BIDDEFORD — McArthur Public Library has received the Association for Library Service to Children’s 2011 Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Visit Award.

Sally Leahey, the library’s interim director, said the national award provides $4,000 in order to fund a visit from an author/illustrator. The library is currently planning the community event, “One Book, One School, One Library,” that will bring Maine writer Cynthia Lord to town.

Lord, a Newbery Honor Award-winning author of children’s novels, will speak with children who might otherwise not have the opportunity to hear from a nationally known author/illustrator. Working with the Biddeford Intermediate School Literacy Team, Leahey said the event will be, “a terrific collaboration between public library and schools.”

The award will help fund the author visit and programming for the event, as well as a number of books for the library. Susan Veltfort, Grand Administration Committee chairman for the award, said the committee was very impressed by the library’s well-thought-out program.

“The administrative support and cooperation with other organizations is strongly demonstrated in this award,” which is sponsored by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Veltfort said.

“It’s a huge honor that we got this (award),” Leahey said. “It’s very competitive, nationwide and lots of libraries apply for this.”