City Council Meeting Date: October 15, 2019
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Teresa Jensen, Director of Library and IT Services
Title
Consider proclamation declaring October 20-26, 2019 National Friends of the Library Week.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council is being asked to approve the attached Resolution declaring October 20-26, 2019 as National Friends of the Library Week.
Summary Report:
October 20-26, 2019 is recognized nation-wide as Friends of the Library Week. The Northfield Public Library Friends of the Library have supported library programs and initiatives since its founding in 1981 to campaign the library expansion and renovation at that time. In 2014 the Friends began a successful capital campaign that eventually raised over $800,000 for the recent library renovation to create a library that improved accessibility and function of the building. Their advocacy resulted in a $3.1 million dollar improvement to the original 1910 Carnegie and 1980's expansion, resulting in a library which now serves as a community hub of activity.
In 2016 the Friends began fundraising for the Library's first new Bookmobile. The Friends raised $23,500 toward the purchase of the vehicle, and the library's Sprinter van was obtained in 2017, which was also made possible with funding by the City of Northfield, the Minneapolis Foundation's Ames Fund, the Northfield United Way, the Northfield Rotary, and the Taylor Truck Line.
The Friends have supported Library programming through their yearly financial contributions averaging close to $23,000 a year. Friends' dollars make possible programs for Books and Stars, Summer Reading, and for Children, Teens and Adults throughout the year. The Friends support the yearly Winter Walk Train Show financially and with hours of volunteer help.
The Friends of the Library will continue to advocate for the Northfield Public Library as their mission. The library community owes the Friends a l...
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