The New Jersey chapter of the Community Associations Institute and CAI's Research Foundation have awarded a collection of reference publications on managing condominium, cooperative and homeowner associations to ten libraries throughout the state. Each collection, donated through the CAI Research Foundation's Adopt-a-Library program, is valued at more than $600.

"CAI's Adopt-a-Library program provides much-needed information on every aspect of a community association's role as a business, a government and a community," said Erin Fuller, executive director of the CAI Research Foundation. "From combating homeowner apathy to filing tax returns, these publications offer New Jersey residents the answer to any question on how to protect and enhance the community association lifestyle."

CAI's New Jersey chapter plans to donate a total of 21 libraries in 1999. The chapter launched the initiative to increase consumer awareness of community association living and to provide resources on the successful operation of condominium, cooperative and homeowner associations. Beneficiaries of the chapter's Adopt-a-Library grants include public libraries serving Burlington County, North Brunswick, Morris County, Ocean County, Atlantic County, Ft. Lee, Mahwah, Washington Township, Cumberland County and Wayne.

The Adopt-a-Library gift is comprised of a complete set of CAI's 26 Guides for the Association Practitioner offering nuts-and-bolts guidelines on:

• managing budgets and reserve funds,
• the responsibilities of the board and the professional manager,
• legal and tax issues,
• communication with association members and renters,
• buying insurance and managing risk,
• drafting rules,
• dispute resolution, and
• working with contractors.

Any public library or community center located within a CAI chapter area is eligible to receive an Adopt-a-Library grant. For more information, please call Arisa Downs of the CAI Research Foundation at 703/548-8600, ext. 325.

The Community Associations Institute Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) corporation, was founded in 1975 to serve as the catalyst for positive change in the community association industry. The Foundation promotes community association research, development and scholarship by illuminating future trends and opportunities, supporting and conducting research and mobilizing resources. The Community Associations Institute is a nonprofit association created in 1973 to educate and represent the nation's 205,000 community associations—condominium associations, homeowner associations and cooperatives. CAI members include homeowners, associations and related professionals and service providers.