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.

What are you doing with this traditionally slow week between Christmas and New Year’s Day? We’d wager that you’re spending at least a part of that time cozying up with a good book. If your “TBR” pile is getting a little low, check out a replay of MALF’s last webinar of the year. Warm Reads For Cold Nights: Year 3 debuted earlier this month.

ICYMI: As part of National Friends of Libraries Week 2204, United for Libraries announced two new, nationwide grant opportunities made available through financial support from publisher Penguin Random House. Both are tailored specifically to Friends and open to groups serving communities classified as both small and rural. One is a financial grant (up to $1,000) for Friends who can demonstrate “high need” and lay out an actionable game plan for how the Friends could use this seed money to address that need.

Saint Paul native F. Scott Fitzgerald’s magnum opus The Great Gatsby is often lauded as “The Great American Novel.” Gatsby marks its centennial publication anniversary in 2025, and The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library are not letting it go unheralded.

Thank you for your interest and involvement with MALF in calendar/membership year 2024. We hope you will renew today for calendar/membership year 2025. (If you’d like a refresher, please see our website for a detailed run-down of membership benefits and opportunities which MALF membership unlocks.)

October 20-26 26 marks National Friends of Libraries Week 2024. This annual celebration (est. 2005) is coordinated through United for Libraries, the library Friends and trustees arm of the national American Library Association. BIG NEWS: MALF is pleased to share that the Governor’s Office has also - for the first time - officially designated October 20-26 as Friends of Libraries Week in Minnesota!