As the nation recognizes the importance of libraries this National Library Week, United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN) is celebrating local libraries in a big way, granting $20,000 among 14 libraries in its service area (Iron Range, Koochiching County, and Lake of the Woods County).
The funds were granted to support summer reading programs benefitting an estimated 2,035 local children this summer. UWNEMN Executive Director Erin Shay calls the contributions a “win win.”
“Our local libraries do such important work in our communities, especially combatting summer learning loss with their summer programs, and we are thrilled to show our gratitude this way,” Shay said. “In addition, literacy is the first targeted issue in our investment plan, so reinvesting local donor dollars this way absolutely furthers our organization’s mission.”
Local libraries received funds this week and have begun expressing their gratitude. In Chisholm, Public Library staff Debbie Wangensteen and Michelle Perpich said the dollars will be used to purchase books and other incentives to “prevent the summer reading slide.”
“It is always our goal to provide services for the kids and teens in our community, so we can cultivate in them a love for reading,” they said.
This was the first time UWNEMN has made a gift like this to local libraries with summer reading programs, and Shay said the organization’s Board of Directors is hopeful the organization can raise enough in the coming year to support continuing this funding next spring.
Public libraries in the following communities received UWNEMN funding: Aurora, Babbitt, Baudette, Buhl, Chisholm, Cook, Ely, Eveleth, Gilbert, Hibbing, International Falls, Keewatin, Mountain Iron, Virginia. Funding was given specifically to libraries with summer reading programs.