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The Saint Paul Public Library plays a key role in the educational and cultural survival of the City. You can play a key role in supporting the Saint Paul Public Library.
The City of Saint Paul is facing serious budget difficulties as a result of the loss of Local Government Aid (LGA) from the State of Minnesota. For the Saint Paul Public Library, this lost LGA may result in a 9% cut to its budget, including cuts to hours in all branches, and a 30% cut to the books and materials budget. Cuts to the books and materials budget could create gaps in the Library’s collection that might never be refilled.
Library funding cuts are ironically in inverse proportion to the rising demand for their services, which are essential to solving America’s financial and social problems.
– U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
You can help in two ways:
1. Stock the Stacks!
In response to these unprecedented and dramatic cuts to the Library’s materials budget, The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library is launching a citywide campaign to raise money for the purchase of books and other resources for the Library. Your donation can help guarantee the continued vitality and quality of your library. Please give generously.
Web - To donate online, click here.
Phone - Call us at 651-222-3242.
Mail – Download, print and complete the donation form, and send it with your check
or credit card information to:
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
325 Cedar Street, Suite 555
Saint Paul, MN 55101
Fax - Download, print and complete the donation form, and fax it with your credit card
information to 651-222-1988.
NOTE: The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library typically shies away from filling the gaps in lost public funding for the Library and would not attempt to pay for the staffing of branch hours to replace the proposed cuts in hours which will likely happen when the Library’s budget is cut this year. But The Friends has always had a special interest in the Library’s book collection. We have several endowment funds – the interest from which supports the Library’s collection, however, the results of the “Stock the Stacks” campaign will go directly to the purchase of materials.
2. Take Action!
Contact your elected officials and tell them how important your library is to you. If you value your city services, please contact your city councilmember in writing, over the phone, or in person, and let them know what any additional cuts mean for the library. You can use the key talking points below to help make your case.
These are unprecedented times in our State and in Saint Paul. The Friends wants to do everything in its power to keep our Saint Paul Public Libraries strong and vital. Libraries are used more than ever in this challenging economy. Thank you for supporting the Saint Paul Public Library.
Key Talking Points
Cuts in funding for the Library will hurt Saint Paul’s children:
- 1.3 million Children’s items were checked out of the library last year – more than 25 items for every child in the city.
- 75,000 children and young adult visitors attend public library programs last year – more than 12% of the population under 18.
- A critical link to the education of our City’s children from birth to school-age and beyond, the Library provides story times, summer reading programs, homework help, and access to college centers.
- The Library serves youth, families and adults 12 months a year, in the morning, afternoon, evening and weekends.
As an important economic development tool for the City of Saint Paul, the Library:
- Bridges the digital divide by providing all residents of the city with access to the Internet, and offers free computer training to seniors and other adults.
- Offers adults access to job and career assistance, as well as mortgage foreclosure prevention counseling.
- Enhances the overall quality of life and promotes the cultural environment in the community.
- Promotes the well-being of individuals and assists them in becoming more productive in their jobs and in their personal lives.
- Serves as a catalyst for public- and private-sector investment.
- Collaborates with other City departments and nonprofit organizations to provide educational and cultural programs.
What next?
After you’ve donated to help “Stock the Stacks” and contacted your elected officials, please send an e-mail to your friends and colleagues about the campaign and encourage them to visit our website to participate. Thank you!
Some of the bookplates we've received with gifts to Stock the Stacks...
A Personal Note:
As of June 8, donors have given 488 gifts totaling $32,163 to help stock the stacks! With 316,687 Saint Paul Public Library cardholders, that means just over one tenth of one percent have donated to support their library? The numbers are surprising, but if you're one of the 0.014%, you're AWESOME! Thank you so much for your help! It's obvious you are well regarded and well-loved by everyone who knows you. Robert Burns might have said you are a gentleman and a scholar (and there are damn few of us left in the world).
If you've been thinking about it but haven't yet walked the walk, please click now! We have THOUSANDS of bookplates remaining, just waiting for some words of remembrance, honor, love or inspiration, from you to the Saint Paul Public Library and all the people who use and treasure it. Thank you!
With gratitude and warm regards,
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
Donate Now and Stock the Stacks!
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library recognizes that our library is a transformational force in the lives of the residents of Saint Paul. You can help guarantee the continued vitality and quality of your community library.
Yes! I want to help Stock the Stacks at my Library!
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Questions? Contact us at 651-222-3242 or at friends@thefriends.org.