award at the University of Illinois GSLIS in Urbana, The University of Wisconsin SLIS at Madison and Milwaukee, and Dominican University GSLS .

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Founded by Carol A. Berger as C. Berger And Company in 1982, C. Berger Group, Inc. is a full service firm which provides specialized temporary workers, permanent placement, consulting and project management support services from its suburban Chicago headquarters. CBG is a woman-owned small business. CBG clients include corporations, government agencies, law firms, trade and professional associations, non-profit organizations, healthcare centers, public libraries and academic institutions throughout the US.

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For further information about C. Berger Group, Inc., contact:

Carol A. Berger, Manager, Marketing Communications

Phone: 630.653.1115, ext. 220

Email: carolb@cberger.com