Foundations to Learn, Play & Grow

Help Us Complete the Downtown Library Children’s Section

We’ve raised more than $300,000 – and your gift can help us cross the finish line.
We are in the final stretch of our campaign to transform the children’s section at the Downtown Duluth Public Library. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we are closer than ever to reaching our $350,000 goal.

Now, every gift can make twice the impact.

The Carol Fryberger Legacy Match

Every dollar donated will be matched, up to $25,000, through a generous gift from the Estate of Carol Fryberger – a passionate library user and longtime supporter.

Together, community donations and the match will raise the final $50,000 needed to complete the project.

A $25 gift becomes $50.
A $100 gift becomes $200.
Every contribution moves us closer to the finish line.

This progress bar reflects both community donations and matching funds from the Carol Fryberger Legacy Match.

Were you a library kid?

For many, being a library kid means fond memories of participating in Saturday morning storytimes or after school programming at the Duluth Public Library. Maybe it was spinning the racks to search for the next book in the Babysitter’s Club series. Or perhaps it was making imaginary calls from the wood telephone booth that has stood for nearly 40 years among the book bins.

For some, the memory might not be their own childhood but rather raising library kids. And for others, these nostalgic, foundational memories may even originate in a town far from Duluth, but in a children’s library just as magical. Regardless of when or where we first formed our early library memories, the experiences, the lessons, and the doors that were opened to us remain core to who we are as a community.

As the Downtown location of the Duluth Public Library creeps towards 50 years old, so too does the Youth Services section. New caregivers, children, and families have filled our library every day since 1980, yet the furniture and design in the space have stayed largely unchanged. Now is the time to capture Duluth’s youngest learners and provide them with a space that matches the energy and creativity they bring with each visit.

Will you join us in making a reimagined Duluth Public Library Youth Services in 2026 a reality?

Tell Us What Kind of Library Kid You Were

We need your help getting the word out! Every gift will be matched dollar for dollar until the full $25,000 match has been reached. There are a number of ways to participate:

  • CREATE your own I Was A Library Kid images via these branded templates. Use them on social media, text messages, or emails to your network.
  • SHARE YOUR STORY about what it means to you to have been a Library Kid on social media. Don’t forget to tag @duluthlibraryfoundation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn!
  • JOIN THE LIBRARY KID CHALLENGE
    1. Share your Library Kid story and tag the Duluth Library Foundation on any of our social platforms (or all three!)
    2. Make a gift of any size.
    3. Tag three former Library Kids in your post or email.
    4. Invite them to share their story and keep it going.

Learn More About the Project

Your support will help replace outdated fixtures and create a vibrant, flexible and inclusive children’s section designed for how children and families use the library today.

Continue below to learn more about:

  • Why the children’s section needs to be updated
  • The improvements planned for the space
  • How the project supports children and caregivers
  • What will happen if the Downtown Library is remodeled, rebuilt or relocated
  • How your gift will continue making an impact for years to come

A Welcoming Place for Children to Learn, Play, and Grow

For more than 40 years, the Downtown Library has been a cornerstone for families. Today, its children’s section—serving children through age 12—needs thoughtful updates to better support young learners and their caregivers.

The Need

The children’s area at the Downtown Library has remained largely unchanged since 1980. Outdated, immovable fixtures limit play, programming, and access to books, and there is no welcoming central space for storytimes and families.

This is the largest children’s library space in northeastern Minnesota—and it should reflect how children learn and grow today.

The Vision

We are reimagining the children’s section as a vibrant, flexible, and inclusive space designed with families in mind.

Planned improvements include:

  • Modern, flexible furnishings scaled for children
  • Playful learning areas that encourage exploration
  • Welcoming spaces for storytimes and programs
  • Sensory-friendly features and thoughtful spaces for babies
  • Clear signage and intuitive layout for caregivers

Why It Matters

Strong libraries help build strong communities. Investing in early learning spaces:

  • Supports literacy and school readiness
  • Strengthens family engagement
  • Promotes equity, health, and opportunity

The window of childhood is short. These updates will make an immediate impact for children and families today, while remaining flexible for future library plans.

Join Us

Together, we can create a space where Duluth’s children and families find inspiration, opportunity, and joy at the library.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the Downtown Library relocates or is rebuilt?

For more than a decade, the City of Duluth has explored options to address the aging Downtown Library building. While timelines and funding remain uncertain, the need for improvement is clear.

Knowing this, the library team and Duluth Library Foundation intentionally designed the children’s section updates to be flexible and adaptable. Furnishings and features can move to a new location, be reused in a rebuilt or remodeled downtown library, or be repurposed in other library spaces—ensuring your investment continues to benefit children and families.

Will my donation still make an impact if plans change?

Yes. This project was designed with long-term stewardship in mind. Your gift meets urgent needs now while remaining usable in future library spaces, protecting the value and impact of your investment.

Why move forward before a final building decision is made?

The window of early childhood is short. Children and families need welcoming, engaging library spaces today—not years from now. These updates allow us to serve families immediately while staying prepared for future changes to the downtown library.

How will the Foundation stay involved in future library planning?

The Duluth Library Foundation will continue working closely with library leadership and the City to support strategies that address long-term facility needs, ensuring the library system can best serve the community and its dedicated staff.

Your Impact

Your gift will help replace outdated fixtures and create a dynamic environment where children can explore, connect, and thrive.

Every investment brings us closer to a children’s section that truly welcomes every family—one child, one story, and one visit at a time.

At the start of Summer 2026, we have reached $300,000 raised! Will you help us cross the finish line by the end of fall?