MALF is pleased to announce the first three recipients of our new Minnesota Good Neighbor Grant Program: Friends of the Babbitt Library; Marine Library Association; McGregor Friends of the Library.

The Friends and trustees division of the American Library Association, United for Libraries, is running a survey geared specifically towards library champions like us. How can this national organization serve you – and organizations like yours – as you continue to fundraise, advocate, and otherwise ally with your local library? Feedback will help United chart its priorities over the years to come.

Whether you’re interested in reading mysteries, memoir, or a mix of everything, the annual Minnesota Book Award is always a good place to turn to discover your next favorite author. Later this month – for the first time – the Book Awards will give you the opportunity to do more than read the finalists. You can actually meet nearly all of the creators.

As communities across Minnesota navigate a year like no other, the Minnesota Association of Library Friends wants to empower Friends of the Library and their libraries to rise to the occasion. MALF’s new Good Neighbor Grant is making monetary grants up to $1,000 available to member organizations eager to support solutions to whatever problems loom largest in your community. What’s the catch? There isn’t one.

Many libraries, particularly those serving small and rural communities, double as their town’s premier venue for community education, civic discourse, and even art exhibitions. Leaning into this fact, the American Library Association recently announced a new and unique partnership with The Pulitzer Prizes.

The Minnesota Association of Library Friends has big plans for 2026, but let’s not give short shrift to the year that was. Last year, MALF had near-record high participation in webinars (metric averaged per session), brought on new members and board leadership, and facilitated or spotlit a host of impressive Friends programs all across Minnesota. You can read the highlights in our concise 2025 Annual Report.

Every public library in Minnesota benefits from State funds earmarked for interlibrary loan service (ILL), online database access, and special programming. These are just three of a dozen ways in which state dollars impact local library service.

It’s not too late to form a New Years Resolution for 2026. We’re quite biased, of course, but would argue that redoubling our commitment to Friends of the Library work is a particularly worthy goal! If you’re interested in taking up that challenge and “leveling up” your library knowledge and Friends skills, look no further than the suite of e-resources available to all Minnesotans via United for Libraries.

Practically everyone in Minnesota is familiar with Give to the Max Day (#GTMD), the state’s unofficial giving holiday each November. However, MALF sometimes hears from Friends of the Library that the Big Day “snuck up on them,” or that they are dubious that fundraising efforts would show a significant return for their nonprofit.

Close readers of William Kent Krueger’s novels may remember the character “Lynn Belgea” from Northwest Angle (2011). She is based on a real-life Friend of the Library of the same name. Lynn Belgea has been an integral part of the Ramsey County Library Friends since joining the board in 2008.

TOMORROW is the cutoff to apply for United’s second annual Grants to U.S. Rural and Small Libraries program. (In its inaugural year, sponsor Penguin Random House awarded monetary grants and in-kind gifts worth $25,000!)

What’s up for the Minnesota Association of Library Friends in the New Year? In part, that’s up to you! MALF’s educational programming is always geared towards fellow Friends of the Library and this audience’s unique needs. In many cases, our webinar and workshop topics draw directly from feedback and ideas supplied by MALF’s member base.