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).

ICYMI: MALF’s next lunchtime webinar is tomorrow, March 26. Join us – and fellow Friends from across the state – for “Read All About It: The Minnesota Book Awards.” Discussion will be led by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, the long-time organizational stewards of this important program.

Friends of the Kasson Public Library - Linda Head In 2016, the City of Kasson finished construction on a new public library – a cutting-edge facility that undoubtedly makes Kasson Public Library one of the most unique in the Midwest. Built as a…

Each month, the CentraCare Birth Center in Monticello welcomes between 20 and 30 newborns. Thanks to Books for Babies, an outreach program from the Friends of the Monticello Library, every parent leaves with a generous gift of free books to start their newest addition on their early literacy journey. Two-time board member Jeanette Kallevig has stewarded this Friends program since 2021.

Minnesota is home to one of the longest-running and best reputed state-level literary recognition initiatives anywhere in the country. Most readers familiar with the Minnesota Book Awards know this program best for its spring announcements…

Minnesota’s robust community of nonprofits contributes meaningfully to our state’s high quality of life, but many of these admirable organizations tend to fly under the radar with little attention and even less praise. The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) created the Minnesota Nonprofit Mission Awards with this disparity in mind.

Hot off the presses: The American Library Association has just launched Show Up for Our Libraries, a campaign and toolkit intended to help safeguard our libraries by harnessing our collective advocacy voice. Visit their website for creative ideas, talking points and messaging tips, various calendars relevant to state and federal policymakers, social media templates, etc.

ICYMI: Last month, the Minnesota Book Awards announced the finalist slates across ten literary categories (here). Whether you like to read mysteries, memoir, or a mix of everything, this list of standout books published in 2024 is sure to have something for your personal "TBR" pile. 

Every public library in Minnesota benefits from state funds earmarked for interlibrary loan service (ILL), online database access, and special programming featuring authors and educators. These are just three of a dozen ways in which state dollars impact local library service. Crucial services like these are easy to take for granted, but we do so at our own peril.

Last year, Michelle Saffel concluded a long tenure as office manager at Lake Community Church in Alexandria. However, as is so often the case with exemplary volunteers, “retirement” would be a bit of a misnomer. Between beloved hobbies (quilting, pickleball and gardening) she remains as active in library and community causes as ever – and in fact, probably more so.

Libraries are institutions, but they are made great by individuals. In that spirit, United for Libraries (the Friends and trustees arm of the American Library Association) has opened a call for two special prizes intended to spotlight individuals who have truly gone above and beyond in service to their libraries.