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The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library/Minnesota Center for the Book

Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55114

Last updated on January 26, 2026

Grant awarded by
TPS Midwest Region
Region
Midwest
Organization Type
Non-profit Organization
Congressional District(s)
4
Fiscal Year Of First Grant
FY 2026 [10/01/25 - 09/30/26]
Contributing Organization(s)
State Library Services, AmazeWorks
Organization description

The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library acts as a catalyst for libraries to strengthen and inspire their communities. An independent, nonprofit organization established in 1945, The Friends invests in the Saint Paul Public Library through fundraising, advocacy, and programming; as a result, our Library is a nationally-recognized leader in serving its community. The Friends also serves libraries across the country through its consulting services, Library Strategies, and promotes literacy, reading, and libraries statewide as the Library of Congress’s designated Minnesota Center for the Book.

Project description

In conjunction with the statewide book club One Book | One Minnesota, the Minnesota Center for the Book applied for a Teaching with Primary Sources grant to encourage intergenerational connection and discussion around aging based on the book What Lolo Wants by Minnesota-based author Cristina Oxtra. We will be distributing books to elementary school libraries in Minnesota that include a guide with discussion questions and activities, including resources for educators and librarians on conducting oral histories and other primary sources that inspire research into previous generations’ cultures and communities. Other activities include statewide digital access to the book via EBooks MN, a webinar, and in-person appearances by the author at selected schools and libraries in Minnesota.

TPS project focus
  • Curriculum
  • Webinars
Content focus
  • Art
  • Cultural Studies
  • English Language Arts
  • Literacy
Audience
  • Artists
  • Classroom teachers
  • Community members
  • Homeschoolers
  • Librarians/Media specialists
  • Students
  • Writers
Level(s)
  • K-5
Population focus
  • Asian Americans
  • Seniors
Organization Contact