Duluth Public Library celebrates National Library Week, seeks donations for programs

Every donation to the Duluth Public Library can do double duty this month, and that matters because the library says its programs and events are funded entirely by donations. A $25,000 dollar-for-dollar match and a separate $5,000 challenge gift if 100 donors give during the week are now driving a National Library Week push that could determine how much of the library’s free programming stays strong.

The Duluth Library Foundation is using National Library Week, which runs April 19 through April 25 under the American Library Association’s theme “Find Your Joy,” to press the case that the public library is more than a place for books. It is a daily-use civic service for St. Louis County families, from story time and after-school programming to book clubs, book bingo, author lectures and tech support for retirees. Erin Kreeger, executive director of the foundation, said library programs, events and services such as audiobooks and eBooks are funded by donations.

That funding model gives the current campaign unusual urgency. The foundation says it is raising money to build “Foundations for the Future” and keep free library programs, materials and resources available to all. Because those programs are 100% funded by donations, the impact is direct: fewer gifts would mean more pressure on the events and services many residents rely on, especially the ones that are free and easy to use.

The week opened at the Great Lakes Aquarium, where the library paired fundraising with a family event that included free admission, crafts, storytimes at 10:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., library swag, prizes and on-site signups and reactivations for library cards. Parking at the aquarium was free during the event, and the partnership added another reminder of the library’s reach beyond downtown Duluth. Cardholders can also check out aquarium passes throughout the year.

The campaign continues with “Pages and Pines: Where Books & Nature Come Together” on April 25 at Jay Cooke State Park in Carlton from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. That event is set to bring storytimes, story strolls, naturalist-led activities and crafts to a county park setting. Duluth Public Library locations were closed Friday, April 24, for Staff Development Day.

The Duluth Library Foundation was established in 1990, and its materials say Duluth depends on its library and two branches. That makes the current match more than a seasonal appeal. For families who use story time, for job seekers who need internet access, and for retirees who need hands-on tech help, the donations now on offer help determine how much of that public service remains free, visible and available across Duluth and St. Louis County.