Kitchigami Regional Library Legacy Grant SFY 2017
Minnesota’s 12 regional public library systems, which encompass 350 public libraries in all areas of the state, benefit from a portion of the Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Through State Library Services, a division of the Minnesota Department of Education, each regional public library system receives a formula-driven allocation from the annual $2.2 million Minnesota Regional Library Legacy Grant.Kitchigami Regional Library (KRL) is a consolidated regional public library system in north central Minnesota. KRL has nine branch public libraries located in five counties: Beltrami, Cass, Crow, Wing, Hubbard, and Wadena. With Arts and Cultural Heritage funds, KRL and its member libraries present an array of arts, cultural, literary, and Minnesota history programs in collaboration with arts and cultural organizations, independent artists, historical societies, and community organizations. Programs contribute to the cultural vitality of the region and build a lasting legacy. KRL applied for $0 of the SFY 2016 Library Legacy Grant.
These amounts are appropriated to the commissioner of education for grants to the 12 Minnesota regional library systems to provide educational opportunities in the arts, history, literary arts, and cultural heritage of Minnesota. These funds must be allocated using the formulas in Minnesota Statutes, section 134.355, subdivisions 3, 4, and 5, with the remaining 25 percent to be distributed to all qualifying systems in an amount proportionate to the number of qualifying system entities in each system. For purposes of this subdivision, "qualifying system entity" means a public library, a regional library system, a regional library system headquarters, a county, or an outreach service program. These funds may be used to sponsor programs provided by regional libraries or to provide grants to local arts and cultural heritage programs for programs in partnership with regional libraries. These funds must be distributed in ten equal payments per year. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, the appropriations encumbered on or before June 30, 2017, as grants or contracts in this subdivision are available until June 30, 2019.
Total number of activities, programs, and/or events: 111
Total participation/attendance: 4,019
Total number of partnerships: 0
Lyz Jaakola toured the Kitchigami Regional System, visiting 10 locations and engaging with over 230 attendees. Lyz provided an engaging and informative musical performance by sharing various traditional songs and instruments of the Anishinaabe. She provided history and traditional meanings behind the songs and instruments within the Anishinaabe culture. At the end of each performance a discussion about the Anishinaabe culture, music, and instruments was held engaging the audience. One participant commented that the program was, "well done, [and] certainly an important aspect of learning more about other cultures." 99% of participants who attended the programs responded that they had an enjoyable experience and that they learned more about the Anishinaabe culture.