GET REUNITED WITH YOUR LIBRARY AT THIS YEAR’S LEARNING & LIBATIONS AT THE LIBRARY

Over a decade ago, the visionary board and dedicated staff of the Duluth Library Foundation conceived an ambitious plan to hold a fundraising Gala at none other than the iconic downtown Duluth Public Library itself. Yes, you read that right – an extraordinary event right at the heart of knowledge and community.
This event has always been special to us.
The 12th annual Learning & Libations at the Library was a success on all accounts — raising $38,000 and counting for our beloved library. See photos from the evening here>

It’s time to ban together.

Join us as we celebrate Banned Books Week, October 1st – 7th, an annual event that brings together our book-loving community. Together, we stand in support of the freedom of expression and shine a light on the detrimental consequences of censorship. This week-long occasion raises awareness about the numerous attempts happening nationwide to ban or limit people’s access to books. Let’s come together and advocate for a world where all ideas are valued and celebrated without constraint.

Today, libraries across the country are seeing an alarming rise in requests to ban books. This unprecedented surge poses a challenge for dedicated library staff who are committed to promoting diverse perspectives and ensuring access to information for all patrons. In a concerning trend, the Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association has reported an alarming increase in attempts to censor books and resources in libraries. In 2022 alone, they documented a staggering 1,269 demands for book bans, marking the highest number recorded in over two decades.

So what can we do? We can start by showing our support to Libraries and learning more about the work being done nationally and locally to combat the trend of book banning. To read more about what our community is doing, check out the Library’s Collection Development Policy here: https://duluthlibrary.org/policies/collection-development-policy/

And please visit the American Library Association, https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/banned and Unite Against Book Bans, https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/ a national initiative, to learn more.

A time for PRIDE

This year, the Twin Ports celebrated 37 years of Pride at the 2023 Duluth-Superior Pride Festival. As champions of the Duluth Public Library and its efforts to provide thoughtful and engaging programs to our community, we are excited to see the library once again hosting a diverse range of events and activities for this year’s Pride Festival.

The Duluth Public Library is an essential community resource that serves all people, from all backgrounds. The library staff is dedicated to providing a wide range of materials and programs that reflect the diverse experiences of our community, promoting values of inclusivity and diversity. We are proud to continue our partnership with the library, offering resources and support for these programs, and so much more.

As we celebrate Duluth-Superior Pride, we urge you to continue supporting the library and celebrating equality and self-expression in a way that holds personal meaning for you and your family.

Happy Pride,

The Duluth Library Foundation