Discover some of the Twin Cities’ hidden library treasures (and other public and private buildings of note) during Doors Open Minneapolis on May 17 & 18. As the name suggests, Doors Open Minneapolis is a grassroots initiative to “explore the buildings that tell the city’s story.”

Unable to make the trek to Saint Paul? Don’t worry: You can watch the pronouncements and celebrate Minnesota’s rich literary tradition via a FREE livestream option, made available courtesy of program steward The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library.

Congratulations to the Friends of the Blue Earth Community Library, Friends of the Pelican Rapids Library, and Friends of the Upsala Public Library. These three Minnesota groups are among the 50 recipients selected for a financial or in-kind gift through the inaugural United for Libraries & Random House Grants for Rural and Small Libraries program.

Is your Friends group hungry to “level up” its fundraising, but unsure where to start (or how to bankroll this kind of investment in your organization)? GiveMN is currently accepting applicants for the 2025 cohort of its popular annual RaiseMN Campaign Institute.  

World-famous writer and physician Benjamin Spock often opined: “You know more than you think you do.” We think the sentiment holds true for Friends of the Library. Even if your local work on behalf of the library does not feel out of the ordinary to you, others may find your activities remarkable and worth replicating. If you have a replicable program, new initiative, or ‘issue and resolution’ case study that could be of interest to fellow Friends, consider submitting a presentation proposal for United for Libraries Virtual (July 29-31, 2025).