In 2024, ALS approved all of our available Mini Grants. Member Libraries of all types used their creativity and these funds to provide their community with helpful technology, programs, books, and more! Thank you to all libraries who applied for these Mini Grants in 2024. Read more to see the successful outcomes of this year’s Mini Grants, and to find inspiration for your own Mini Grant and project ideas!
Project Name: Book Displays & Shelves
Joey Ruotsalainen, Cherry School Library
Outcomes of the Project: Elementary students can view the book covers easier than what we currently have, to find books that might interest them more. We use the displays in the high school section to switch out books, so students are able to see new books or series that might pique their interests and keep them reading. We have had a lot more high school students checking out books now that they can see them easier. The pre-K through 6th graders run right to the new shelves first to look at the books.
Project Name: Makerspace Tools and Fine Motor Builders
Ariana Zahradka, Falls Elementary School Library
Outcomes of the Project: This project will benefit our students very soon as we get into the holiday “maker” season. We will use the glue guns, sticks and cord reels for projects in 4th and 5th grade. The pixel art kits will be introduced to students in the primary classes as part of December’s “Hour of Code”. I’m excited to do the unplugged coding with my younger students to get them prepared for more coding after the break. Thank you so much for supplying our library and kids with these great additions! I have not had a chance to use the items requested (it was a last minute grant and we just received the items). I will measure its success by kit usage and observation of students using the materials.
Project Name: Coffee at the Library!
Liv Mostad-Jensen, Coleraine Public Library
Outcomes of the Project: We purchased a Keurig K-1500 Commercial Coffee Maker, among other accessories, as we could not buy coffee with the grant money. It has already benefited our patrons by providing warm and cozy beverages, including by our monthly adult crafting group, Dungeons and Dragons group, after school kids, general patrons and by staff. It will also be used at our annual lefse event on December 18 and by our Sit and Knit programs during the month of December. We are measuring our success by the consistent use of the Keurig, which we are already seeing.
Project Name: Library Furniture
Shannon Walz, Silver Bay Public Library
Outcomes of the Project: The Library just finished a renovation and addition project. We had to cut new furniture from our budget to help with overall project expenses. However we have been looking for creative ways to add updated furniture in the spaces. With the support of mini-grant from Arrowhead Library System we were able to purchase comfortable and stylish armchairs that will be a great addition to our new space. Many people come to the library to hangout, meet with friends and/or have a comfortable space outside of their house to relax and read. With the new renovation and addition we were able to make a cozy seating nook for the community. The two chairs have been a great addition. They are durable, stylish and firm enough that elderly library users can easily get in and out of the chairs. We opened the new space last week and every day we have had people sitting in the new chairs (at this time we have had 21 uses of the chairs that we have tallied). Patrons using the chairs commented on their comfort and how nice they looked in the new space.
Project Name: Art Display System
Shannon Walz, Silver Bay Public Library
Outcomes of the Project: The Library just finished a renovation and addition project. With this new space we are able to feature local artists and this new system allows us to easily change our displays. There are two groups who benefit from this project – local artists and our patrons. We have many amazing local artists in our community. We are excited to be a venue where they can share their work and creativity with the community without the pressure of showing at a larger, more high stakes venue. Second, it benefits our patrons. They are inspired by the art and admire the beauty of the work. It creates food for thought, sparks of inspiration and connections with each other. We have been tallying the number of people who have gone over to the art display and taken time to enjoy it. Since we put it up 163 people have gone and stood before the art and taken time to intentionally take it in. Patrons have commented on the talent of the artist. The rich feel the art creates at the library. We have observed people talking together about the art with each other. We have also had local artists inquire about the process for showing their art.
Project Name: Mini Maker Space
Morgan Reardon, Cloquet Public Library
Outcomes of the Project: With this Mini Maker Space, we are giving kids in the 7-12 age range something to engage in while at the library, allowing them to feel more included and valued. It also encourages creativity and learning in the library. The benefits that we have seen from having this project completed are kids exploring and learning using the activities from our Mini Maker Space, and most important of all having fun at the library. I measured the success of this project by counting the number of kids and families who interacted with the Mini Maker Space. Though the going has been a bit slow initially, we have had four families use materials and explore the space. One family’s grown up asked me for help in creating paper snowflakes, so we used the craft supplies from the maker space and she continued on to teach her whole family! Another child explored the Snap Circuit set that I had out and was tinkering with. She interrupted her game of checkers to help me launch the flying spinner! Though I haven’t gotten the amount of interaction I expected yet, I would consider this a success because kids have had fun with it!
Project Name: Merritt Elementary Continued Reorganization
Anna Roen, Merritt Elementary Library
Outcomes of the Project: In this phase of our continued reorganization project, we were focused on our non-fiction section and shelf labeling. Our students loved the new labels and signs. Many commented on finding books they were interested in that they never knew we had. They loved it when we moved our picture books into baskets, and thought it was great when they saw more non-fiction books organized that way as well. Students are easily able to find books they are interested in. I used informal observations to measure the success of our grant project. I noticed that students gravitated toward books in baskets and I found that I could point kids to the right area more easily with the new signs and labels. When whole classes come through the library, it gets busy. Having improved organization makes for a better experience for our students. Teachers also commented on their approval of the new organization.
Project Name: Books, Books & More Books
Melanie Lefebvre, Calumet Public Library
Outcomes of the Project: We purchased prize books to give away to library patrons. It is so fun to give away books during the Christmas season. Each child got to pick the book that they wanted. It’s so fun to see how they choose a book. There were many parents and grandchildren that thanked us for giving the books away.
Project Name: STEAM Cart
Jen Baker, Aurora Public Library
Outcomes of the Project: STEAM cart with activities; STEM magnetic blocks, spirograph, magnetic robot, arts and crafts – Patrons and students are able to learn and explore STEAM activities, problem solving and arts. We measure project outcomes by Feedback from patrons, and observations of use.
