Friends – CRPLSA

Friends Day 2016

An invitation from Judy Schotzko, MALF President, and Kim Edson, MALF Programming Chair:

As you know, the annual Minnesota Library Association conference is nearly upon us. We hope to see you and your staff in Duluth at the end of September.

Did you know that MLA is not just for practitioners? Minnesota Association of Library Friends (MALF) is proud to be a Premier Sponsor of the annual conference. On Thursday, September 29, we are pleased to offer a full day of programming devoted specifically to Friends of the Library. Highlights include an energizing Idea Sharing session, Friends advocacy panel, and MALF’s own annual meeting.

Cost to register is just $65.00 for Friends (Thursday only) before August 29, and $85.00 after that date.

Click here for a full rundown. We encourage you to share word with Friends in your region, through whatever channels seem best to you. Attached, for easy reference, is a flyer promoting “Library Friends Day” offerings.

Judy Schotzko
MALF President

Kim Edson
MALF Programming Chair

Stand Up for Standout Friends 2016

MALF is pleased to introduce a new initiative, Stand Up For Standout Friends. Each and every member organization is invited to put forward the name of one individual for this special annual honor, in thanks for standout efforts in furtherance of Friends of the Library work.

Each MALF member organization may submit one name per year for the Standout Friends honor. Any Friend is eligible, provided he or she is part of a Friends of the Library group current in its MALF membership and is willing to have his or her name shared on award materials distributed across the state. In order to prevent duplicated efforts, MALF asks, but does not require, the nomination be submitted by the current president of each member Friends group.

Fill out the Standout Friend Nomination Form and return to MALF by email. If necessary, you may also mail a paper copy to the MALF office (MALF, 1080 Montreal Ave., Ste. 2, St. Paul, MN, 55116). Applications must be received by Wednesday, August 31.

More information

MALF Partnering with OUR to Offer Dollar-to-Dollar Match

MALF is pleased to support the new, first-ever, statewide, early literacy one-book initiative, Once Upon a Reader (OUR). To celebrate libraries, literacy and the important role of Library Friends, MALF will offer members a dollar-for-dollar match to offset the costs of purchasing OUR resources. For example:

Purchase two Take-Home Play Kits at a total cost of $200, and MALF will reimburse you $100.
Order a Vacation Scrapbook and a Milk and Cookie Storytime Kit at a total cost of $145, and MALF will reimburse you $72.50 – and so on. The combinations are endless!
Matches will be capped at three (3) items and/or $300 per Friends group.

Participating in this special MALF-OUR offer is simple. Place an order online through the OUR program website. Print a copy of your receipt or order confirmation form and mail it to MALF at the address listed below with a copy of the MALF matching funds form. MALF will remit reimbursement within 30-business days. Please remember that eligibility is contingent on current MALF membership. MALF’s total match fund is $3,000, so order today!

The book chosen for OUR’s inaugural year is Moo!, written by Minnesota author David LaRochelle and illustrated by Minnesota artist Mike Wohnoutka. While a statewide Library Legacy initiative, there is room for creativity and customization on the local level. CRPLSA is making available six program enhancements for purchase by local libraries and Friends groups. Four of the activity packages are eligible for this MALF match. There’s something for every budget.

Minnesota Association of Library Friends
325 Cedar Street, Suite 555
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101

ALS Member Friends Group Honored

United for Libraries recognized the Friends of the Grand Rapids Area Library on January 27 at a Gala Author Tea during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia. The Minnesota Friends group received a National Friends of Libraries Week Award which is bestowed annually to two groups in acknowledgement of standout achievements during the preceding fall’s Friends of Libraries Week.

The Friends of the Grand Rapids Area Library coordinated a kickoff event with the City of Grand Rapids. Mayor Dale Adams signed a special Proclamation designating Oct. 20-26“Friends of the Library Week.” Library staff unveiled a beautiful lobby display thanking the Friends for their many years of service.The Friends went all out in promoting membership and book sales. “During the week, we handed out coupons to library goers for a free book at the Friends bookstore. This brought in many new customers. Once there, a variety of brochures and bookmarks on Friends work and membership were available,” said president and co-chair Carol Steele. They also offered a variety of incentives for joining up (or renewing). These included a drawing for one of five themed gift baskets. By week’s end, “we had increased membership by almost 25 percent!,” Steele said.