Metropolitan Library Service Agency Legacy Grant SFY 2010 - SFY 2011
Minnesota’s Legacy Amendment raises revenue for Clean Water, Outdoor Heritage, Parks and Trails, and Arts and Cultural Heritage. Libraries are beneficiaries of a portion of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Funding.
Minnesota has a strong library presence with over 350 active public library buildings within twelve regional public library systems. Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA) is a federated regional public library system in the Twin Cities Metro Area in central Minnesota. MELSA has seven county member libraries; Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington and one city member library; St. Paul. MELSA was formed under joint powers agreements between cities and counties. MELSA and member county library systems and City of St Paul provide free access to library services and program activities for all residents of the region without discrimination. Through cooperation, shared services, and reciprocal agreements, library users have access to a wide range of public library services, programs and resources within the region and statewide. Through system collaboration, communities develop libraries that capitalize on economies of scale providing greater effectiveness, improved quality and access to more resources.
Through the State Library Services Division of the Minnesota Department of Education, the regional public library systems each receive part of the $4.25 million Minnesota Regional Library Legacy Grant through a state formula program. MELSA's share through the formula is $1,362,900 in 2010 and $1,383,133 in 2011. The funds enable MELSA and member libraries to connect with authors, playwrights, musicians, story tellers, and other arts activities providing a strong program connect for all Minnesotans with the arts and cultural heritage activities. Despite the tremendous success of this grant program the demand for arts and cultural activities throughout the twelve library regions exceed the available resources.
40% of the funds to metro wide collaborative projects, including the 2.5% allowed for administrative expenses.
10% of the funds to state-wide collaborative projects.
50% of the funds to local member library system to encourage local collaborationw with arts, history and cultural heritage organizations.
Programs sponsored by funds from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund reached users in every library facility in the Twin Cities (105 buildings) in each of the eight member systems. MELSA provided leadership to the program by hiring a Legacy Project Manager to coordinate the metro-wide and local activities. This position was funded with regional funds (not Legacy Grant funds) through a mobility re-assignment with Hennepin County.
In-Kind Staff and Partnership Contributions: $238,018.99
The amount of staff time necessary to present each program varies, but local library directors estimated that between 5-12 hours are required from staff for each program.
These appropriations are for grants allocated using existing formulas under Minnesota Statutes, section 134.355, to the 12 Minnesota Regional Library Systems, to provide educational opportunities in the arts, history, literary arts, and cultural heritage of Minnesota. No more then 2.5 percent of the funds may be used for administration by regional library systems. 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. The Department of Education, State Library Services Division shall administer these funds.
These appropriations are for grants allocated using existing formulas under Minnesota Statutes, section 134.355, to the 12 Minnesota Regional Library Systems, to provide educational opportunities in the arts, history, literary arts, and cultural heritage of Minnesota. No more then 2.5 percent of the funds may be used for administration by regional library systems. 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. The Department of Education, State Library Services Division shall administer these funds.