Arrowhead Library System Legacy Grant SFY 2018 - SFY 2019

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2018 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$215,058
2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$215,058
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Arrowhead Library System
Recipient Type
Libraries
Status
Completed
Start Date
July 2017
End Date
June 2021
Activity Type
Digitization/Online Information Access
Education/Outreach/Engagement
Fund Administration
Grants/Contracts
Preservation
Research
Counties Affected
Carlton
Cook
Itasca
Koochiching
Lake
Lake of the Woods
St. Louis
Carlton
Cook
Itasca
Koochiching
Lake
Lake of the Woods
St. Louis
Project Overview

Minnesota's twelve regional library systems, which encompass more than 350 public libraries in all areas of the state, can benefit from a portion of the Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Through State Library Services, a division of the Minnesota Department of Education, each regional library system is eligible to receive a formula-driven allocation from the annual $2.5 million Minnesota Regional Library System Legacy Grant. Arrowhead Library System (ALS) is a federated regional public library system with central services located in northeastern Minnesota. ALS has twenty-nine member public libraries located in seven counties: Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, and St. Louis. With Arts and Cultural Heritage funds, ALS and its member libraries present an array of arts, cultural, literary, and Minnesota history programs in collaboration with arts and cultural organizations, independent artists, historical societies, and community organizations. Projects contribute to the cultural vitality of the region and build a lasting legacy.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota for 2017 Minnesota Special Session Laws, Chapter 91 - HF.No 707, Article 4, Section 2, Subdivision 5
Appropriation Language

These amounts are appropriated to the commissioner of education for grants to the 12 Minnesota regional library systems to provide educational opportunities in the arts, history, literary arts, and cultural heritage of Minnesota. These funds must be allocated using the formulas in Minnesota Statutes, section 134.355, subdivisions 3, 4, and 5, with the remaining 25 percent to be distributed to all qualifying systems in an amount proportionate to the number of qualifying system entities in each system. For purposes of this subdivision, "qualifying system entity" means a public library, a regional library system, a regional library system headquarters, a county, or an outreach service program. These funds may be used to sponsor programs provided by regional libraries or to provide grants to local arts and cultural heritage programs for programs in partnership with regional libraries. These funds must be distributed in ten equal payments per year. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, the appropriations encumbered on or before June 30, 2019, as grants or contracts in this subdivision are available until June 30, 2021.

2018 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$215,058
Other Funds Leveraged
$31,870
Direct expenses
$246,928
Administration costs
$3,794
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.10
Measurable Outcome(s)

Total number of activities, programs, and/or events: 422

Total participation/attendance: 8,404

Total number of partnerships: 5

Description of Funds
World Percussion with Robin Anders
Patrons enjoyed a demonstration of several different drums and percussion instruments from many world cultures including from Africa, North and South America, Asia, India and the Middle East. Robin toured in these countries perfonning, teaching and doing workshops for over 45 years. His Middle Eastern percussion video "Voices of the Doumbek" is available in libraries in most major cities all over the world. He has great stories and anecdotes from his travels that are both entertaining and educational. The program ended with an audience participation segment where Robin invited everyone to participate in a Drum Circle where everyone could play on the different instruments.


Event Passes

Lake Superior Theater Company: Fences
The drama Fences was presented by an all African-American cast, the first time an area African­American cast performed a main stage play production in Duluth and on the north shore of Lake Superior. It was the first time Fences was presented in Minnesota north of the Twin Cities, according to community theatre executive director Paul Deaner. "To our knowledge it's never been done in this part of the state," he said. It will also mark the first time the 15 year-old Silver Bay­based community theatre will present its yearly production in Duluth and stage an all-black cast. "This is thrilling," Deaner said, "...the art of this script and to work with the soulful African­American energy. The cast is so fired up, this has never happened around here." Deaner recruited the cast with the help of Duluth-area individuals, neighborhood agencies and social media. "I initially conducted infonnation sessions followed a few weeks later by auditions in the Central Hillside, Lincoln Park and West Duluth neighborhoods," he said. The show was cast by July 30 and will feature six adults and one child. Fences is the story of a 1957 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania working class, lower income family. The drama swirls around protagonist Troy Maxson (father of the family) and his relationships with his son, wife, family, friend and employer. Issues include the value of hard work, responsibility, Troy's past and the current ironies oflove, loyalty and infidelity. Fences is one of August Wilson's 10-play "Century Cycle" about the 20th Century African-American experience dealing with universal human and specific black cultural issues & themes. The play opened on Broadway in 1986 and won the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama plus the Tony Award & Drama Desk Award for Best/Outstanding Play. The 2016 movie starring Denzel Washington & Viola Davis won the Academy Award for Best Actress.

History/Theater

Cooking on the OxCart Trail - Jan Smith
The Arrowhead Library System was pleased to present Jan Smith's, Cooking on the Oxcart Trails. Maria shared from her journal that she wrote along the trails which ran from Fort Riley, Kansas to Fort Abercrombie on the border of Minnesota and the Dakota Territories. She detailed the difficulties of travel for the oxcarts, wagons, and people. The story she told included frontier recipes for food and remedies which were prepared over campfires or using camp ovens in rudimentary settings. Jan Smith was one of the four finalists in the National Storyteller Contest that was held in Park Rapids among over 150 entries. Patrons enjoyed this exciting enactment of 1858 history.

When There's Good to Be Done - Curtis & Loretta
Folks musicians and husband-and-wife duo, Curtis & Loretta, presented their programs called When There's Good to Be Done at 24 public libraries, reaching 363 attendees. Patrons got to experience original folk songs that delivered beautiful harmonies and featured instruments like the folk harp, guitars, mandocello, and banjo. Loretta wrote each of the songs about real-life people who have experienced great challenges in their lives and came out stronger for the journey. She interviewed each person, then crafted their story into a folk song. The song selection included the stories of a woman who donated a kidney to a little girl she had never met, a WWII veteran whose ship was sunk by Kamikazes and who helped save another man's life, a woman who grew up in a small, primitive village in Somalia and is now a nurse at Mayo Clinic, a couple who married in the 1940s "against all odds," and a loving family, raising kids on the severe end of the autism spectrum.

Surveys were distributed to participants at all programs. 99% of attendees found the program enjoyable and 99% noted they would attend a similar Legacy event sponsored by the library. Here are some favorite things from patrons who attended the programs:

"I loved the blending of lots of instruments and vocals, the values of virtues and heroes was so inspiring. I love hearing about the history of our state. As a mom of five young toddlers, it's important to me to teach them about those who have gone before."
'The performers brought a special warmth to the program. The poetry of verse brought to music is awesome."
"Great music, talent, with realistic, motivating stories. We sometimes dwell on the bad and ugly. This performance gave us positive, lovely and true people's stories. Thank you for bringing Curtis and Loretta to Silver Bay!"

Create a Hand-Stamped Cuff Bracelet!
Minnesota artist Jen Anfinson presented her session called Create a Hand-Stamped Bracelet at 24 public libraries, reaching 355 attendees. This program highlighted two unique jewelry techniques - jewelry stamping and metal bending. Programs were a perfect hands-on opportunity for patrons to develop their skills as physical artists and to learn a new form of wearable art. Surveys were distributed to participants at all programs. 98% of attendees found the program enjoyable and 98% noted they would attend a similar Legacy event sponsored by the library.

Here are some favorite things from patrons who attended the programs:
"Loved learning a new technique!"
"Liked the opportunity to try something I wouldn't have."
"It was hands-on learning and involved letter identification which is just what my 9-year-old needs right now."
"Liked that we got to take home a beautiful finished product and learned something new." *"Looking forward to trying this at home!"
"A great opportunity to try something new and and possibly finding a new hobby!"
"I liked it because I get to make art and be around people."
"I learned a new thing and I had fun doing it!"
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota for 2017 Minnesota Special Session Laws, Chapter 91-HF.No 707, Article 4, Section 2, Subdivision 5
Appropriation Language

These amounts are appropriated to the commissioner of education for grants to the 12 Minnesota regional library systems to provide educational opportunities in the arts, history, literary arts, and cultural heritage of Minnesota. These funds must be allocated using the formulas in Minnesota Statutes, section 134.355, subdivisions 3, 4, and 5, with the remaining 25 percent to be distributed to all qualifying systems in an amount proportionate to the number of qualifying system entities in each system. For purposes of this subdivision, "qualifying system entity" means a public library, a regional library system, a regional library system headquarters, a county, or an outreach service program. These funds may be used to sponsor programs provided by regional libraries or to provide grants to local arts and cultural heritage programs for programs in partnership with regional libraries. These funds must be distributed in ten equal payments per year. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, the appropriations encumbered on or before June 30, 2019, as grants or contracts in this subdivision are available until June 30, 2021.

2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$215,058
Other Funds Leveraged
$10,439
Direct expenses
$119,221
Administration costs
$2,667
Number of full time equivalents funded
0
Measurable Outcome(s)

Total number of projects: 1
Total number of programs and/or events (if different than total number of projects): 158
Total attendance/participation: 5,414
Total number of partnerships: 20

Description of Funds
Award-winning author Mary Casanova presented a lively, interactive program for youth in grades K-5 at 25 public libraries, school, and community partners, reaching 1,611 kids and adults. Her Powerpoint program included images of Northwoods animals and book covers and illustrations, and Mary recounted her journey growing up in a family of ten, struggling with reading, and discovering that books are a window into the world and writing is a way to have a voice. It was a fantastic opportunity to introduce (and re-introduce) Mary to our patrons of air ages. Attendants were so pleased to find out that Mary lives in the ALS region. Surveys were distributed to participants at all programs - a regular survey went to adults and older children and a "draw what you learned" survey was distributed to the littlest attendees. 90% of teen/adult attendees learned something new by attending the program and 286 children submitted "draw what you learned" evaluations. Some of the comments from evaluations include:

"Wow! An author in N. MN who has successfully written and published several books - inspirational :)"
"Mary was fantastic with the students. She really kept them engaged. She encouraged them to write and when things get tough, don't give up. I have been teaching for 28 years and this was one of the best author presentations I've been to with kids!"
"Very appreciative to get programs of this caliber in Northern MN."

Luffarslojd: Scandinavian Wirework with Faith Clover
Minnesota artist Faith Clover presented her session called Luffarslojd: Scandinavian Wirework at 27 public libraries and community partners, reaching 325 attendees. This old craft is part of the tradition of making beautiful and useful objects for everyday use using one's hands and simple tools. This was a perfect hands-on opportunity for patrons to learn more about Scandinavian history and a new form of art. Surveys were distributed to participants at all programs and 87% of attendees learned something new by attending the program. Here are some of the comments shared on program evaluations:

"Wire is a nice medium to work with - the history of the Scandinavian/Swedish roots made it more meaningful!"
"Loved learning a little about the Swedish culture and how the craft was actually developed."
"I learned something I never knew about and a craft I've never seen!!"
"This program was fun and informative. It's great to have classes like this to educate younger generations of our heritage. Keep up the good work!"
"Was great to do hands-on and make two wire items. I will definitely do more of this on my own."
Project Manager
First Name
Jim
Last Name
Weikum
Organization Name
Arrowhead Library System
Street Address
5528 Emerald Avenue
City
Mt. Iron
State
MN
Zip Code
55768-2069
Phone
(218) 741-3840 Ext. 230
Email
jim.weikum@alslib.info
Administered By
Administered by
Location

1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN 55113-4266

Phone
651-582-8200