City Council Meeting Date: October 17, 2017
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Teresa Jensen, Director of Library & IT Services
Title
Presentation of the Minnesota Association of Library Friends "Stand Up for Standout Friends" 2017 Award to William "Bill" North.
Body
Action Requested:
No action.
Summary Report:
The Northfield City Council is asked to recognize Bill North’s contributions to the Northfield Public Library as a recipient of the MN Association of Library Friends (MALF) award for 2017. The recognition of the City Council will be demonstrated through receiving the presentation from the Friends and Foundation of the Northfield Public Library Co-Chair Lynne Marie Young and others, a round of applause and presentation of the award to Mr. North from Co-Chair Lynne Marie Young and Mayor Pownell.
The Statewide organization of the MN Association of Library Friends has solicited Library Friends organizations in MN to recognize outstanding contributors to the local Friends organizations. William “Bill” North’s name was submitted by the Friends and Foundation of the Northfield Public Library (FFOL) for consideration of this statewide award, and on September 27 the library and the FFOL were notified that Bill was being recognized by MALF as a recipient of the Stand Up for Standout Friends Award. He is one of 5 recipients of the award in the SELCO region of library Friends groups. He has consistently been an articulate and engaging spokesperson on library issues.
Bill’s contributions to the library span at least 17 very active years, beginning in 2005. These contributions include:
• Providing critical leadership for the Capital Campaign Committee for the recently-completed library renovation project, raising over $1 million
• Working with other Friends on many projects related to the organization, including membership, recruitment of new board members, scholarship designations, web page design and special event planning such as the 2010 Carnegie Centennial
• Organizing Friends and other library volunteers to march in the annual Defeat of
Jesse James Day Parade with Booker more than 10 times
• Organizing and participated in spring and fall clean-up days at the library. This
included ordering and distributing truckloads of mulch, weeding, trimming shrubs and picking up trash
• Organizing the "Give to the Max Day" campaigns for the Friends
• Facilitating the transition of the Friends of the Northfield Public Library to the Friends and Foundation of the Northfield Public Library
• Acting as President of the Friends for many years AND as treasurer for the Friends and Foundation (the position he currently holds)
• Serving as the Liaison for the FFOL and the Northfield Library Board, attending monthly Board meetings
• Working with the Arts and Culture Commission of the City of Northfield on the Sidewalk Poetry project
• Serving as the contact person for the Friends' membership in MALF
• Helping to arrange for the purchase and installation of the "Dancing Book Heads" sculpture at the Library
• Working with high school art students on the creation of annual bookmarks for the FFOL
We are honored for the opportunity to recognize Mr. North for his worthy award.
Alternative Options:
None
Financial Impacts:
None
Tentative Timelines:
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