MLF Projects

Mini Grants

This year's Mini-grant application deadline is May 15th; awardees will be announced at the next Lunch for Libraries June 12th , 2013

Thinking about applying for a Mini-grant for your library project? Check out the MLF guidelines and the mini-grant form. Also check out our Mini-grant past recipients.

2011 Mini-grant recipients:

• Slayton Public Library-Art display easels

Project to purchase easels to expand the library's public art display capacity. $629.34 requested to round out a $2200 budget coming from funds from City of Slayton and the Friends of Slayton Public Library. The library is engaged in a mural project in the children's area. The easels will enable the library to develop a small art gallery to feature additional local and regional artists as well as encouraging the public display of children's art.

• Minnesota Community Technical College-Promotion of their Zine collection

Program to publicize the unique zine collection the library has acquired. Funds are requested to support lectures and presentations in conjunction with the annual Twin Cities Zine Fest on July 16, 2011. $1,000 requested. MCTC Library has built a rich collection of zines but few people know of its existence. (A U of M researcher only learned of the collection while visiting another zine collection out-of-state!)

• Lincoln High School-After school tutoring program

The purchase of four study carrels was requested for  Lincoln High's new media center. They have started two new programs this year, a tutoring program and a Homework Help Program for students who are having struggles preparing for exams, completing homework, and having difficulty with concepts being taught. The additional carrels will provide much needed quiet space where students can meet with a tutor or just find a quiet space to concentrate on their studies. The additional carrels are a first step in what is planned as an expanding program.

MILE Leadership Institute

Begun in 2005, The MILE Leadership Institute was created to help promote new librarians into leadership roles. The goal of the Institute is to:

• Develop and refine the skills of the participants that are necessary to be a leader in the libraries of tomorrow.
• Develop professional and personal goals and help the participants move forward on those goals.
• Network and make connections with people in the broader community.
• Reflect on the variety of leadership opportunities available at the local, regional, and state levels.
• participants matched with and work with a mentor for several months following the Institute.

For more information about the Leadership institute, please go to: Leadership Institute.

Disaster Relief

“In times of disaster, to whom you can you turn? In the case of the Roseau Public library, we turned to the Minnesota Library Foundation. Their generous gift made possible the replacement of wooden shelving, tables and chairs that were contaminated in the devastating flood that hit Roseau in June 2002. Our library is indebted to the Foundation for helping libraries across the state “bounce back” from catastrophic losses.”

– Charles W. Erickson, Roseau Public Library