The Goss/Nordley Start-Up Grant provides seed money to defray the expenses associated with creating a new Friends group. Grant money may also be applied towards the sometimes cost prohibitive expenses associated with formally incorporating an existing Friends of the Library group.
Grants of up to $1,000 are available, depending upon the group’s anticipated or current number of members, its annual revenue, and expenses involved. Specifically, funds may be used for:
Applicant must be a current member of MALF, and attached to a public, K-12 school, college/university, or special library in Minnesota. New MALF members must submit their annual dues ($25, see mnlibraryfriends.org for details) prior to - or when - applying.
Note: Goss-Nordley funds cannot be used to cover the cost of current or future MALF dues. Fill out this form and return as indicated on the letterhead.
You may be asking yourself, who are Goss and Nordley?
Marie Goss and Evy Nordley co-founded The Minnesota Association of Library Friends (MALF) in 1979. Together with other MALF officers, they guided the establishment of over one hundred Friends organizations from 1979 to 1994.
Goss was a member of the Minneapolis Public Library Board from 1971 to 1977, serving as Board President from 1974 to 1977. She also served as President of the MELSA Board from 1977 to 1980. She was a highly effective advocate for libraries in the Minnesota Legislature, lobbying in support of increased state aid funds for public library services and adequate operating funds for the state library agency. In 1981 she was selected “Trustee of the Year” by the American Library Association.
Evy Nordley led numerous state and national efforts to create greater awareness and support of libraries. Her most successful initiative was the very popular Minnesota Chautauqua program series funded by The Minnesota Humanities Commission. Through Chautauqua, Friends of the Library groups hosted free humanities programs in libraries followed by lively discussion with actors and scholars. Nordley served on the board of Friends of Libraries USA and received the FOLUSA Merit Award. She also received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Minnesota Library Association.