In 2025 the Arrowhead Library System offered 40 Mini Grants. Presented here are the Mini Grants that have been completed so far.
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 2025. 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: Books for Book Clubs and Classroom Library
Ana Urban, Proctor Public Schools – Bay View Elementary
Outcomes of the Project:
Students were so excited to receive new options for book clubs. I was able to share these resources with the other 3 teachers in the 2nd grade so that they could also run book clubs in their classrooms.
As of next week, there will be 6 different groups (32 children) reading the book club sets purchased with these books. Second grade students are very eager to read chapter books and are very excited to share their reading and thinking with their peers. These books will also help them to gain confidence as readers.
Project Name: A True Book, My United States Series
Barbara Hughes, St Joseph’s Catholic School Library
Outcomes of the Project:
Students in 4th grade are assigned a “state report”. For this assignment, not all sources can be digital. This allows us to teach another valuable form of research. Along with the 4th grade reports, other grades use state books to augment their social studies curriculum when studying different areas of the country. Independently, students have been checking these books out to learn more about our state or state they will travel. Our old series, being outdated, did not provide accurate information.
Success is measured by use and excitement. The fourth grade teacher was thrilled to have available updated sources. As soon as these books were on display I heard, “Hey, when did you get these?!” Immediately they were being checked out. Minnesota and Florida have been the most popular so far. Didn’t see that coming 🙂
Project Name: Obstacle Course Bouncy House
Michele Lammi, Hoyt Lakes Public Library
Outcomes of the Project:
In addition to a craft, a character scavenger hunt, and “live gaming” games, the obstacle course will be another activity for attendees to participate in. We will be doing lots of running, jumping and moving around. Our kick-off theme is related to the iRead program. Attendees will get a sense of Leveling Up that is not related to just video games. We have found the kids very much enjoy coming and “learning” what the summer program is through our kick-off and all the activities we make available. The obstacle course will be a nice addition for the kids to use during the kick-off.
The kids were able to use the bouncy house as many times as they wanted throughout the 2 hour program and there was always a line. We had 122 people come to our kickoff and gave out 56 gift bags that were earned by completing any 5 activities. One mother commented on Facebook, “Thanks for always throwing awesome events! My son said he had a blast.”
Project Name: Inclusive Books to Regional Schools
Sarah Klyve, Northeast Service Cooperative
Outcomes of the Project:
I provided books to regional teachers, instructional coaches, principals and directors that are inclusive to all students to share with their staff/students. We had 52 teachers, leaders and instructional coaches from schools within our region that took part in our session and we were able to provide inclusive children’s books for them to bring to their teachers and students. Almost every district within our region was represented in that space! It was amazing!
Project Name: Cribbage Club
Gina Berger, Marble Public Library
Outcomes of the Project:
We were able to use the $250 mini grant and other donations to buy 6 customized cribbage boards and cards to bring together young and old in our community over a friendly game of cribbage. With the library as a central part of the community, older patrons and students discover that they have many common interests that can be shared in a comfortable setting while enjoying a little friendly competition. Our program is in its second week with attendance of four. These four are eager to teach some of our younger patrons the game so I foresee attendance going up as the word is passed along.
Project Name: JE Room DUPLO / Lego Tables
Katie Christenson, Chisholm Public Library
Outcomes of the Project:
With the support of a $250 mini grant from ALS, the Chisholm Public Library enhanced its Juvenile Easy Room by adding two Duplo/Lego activity tables, Lego storage bins, and two themed Duplo sets (Bluey and Winnie the Pooh). The new Duplo/Lego tables have helped us create a dedicated space for creative play – encouraging social interaction, imaginative thinking, and fine motor skill development. The space has noticeably improved the early literacy environment and overall experience for families and kids visiting the Chisholm Library.
The Duplo tables are used daily and especially heavily before and after Storytime which average 15-50 children per week (depending on the season). Caregivers frequently comment on how much their children enjoy the space. Staff have observed children playing together, building structures – showing increased engagement and peer interaction.
Project Name: Waiting is Hard
Kaela Breezee, West Duluth Public Library
Outcomes of the Project:
For this project we bought a set of liquid tiles, a fidget board, a calming tube, tune and learn magnetic gears, and soft sensory balls. The goal of the program was to make it easier for families and care takers to check out or work with staff at the service desk when their kids are high energy or squirmy. The liquid tiles were placed by the service desk and self check. The fidget board was also put by the self check to keep kids occupied and close to their adult. The calming tube and magnetic gears were put in the play area for kids to explore.
Having the tiles and fidget board help keep kids close to their adult while they’re working with staff or checking out. It’s made the process less stressful for the adults and more fun for the kids. The items we put in the kids area are things they can play with individually or with friends and aren’t super stimulating so kids stay calmer when playing.
We received loads of comments about the floor tiles from kids and adults. It opened up the conversation about why and how we got them and every patron we spoke with thought it was a wonderful thing and made the library more fun. Staff from other branches enjoy them too when they are at West Duluth. The fidget board has also been a great success. Shortly after the board went up, a little boy and his father came in to use the library and the little boy was full of energy. His dad was trying to pick out books but had to chase his son around the library and keep him from climbing on the furniture. Then the little boy spotted the fidget board and played with it for almost a half hour, and even asked his dad to come watch him play. If I remember right, they left with an arm load of books.
Project Name: Ben Schierer Book Signing & Talk
Cara Mooney, Iron Range Research Center
Outcomes of the Project:
The Research Center team hosted an evening event at the Minnesota Discovery Center’s Theater featuring Perpich: a Minnesota Original author Ben Schierer. Ben read a portion of the introduction to his book, then spoke about why he wrote the book on Rudy Perpich, and the resources he used in the Research Center’s Archives and Library. Though we had a relatively small turnout, Ben used the opportunity to have a very engaged conversation with the attendees. The grant funds and the Ironworld Development Corporation match were used to present Ben with a gift of $500 for his time and generosity in presenting this program.
This event allowed the Research Center to introduce a new quarterly evening program which will feature speakers on a variety of historical, cultural, regional, and educational subjects. Ben’s talk was personable and able to spark dialogue regarding the history of the Iron Range and the impact that an individual can have when they are engaged with the best interests of their community. Resources that are publicly and freely available in the Research Center were promoted by the author as he spoke about the unique collection of material that he was able to access in order to write his book.
Our speaker was very pleased with the event and his ability to engage personally with those in attendance. While the Research Center Team was disappointed in the low overall attendance, we consider the active interest and participation of all guests to be the sign of a successful program, and an indication that a regularly scheduled evening event could become an increasingly well-attended staple of Research Center programming.
Project Name: Community Art Wall
Shannon Walz, Silver Bay Public Library
Outcomes of the Project:
In our new addition we were able to install a Walk Art System last year to display local artists. We have recently put out a call for our first round of artists in the community and got more response than we expected. Our art committee has found another space to display art in our new addition so we can show more interested local artists. We purchased a 12 foot rail and the necessary hanging rods and holders from Walker Art Display.
This second art space has been so great! It has helped add beauty in our space making it more welcoming for our patrons. It has also allowed us to highlight more local artists and share their amazing stories and talent with the community. It has allowed us to make intergenerational connections in the community.
So far we have had one joint local artist showcase so far we have documented 218 people who have viewed (probably more but that is what we have been able to count) and have another 7 displays planned between now and the end of 2026. Each show will have an artist meet and greet. We will continue to track the numbers for the display.
Project Name: Small Playhouse
Kelli Pelland, Baudette Public Library
Outcomes of the Project:
We have been using a huge cardboard box for the kids to play in for the last 2 years. It is worn and now it will be replaced with an actual playhouse that is durable and will last for many years. The playhouse will include a sink, stove, cordless phone and working doorbell for little imaginations to play with.
Almost every child that enters the children’s section will engage with the playhouse. We tally every child that comes through the library.
