Standout Friends Spotlight #7: Lynn Belgea (Ramsey Co.)

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.

Lynn chaired the group’s membership committee from 2008-2018, a period when member households increased by 39% from 629 to 876. The Friends credit that growth to Lynn’s leadership and integration of new member perks, including early access to book sales and members-only tours of newly remodeled libraries. She has likewise been active in the Friends’ capital campaigns, particularly a 2017 push to rebuild the RCL branch in Shoreview.

Lynn has been an enthusiastic – and generally easy to spot – participant at the Friends’ galas (held annually from 2014 to 2020). Her more eye-catching themed outfits include a homespun Mary Poppins costume.

If you attend other Friends events with any frequency, you may have come across Lynn without even knowing. She is one of only a handful of volunteers who don the full-body dog costume to embody “Booker,” the Friends’ mascot. Booker is not allowed to actually talk about the Friends’ mission, but Lynn does so every chance she gets. Her favorite quote is from Harry Potter: “When in doubt, go to the library.