The Great River Regional Library (GRRL) system provides an invaluable service to communities across six counties in Central Minnesota. At the Tuesday, March 12 Morrison County Board of Commissioners meeting, GRRL Executive Director Karen Pundsack, Upsala and Sauk Centre Library Services Coordinator Marissa George and Royalton Library Services Coordinator Terri Deal-Hansen gave a presentation highlighting the library’s impact over the course of 2023.
In the presentation, Pundsack said GRRL’s mission was to “explore, learn and connect,” its vision was, “Your Neighborhood Gateway: Inspiring Central Minnesota to shape the future through exploration, knowledge and connection” and its theory of change was, “People in our communities can find and use trusted information they need to thrive.” The six counties GRRL serves include Todd, Morrison, Stearns, Benton, Sherburne and Wright counties.
According to Pundsack, GRRL served 95,058 card holders through libraries in 32 communities in the past year. The system had 19,090 new borrowers register for a library card in 2023. Other statistics included an estimated 987,740 library visitors to all of its locations combined throughout the year, 166,868 reference questions asked, 2.399 million physical items checked out, 308,405 e-books downloaded and 396,974 digital materials accessed.
Pundsack said that in addition to providing access to books, movies, music and more, the library system offers valuable educational and cultural programs. Its summer reading program saw 12,973 children and teens participate last year. The winter reading programs also engaged teens and adults, with 2,678 participants.
Locally, the Swanville Public Library gained 32 new library card holders in 2023. At the Little Falls Carnegie Library, there were 110 people who received a library card for the first time. The Royalton and Pierz public libraries, both of which being in smaller cities than Little Falls, nonetheless managed to outperform the Little Falls Carnegie Library in terms of new library cards registered, with the libraries registering 189 and 182 new library cards, respectively. Pundsack did not present information on new borrowers for the only other GRRL library in Morrison County, the Upsala Public Library.
Looking at total numbers of borrowers, Pundsack said the Little Falls Carnegie Library had 3,734 total borrowers with an active library card, 1,231 were from the Pierz Public Library, 1,114 were from the Royalton Public Library, 463 were from the Upsala Public Library and 385 were from the Swanville Public Library. As Swanville’s population was only 326 in the 2020 census and other cities had similarly small populations compared to their libraries’ number of card holders, Pundsack said these relatively high numbers were likely due to many library patrons coming from outside their libraries’ cities.
Pundsack highlighted two projects from 2023 that stood out, the “Testify” exhibit and Experience Career Kits. “Testify: Americana from Slavery to Today” started as an exhibit in 2018 for the Minneapolis Central Library, showcasing art and other historical artifacts of significance that tell stories of Black history from the age of American slavery to segregation to the Civil Rights movement to modern times. The items from this exhibit were donated by retired Minnesota Supreme Court Justice and former professional football player Alan Page and his family. In 2023, the exhibit was recreated for the St. Cloud Library. In 2024, all GRRL locations will have the “Testify” exhibit recreated for patrons to learn about Black history, as well as many other library locations throughout Minnesota. Pundsack also said there would be a virtual program April 30 in which Page and his daughter, Georgi Page-Smith, would talk about the exhibit.
The other 2023 project Pundsack highlighted was the adding Experience Career Kits to its libraries. Funded through dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to help children learn about careers when many schools had switched to online learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic, these kits give children the opportunity to learn about various potential future careers. Created through a partnership with the Exploring Potential Interest in Careers (EPIC) program and other local organizations, there are 14 different kits available for children and their parents to choose from, depending on how their interests align with potential career sectors. The 14 kits include hands-on learning activities related to the career sectors of health science; information technology; human services; education and training; hospitality and tourism; manufacturing and STEM; architecture and construction; transportation, distribution and logistics; marketing, sales and service; government and public administration; law and public safety; business, management, administration and finance; agriculture, food and natural resources; and arts, audio, video tech and communication.
Deal-Hansen spoke to the Board about the 2023 celebration of the Royalton Public Library’s 115th anniversary. At the celebration, which took place Sept. 12, 2023, there were root beer floats and live music at the Memorial County Park. Deal-Hansen said the library’s anniversary celebration takes place every year, but that the 115th anniversary was a significant milestone. Going into the history of the Royalton Public Library, she said the idea for one started in 1907, with enough books being gathered to start it the following year in 1908. Although the library had been started, it did not have a dedicated physical location until 1941, with the books being stored in homes, businesses and schools prior to that year. In 1941, the first physical location for the Royalton Public Library was built, lasting until 1986, when the building suffered structural damage and had to be burned down. In 1993, the library regained its physical location in another building with 1,000 square feet, and in 2006, it moved into a larger location with 2,140 square feet, where it remains today. Most recently, the Royalton Friends of the Library group was formed in 2018.
George showed a photo of one of GRRL’s legacy events, “Ready, Set, Go,” a beatboxing event which was put on by the Pierz Public Library. As Upsala was a smaller community, George said the Upsala Public Library didn’t go with that event but instead chose to go with other types of events that better served its community. Upcoming events include a talk with Candice Simar, author of the upcoming book, “Sister Lumberjack,” which will take place April 29 at 2 p.m. at the Little Falls Carnegie Library and the same day at 6 p.m. at the Upsala Public Library. In June, the Upsala Public Library will host a “Remarkable Reptiles” event where various reptiles will be brought into the library by experts to teach patrons about these creatures.
“In a little community like that, it’s hard to draw (in many people) when you have the lake in the summertime, because if everybody remembers, last summer it was hot,” George said. “So they were outside, much to the happiness of all the little kids that got to go and touch and pet all the animals.”
The presenters spoke about the ongoing “Locally Growin’” fundraiser, which started March 1 and runs through March 30. Each library as part of GRRL, including the five GRRL locations within Morrison County, has different goals. If enough funds are raised for each library, they will be able to fund these goals. For example, the Upsala Public Library is raising money for birdwatching kits, whereas the Royalton Public Library is raising money for Wonderbooks, children’s books that play narration of the book through a built-in speaker as a more accessible audiobook for children.
Ending the presentation, Pundsack thanked Commissioner Randy Winscher for his eight and a half years on the GRRL board of trustees.
Header: Great River Regional Library provides update on past year in Morrison County
The Great River Regional Library (GRRL) system provides an invaluable service to communities across six counties in Central Minnesota. At the Tuesday, March 12 Morrison County Board of Commissioners meeting, GRRL Executive Director Karen Pundsack, Upsala and Sauk Centre Library Services Coordinator Marissa George and Royalton Library Services Coordinator Terry Diehl-Hansen [CHECK] gave a presentation highlighting the library’s impact over the course of 2023.
In the presentation, Pundsack said GRRL’s mission was to “explore, learn and connect,” its vision was, “Your Neighborhood Gateway: Inspiring Central Minnesota to shape the future through exploration, knowledge and connection” and its theory of change was, “People in our communities can find and use trusted information they need to thrive.” The six counties GRRL serves include Todd, Morrison, Stearns, Benton, Sherburne and Wright counties.
According to Pundsack, GRRL served 95,058 card holders through libraries in 32 communities in the past year. The system had 19,090 new borrowers register for a library card in 2023. Other statistics included an estimated 987,740 library visitors to all of its locations combined throughout the year, 166,868 reference questions asked, 2.399 million physical items checked out, 308,405 e-books downloaded and 396,974 digital materials accessed.
Pundsack said that in addition to providing access to books, movies, music and more, the library system offers valuable educational and cultural programs. Its summer reading program saw 12,973 children and teens participate last year. The winter reading programs also engaged teens and adults, with 2,678 participants.
Locally, the Swanville Public Library gained 32 new library card holders in 2023. At the Little Falls Carnegie Library, there were 110 people who received a library card for the first time. The Royalton and Pierz public libraries, both of which being in smaller cities than Little Falls, nonetheless managed to outperform the Little Falls Carnegie Library in terms of new library cards registered, with the libraries registering 189 and 182 new library cards, respectively. Pundsack did not present information on new borrowers for the only other GRRL library in Morrison County, the Upsala Public Library.
Looking at total numbers of borrowers, Pundsack said the Little Falls Carnegie Library had 3,734 total borrowers with an active library card, 1,231 were from the Pierz Public Library, 1,114 were from the Royalton Public Library, 463 were from the Upsala Public Library and 385 were from the Swanville Public Library. As Swanville’s population was only 326 in the 2020 census and other cities had similarly small populations compared to their libraries’ number of card holders, Pundsack said these relatively high numbers were likely due to many library patrons coming from outside their libraries’ cities.
Pundsack highlighted two projects from 2023 that stood out, the “Testify” exhibit and Experience Career Kits. “Testify: Americana from Slavery to Today” started as an exhibit in 2018 for the Minneapolis Central Library, showcasing art and other historical artifacts of significance that tell stories of Black history from the age of American slavery to segregation to the Civil Rights movement to modern times. The items from this exhibit were donated by retired Minnesota Supreme Court Justice and former professional football player Alan Page and his family. In 2023, the exhibit was recreated for the St. Cloud Library. In 2024, all GRRL locations will have the “Testify” exhibit recreated for patrons to learn about Black history, as well as many other library locations throughout Minnesota. Pundsack also said there would be a virtual program April 30 in which Page and his daughter, Georgi Page-Smith, would talk about the exhibit.
The other 2023 project Pundsack highlighted was the adding Experience Career Kits to its libraries. Funded through dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to help children learn about careers when many schools had switched to online learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic, these kits give children the opportunity to learn about various potential future careers. Created through a partnership with the Exploring Potential Interest in Careers (EPIC) program and other local organizations, there are 14 different kits available for children and their parents to choose from, depending on how their interests align with potential career sectors. The 14 kits include hands-on learning activities related to the career sectors of health science; information technology; human services; education and training; hospitality and tourism; manufacturing and STEM; architecture and construction; transportation, distribution and logistics; marketing, sales and service; government and public administration; law and public safety; business, management, administration and finance; agriculture, food and natural resources; and arts, audio, video tech and communication.
Diehl-Hansen [CHECK] spoke to the Board about the 2023 celebration of the Royalton Public Library’s 115th anniversary. At the celebration, which took place Sept. 12, 2023, there were root beer floats and live music at the Memorial County Park. Deal-Hansen said the library’s anniversary celebration takes place every year, but that the 115th anniversary was a significant milestone. Going into the history of the Royalton Public Library, she said the idea for one started in 1907, with enough books being gathered to start it the following year in 1908. Although the library had been started, it did not have a dedicated physical location until 1941, with the books being stored in homes, businesses and schools prior to that year. In 1941, the first physical location for the Royalton Public Library was built, lasting until 1986, when the building suffered structural damage and had to be burned down. In 1993, the library regained its physical location in another building with 1,000 square feet, and in 2006, it moved into a larger location with 2,140 square feet, where it remains today. Most recently, the Royalton Friends of the Library group was formed in 2018, which currently has 15 members.
George showed a photo of one of GRRL’s legacy events, “Ready, Set, Go,” a beatboxing event which was put on by the Pierz Public Library. As Upsala was a smaller community, George said the Upsala Public Library didn’t go with that event but instead chose to go with other types of events that better served its community. Upcoming events include a talk with Candice Simar, author of the upcoming book, “Sister Lumberjack,” which will take place April 29 at 2 p.m. at the Little Falls Carnegie Library and the same day at 6 p.m. at the Upsala Public Library. In June, the Upsala Public Library will host a “Remarkable Reptiles” event where various reptiles will be brought into the library by experts to teach patrons about these creatures.
“In a little community like that, it’s hard to draw (in many people) when you have the lake in the summertime, because if everybody remembers, last summer it was hot,” George said. “So they were outside, much to the happiness of all the little kids that got to go and touch and pet all the animals.”
The presenters spoke about the ongoing “Locally Growin’” fundraiser, which started March 1 and runs through March 30. Each library as part of GRRL, including the five GRRL locations within Morrison County, has different goals. If enough funds are raised for each library, they will be able to fund these goals. For example, the Upsala Public Library is raising money for birdwatching kits, whereas the Royalton Public Library is raising money for Wonderbooks, children’s books that play narration of the book through a built-in speaker as a more accessible audiobook for children.
Ending the presentation, Pundsack thanked Commissioner Randy Winscher for his eight and a half years on the GRRL board of trustees.
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