Viking Library System Legacy Grant SFY 2016 - SFY 2017
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. Viking Library System (VLS) is a federated regional public library system with central services located in central western Minnesota. VLS has eleven member public libraries located in six counties: Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, and Traverse. With Arts and Cultural Heritage funds, VLS 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.
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.
Total number of activities, programs, and/or events: 70
Total participation/attendance: 6,127
Total number of partnerships: 15
"Minnesota and the Civil War" with Arn Kind was a wildly successful program presented at three public libraries and one area school. The presenter, dressed as a Union soldier, discussed various aspects of the United States Civil War, including the reason men volunteered to enlist, the daily life of a typical soldier, uniforms and equipment and weapons and tactics. The presenter graciously shared his extensive collection of artifacts with the enthusiastic audience. Some students were required to attend the program, and it's typical that their evaluations would be more negative than those who voluntarily attended, but even these evaluations were outstanding. Comments included, "I learned that Minnesota volunteers were the first to enlist, and learned the difficulties my three great-grandfathers faced fighting and surviving the war."
Art in August was a series of five workshops led by three artists using three different mediums, including mono-printing workshops for teens/adults and children, jewelry workshops for teens and children, and ceramics workshops for adults. Almost all of the participants reported learning a new art technique with one respondent saying, "this is one of the best participation classes I've been involved with." Almost all of the participants reported taking home something they loved.
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.
Total number of activities, programs, and/or events: 95
Total participation/attendance: 6,659
Total number of partnerships: 95
Photographer Jon Solinger's Working Land exhibit traveled to seven different venues in the region, on display at each location for 3-6 weeks, and including an artist talk. At each presentation, Solinger described the history of the Working Land exhibit, and described the people, animals and machines and their connections to the rural environment. The families featured in the photographs live and work in Otter Tail County, in the Viking Library System, which was a wonderful connection to the past and present for audience. Six libraries, the Viking Library System and the Henning Landmark Center, a bookmobile partner, participated in the exhibit and talks.
Participants reported learning more about the people of Otter Tail County, and learning about the art of photography. One participant wrote, "I liked how he love the simplicity of the land and the families - the backbone of our area." Another said, "I loved to hear how Jon approached his subjects, and thought through lighting and the story told by each photo." Salinger's photographs and presentation gave audience members a greater appreciation of the work of farmers, "I liked the focus on the farm - daily work of today's farms - honoring the work of these individuals."
A Writer's Path to Publishing was a half day series of events for writers that took place at the Roosevelt Education Center in Fergus Falls. Partners for the events included the Fergus Falls Public Library, the Viking Library System, Springboard for Arts, Fergus Falls Community Education, Lake Region Arts Council, the Victor Lundeen Company and the Fergus Falls Writer's Group. It was the first time for the library putting on an event like this, and they felt it was a huge success. There was so much interest that they needed to cap the registration at 50, although more showed up. Writers came from seven different zip codes to attend. A member of the Fergus Falls Writers Group stated after the event, "The enthusiasm was over the top and we couldn't stop talking about the ideas we heard and motivation suggestions. Also, I've been getting thank you/appreciation emails from others ever since." Attendees reported learning new information about publishing, learned new writing techniques and making new connections in the writing community. Almost half of the respondents indicated that this was the first Fergus Falls Public Library event they attended.