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By Julie Clinefelter

Austin Public Library Director

The MN Association of Library Friends awarded their Evy Nordley 2024 award for best projects by Friends of the Library last month and Austin Public Library’s Friends group was, once again, in the running.

The awards namesake, Evy Nordley, devoted decades to championing Friends of the Library. Similarly, the Friends of the Austin Public Library have devoted years to championing their library. The group was runner up for the award in 2017 and 2019 and won the grand prize in 2015 and most recently again in 2021 for their Flockin’ Flamingos Fundraiser.

This year they entered the race for their Puttin’ In the Stacks event held in the summer of 2023. The group reached out to local businesses to create mini golf holes that were spread around the library for a day of, you guessed it, Puttin’ In the Stacks! The goal of the project was to reach out and connect to people who may not know about the Friends group and to create a fun indoor experience for kids and families on a hot summer day. The event was a great success and raised $685 for the group.

For those who don’t know, the Friends of the Library help support library services, programming and other activities by:

• Encouraging community awareness of library services;

• Providing volunteer assistance for library programs, open houses, and special events; and

• Contributing funds from dues, used book sales, and other events to purchase materials or equipment beyond the library’s regular operating budget.

I am thrilled to announce that this year, the Friends once again came up on time as runners up for the Evy Nordley Award, receiving $750 for their efforts. I am continually amazed by the group’s ingenuity in creating fun and engaging projects that bring awareness to our community about the library. The library staff and I are very grateful for all they do.

Don’t miss out on the Friends next big event coming on Jan. 25, 2025 in the form of Puzzle Palooza! Sign up as a team of four to complete a 500 piece puzzle with the opportunity to win a cash prize. Sign ups are available now at the front desk of the library, or on the Austin MN Friends of the Library Facebook page. So come in soon to check out what the Austin Public Library and their Friends can do for you!