Are you “Booked for the Evening” on Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m.? Join the Cobb Library Foundation at their prestigious black-tie gala that raises money for the Cobb County Library System. The gala will take place at the Marietta Country Club, 1400 Marietta Country Club Drive, Kennesaw.

New York Times best-selling author Sue Monk Kidd will attend the gala to accept the Jim & Carol Ney Literary Award. Kidd is known for her books “The Secret Life of Bees” and “The Mermaid Chair.”

In 2011 the event sold out with more than 300 people attending. The gala is the largest fundraising and social event of the year for the foundation.

“I have seen what a struggle it is for our county to continue to fund things like the libraries given the sharp decline of tax revenues over the years,” said Rob Garcia, President and Chief Operating Officer of Bank of North Georgia. He is chairing this year’s event with his wife, Teena.

Because the library system provides Cobb County more than just books, the foundation assists financially to ensure excellence is maintained. Among the programs funded in part by the foundation are literacy initiatives for adults and children, technology enhancements, expanded library collections and education and cultural programs including the Booked for Lunch and Booked at Six dinner series around Cobb County featuring Southeastern authors.

“My goal was to bring light to all the library foundation’s efforts and the great services provided by our libraries in hope to get the business community to step up their financial support and not have our library system be so dependent on county funding,” said Garcia. He served two consecutive terms as chairman of Cobb County Chamber of Commerce in 2010 and 2011.

“It will be a fun evening with many members of the business community. The program will certainly educate the community on the tremendous impact that the library foundation has on critically important issues like literacy, early childhood education and development and workforce readiness,” he said.

The gala will also feature a silent auction. Individual tickets are $150 and can be purchased at www.cobblibraryfoundation.org. For more information, call (770) 528-2196.