April Calendar of Events

Click here for our April calendar of events.

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The State of Birds in North America

Local birder Joe Lutz will present at the library to honor Earth Week



In celebration of Earth Week, the Grand Marais Public Library is thrilled to host a birding presentation by Joe Lutz on Wednesday, April 23, from 6:30-8 PM.

Lutz will present on a number of Citizen Science bird projects, addressing (among other subjects) bird banding, this year’s boreal owl irruption, and a study on the feeder use of black capped chickadees. Lutz plans to present for an hour and then spend some time answering questions, engaging in the discourse around the decline of birds in North America.

Joe Lutz is a lifelong birder who moved to Cook County after enjoying a long career in science. Having enjoyed his passion for birding worldwide, Lutz volunteers at Wolf Ridge ELC and Sugarloaf Cove, conducting bird banding and behaviour research while sharing his love of science and bird behaviour.

This free presentation is open to birders of all ages. Interested attendees will be entered into a drawing to win one of five books about birds. 

This program is made possible by a generous grant from the Library Friends of Cook County. 

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April is National Poety Month! To celebrate, the Cook Co. SCRAP Society will host its monthly poetry workshop at the library on Wednesday, April 30, from 6-8 PM. 

This workshop is a gentle place to test out new poems, half-baked drafts, scattered lines, for collegial and constructive feedback. All are welcome. Even if you merely aspire to write a poem, yet haven't managed to do it quite yet, this is still the group for you. 

Each workshop has a theme or subject within the poetic practice. Direct teaching, guided practice, and group discussion make up the first half; relaxed sharing and friendly feedback fill out the second half. 

If you have any questions, email ryan.leng@alslib.info or call the library and ask for him: 218-387-1140. 

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Executive order to eliminate IMLS

**Original post**
In March, an executive order sought to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the only federal agency dedicated to funding libraries. IMLS plays a critical role in providing public access to resources, technology, and educational programs nationwide. What would this mean for small, rural libraries like ours?

In Minnesota, federal IMLS funds go to Minitex, a state library services agency. Minitex enhances resource sharing and information access across the state, such as providing the eLibrary Minnesota database, which was accessed 55 million times in 2024. Other resources like Ebooks Minnesota and the Minnesota Digital Library would be at risk without this funding. Minitex also supports Library Services and Technology Act grants that help small libraries launch new programs to promote equity, workforce development, and information access.

Grand Marais Public Library patrons will be keen to know that Minitex runs MNLink, the statewide interlibrary loan system that extends our local collection of 24,000 items to 10 million materials, including academic texts, specialty topics, and historical documents.

The Grand Marais Public Library's operational budget is funded with local tax dollars. While our essential programs and services will continue, the specific local impact of this executive order depends on future details.

**UPDATE: April 1, 2025**
The American Library Association's Public Policy and Advocacy Office notified us that action is being taken to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Nearly all staff were placed on administrative leave yesterday and, as a result, all processing of grants has been suspended.

Here's how you can help: All library supporters can call their members of Congress and urge them to protect federal funding for libraries by preventing the dismantling of the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS). 5 Calls below is an easy way to go forward. 

Learn about the issue: 

• The Executive Order.
• Summary from I Love Libraries
• Minnesota Library Association's statement.
• FAQs from the American Library Association.
• How federal funding affects Minnesota's libraries.
• How federal funding affects Minitex services like MNLink.
• Federal funding and Minnesota Libraries: What we know.

Take action, contact congress:

• 5 Calls -- the "easiest and most effective way for U.S. constituents to make a political impact." On this page, you'll see guidance listed under Save the Institute of Museum & Library Services. It provides a script for making phone calls.
• ALA's resources to contact officials electronically and sign up for news updates.
• More resources, information and ideas are available through the state library association.
• Share your experience with others.

 

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Your Three words

A public art project

Poet and artist Moheb Soliman is launching a public art project, supported by state grants and local collaborators, that begins in Grand Marais and circles the Great Lakes. The project starts by collecting three words from Cook County residents that capture what makes this place unique. As one of the project's community partners, Grand Marais Public Library is helping raise awareness and collect words from the community.

Moheb explains that the three most frequently mentioned words will form the core of an original poetic line, which will be embedded into a giant driftwood tree. This semi-permanent sculpture will be installed in the Grand Marais area. Made from locally sourced materials, the sculpture will reflect the area's special qualities while connecting the community to the larger Great Lakes region. Moheb's goal is to expand this project to over a dozen Great Lakes locations, creating a 'Poem of Sublime Proportion' that spans the entire region, one line at a time.

SHARE YOUR THREE WORDS WITH MOHEB HERE.

About the artist: Moheb Soliman is an interdisciplinary poet from Egypt and the Midwest. His work has been presented in literary, art, and public spaces across the US and Canada. This spring, you can find Moheb collecting words and sharing info through the library, Care Partners, Grand Portage National Monument, Grand Marais Art Colony, and other local hubs. Stay tuned for more project updates.
 

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Book Bundles Available!
 

Just fill out one of the Google Sheets linked below, and one of our librarians will assemble 4-6 books customized for you.