The local non-profit Library Friends of Cook County is happy to announce that the organization awarded a total of $11,400 in grant funding to support 2026 reading and literary programs at all five local school libraries. Grant recipients are:
• Birch Grove Community School for the addition of two interactive classroom boards that support a multi-sensory approach to reading concepts and reading comprehension
• Great Expectations Charter School to acquire new books and classroom materials that will help fulfill the State of Minnesota’s “Indian Education for All” initiative
• Oshki Ogimaag Charter School to expand the school library and acquire new books by Indigenous authors
• Cook County ISD 166 and Sawtooth Elementary School to expand the collection of titles by Indigenous authors for all grade levels from Pre-K through Grade 12
Library Friends is thrilled to help their local area schools acquire new teaching tools, provide additional resources, and expand access to great books for all ages. Library Friends is a volunteer, non-profit organization composed of community members who care about books, reading, and particularly libraries—those places where books and people get together. Board Members are: Agatha Armstrong, Beth Blank, Cindy Ceo, Staci Drouillard, Kelsey Kennedy, Andi Larsen, Johanna Larson, Jack Miller, Nina Simonowicz and Carl Solander.
Grant funding for Library Friends is generated through individual donations, by donating volunteer hours at area non-profit retail outlets, and other fundraising events. If you would like to become a volunteer to help maintain the Oddz & Endz used book room, please contact: library.friends.cc.mn@gmail.com. To support the work of Library Friends of Cook County, donations can be made through GiveMN.org, or mailed to: PO Box 1234, Grand Marais, MN 55604. Follow Library Friends of Cook County on Facebook to track news and events in the coming year.
