Gov. Walz Issues Proclamation Declaring October 20-26 “National Friends of Libraries Week in Minnesota”

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.

United for Libraries summarizes the purpose of National Friends of Libraries Week as follows:

“This celebration offers a two-fold opportunity to celebrate Friends. Use the time to creatively promote your group in the community, to raise awareness, and to promote membership. This is also an excellent opportunity for your library and Board of Trustees to recognize the Friends for their help and support of the library.”

Earlier this fall, in keeping with that mission, the Minnesota Association of Library Friends (MALF) petitioned the Office of Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan to officially recognize Friends of the Library and other library volunteers in Minnesota during the month of October.

MALF is pleased to share that the Governor’s Office has officially designated October 20-26 as Friends of Libraries Week in Minnesota!

This honorific is well deserved.

Statistics maintained by MALF and the State of Minnesota indicate that Friends groups conservatively boast a collective reach of 19,700 members. Friends of the Library can be found across each of the state’s congressional districts and in nearly every county.

Moreover, Friends provide more than nominal or token support for libraries. In many places and cases, an active Friends of the Library group allows for the margin of excellence that empowers library staff to transform their good institution into a truly great one.

Click here to read, download and share the official proclamation designating October 20-26 as the first-ever “National Friends of Libraries Week in Minnesota.” Click here to access a press release template you can share with your own library board, local media, and other community stakeholders.