Metropolitan Library Service Agency Legacy Grant SFY 2016 - SFY 2017

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$844,624
2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$821,725
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Metropolitan Library Service Agency
Recipient Type
Libraries
Status
Completed
Start Date
July 2015
End Date
June 2019
Activity Type
Digitization/Online Information Access
Education/Outreach/Engagement
Fund Administration
Grants/Contracts
Preservation
Research
Counties Affected
Anoka
Carver
Dakota
Hennepin
Ramsey
Scott
Washington
Anoka
Carver
Dakota
Hennepin
Ramsey
Scott
Washington
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 $2.2 million Minnesota Regional Library System Legacy Grant. 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. With Arts and Cultural Heritage funds, MELSA 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 2015 Chapter 2--S.F. No. 1, 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, 2017, as grants or contracts in this subdivision are available until June 30, 2019.

2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$844,624
Other Funds Leveraged
$153,005
Direct expenses
$997,629
Administration costs
$23,994
Number of full time equivalents funded
.25
Measurable Outcome(s)

Total number of activities, programs, and/or events: 1,312 Total participation/attendance: 211,676Total number of partnerships: 244

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota for 2015 Chapter 2--S.F. No. 1, 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, 2017, as grants or contracts in this subdivision are available until June 30, 2019.

2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$821,725
Other Funds Leveraged
$319,806
Direct expenses
$1,141,531
Administration costs
$28,906
Number of full time equivalents funded
.25
Measurable Outcome(s)

Total number of activities, programs, and/or events: 1,338

Total participation/attendance: 124,137

Total number of partnerships:  241 

Description of Funds
Green Card Youth Voices
A number of systems in the MELSA region hosted the Green Card Youth Voices Photography Exhibit. The exhibit was produced in collaboration with LEAP High School in Saint Paul, and inspired by the book Green Card Youth Voices: Immigration Stories from a St. Paul High School, a collection of personal essays from 30 young new Americans from 13 different countries. The exhibit showcases the life journeys of these young people through photography and personal quotes. For example, Hla Yu Htoo from Tak, Thailand, who states, "Speaking was really difficult, and I felt really sad because I did not know English. Sometimes I went to the bathroom and cried a little bit, but I didn't give up." And Jae Nay Htoo from Klopah, Thailand, who states, "When I was in refugee camps, there were no surprises in my life. It was just a simple life. But when I came here, many surprises happened to me, and there were many challenges I had to face." QR codes printed on each piece offered further access to videos, photos, and additional information about each subject.

Library Card Exhibition Program
Anoka County Library unveiled a wide variety of new designs for their library cards, which highlighted the work of several local artists whose work was commissioned using Legacy funds. These cards were on display in every branch, and patrons had the opportunity to choose which design they wanted for their own library card. Overall, ACL handed out over 16,000 new or replacement cards during the program's run.


Hung Kings and Trung Sisters Commemoration
Part of Hennepin County Library's ongoing, Legacy-funded Celebrate Asia program series, this program commemorated the founders of Vietnam, the Hung Kings and the Trung sisters, with a parade, ritual ceremonies, unicorn dancing, and other cultural performances. The program was planned by the library's Celebrate Asia workgroup and made possible through much collaboration: Hung Vuong Association of Minnesota, Hoang Anh Dance Group, Vietnamese Community of Minnesota, Fellowship of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Servicemen in Minnesota, Saigon Nho Minnesota, Minnesota Viet Bao, and Alliance Franaise of Minneapolis/St. Paul were all involved in developing the series.


Lady Days
Part of Hennepin County Library's 2018 Black History Month series, local jazz singer Thomasina Petrus presented a musical bio performance of some of America's first and finest female jazz vocalists including Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, and Etta James. Petrus channeled these jazz greats of the past, celebrating their talent and strength, while honoring their struggle and determination. One attendee even said Petrus "made me believe in love again!"


American Politics in the Age of Trump: A First Look at History Series
Ramsey County Library explored today's politics with this series of events, which included the following programs:

American Politics in the Age of Trump - One Year Later: Donald Trump's election surprised many, and evaluation of his performance and impact in office has produced divergent opinions. Patrons joined law professor David Schultz of Hamline University and the University of Minnesota as he looked at the Trump presidency one year after the 2016 elections, seeking to assess what it signifies, what the Administration has accomplished, and what the next three years of the Trump era will bring.

The Trump Movement - A Conservative View: Patrons joined noted conservative speaker and writer Chuck Chalberg for an overview of recent political history from a right-of-center perspective. What lessons can we learn from the Trump Movement, regardless of our individual political orientation?


Club Book
The Club Book brings prominent authors to Twin Cities metro area libraries. Over the past year, the program brought 18 authors to every library system in the region, drawing over 1,000 attendees. In addition to in-person crowds, Club Book has a growing podcast following: each Club Book event is turned into a podcast, and, to date, there have been over 22,000 podcast downloads.

Watercolor Painting
This workshop at Chanhassen Public Library introduced materials and techniques used in watercolor painting. The lessons began with discussions and demonstrations on basic materials including paints and their characteristics, transparent layering, brush selection, and mark making techniques. Emphasis was on experimenting and finding forms and colors for self-expression. Many commented that the class gave them their first exposure to painting, or rekindled a new interest in art for them.
Project Manager
First Name
Ken
Last Name
Behringer
Organization Name
Metropolitan Library Service Agency
Street Address
1619 Dayton Ave., Suite 314
City
St. Paul
State
MN
Zip Code
55104-6206
Phone
(651) 645-5731
Email
ken@melsa.org
Administered By
Administered by
Location

1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN 55113-4266

Phone
651-582-8200