For immediate release Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Media contact: Roy L. Williams            
Director of Public Relations        
Birmingham Public Library             
Phone: (205) 226-3746 cell (205) 568-0067            
personal cell (205)572-1359
E-mail: rlwilliams@bham.lib.al.us
BPL Website: www.bplonline.org 
COB Website: www.birminghamal.gov  
"Putting People First"

Miss Iwate, BPL's Japanese Friendship Doll, is back home after 4-month 90th birthday tour in Japan
  
What: Miss Iwate, the Birmingham Public Library Japanese Friendship Doll, returned on March 26, 2018, from a 4-month 90th Birthday Celebration Tour to Iwate Prefecture in Japan  
Details:  Miss Iwate was part of an exhibition across the Iwate Prefecture in Japan from Dec. 5, 2017 to March 22, 2018 with other dolls as part of a traveling tour. 
To learn more about Miss Iwate, click here: http://www.bplonline.org/programs/Iwate.aspx 
Miss Iwate is available by appointment only through BPL's Southern History Department. She cannot be held or touched. For more information, call 205-226-3665.
 
Read more in the attached release.   
Cutlines for attached photos: 
1)    Masaru Aoki of Japan's Yoshitoku Doll Company and BPL Executive Director Floyd Council pose with Miss Iwate in the Linn-Henley Research Library.   
2)    An exhibit poster featuring Miss Iwate and her fellow Friendship Dolls. 
3)    The Japanese delegation that  escorted Miss Iwate to Japan for a four-month exhibition  tour and a 90th birthday celebration poses with former Birmingham Public Library Arts, Literature and Sports Department head Haruyo Miyawa (left), BPL Executive Director Floyd Council, and her father. Dr. Ichiro Miyagawa. 
4th pic: Miss Iwate at BPL