The Friends of Winona Public Library group is publishing its first book. Winona Public Library has an interesting history with an intriguing story of vision, philanthropy and creative work. The book’s publication is possible due to a 2015 grant from The Winona Foundation. It will be about100 pages with photos and be written, edited and printed in Winona. The Friends plan to have the book available before the end of 2016.
Last year, the library itself received a Southeastern Libraries Cooperating (SELCO) Community Collaboration grant for historian, Greg Gaut, to research, write a manuscript and publicly present the history of the Winona Public Library. His presentations will be June 15th to the Winona City Council, September 12 at a Winona Public Library event and late 2016 at the Winona History Center (date TBA).
Patrons and visitors of the library often ask if there’s a book about its history. The Friends group searched for a way to publish the new manuscript as a book. Winona librarians created a brief flyer about the history to hand out. The building’s central dome and white stone on the outside coupled with the interior’s copper shelving, glass block floors, quality woodwork, stained glass and Kenyon Cox mural are a delight for people to see.
In 1897, two years before the first Carnegie library in Minnesota, William Harris Laird planned and donated the library to the city of Winona with the stipulation that the city maintain it as a public institution. Laird’s thoughtful, generous gift is a legacy that the Friends of the Library assist in maintaining. The Winona Foundation is a nonprofit funded and administered by the family of the Laird Norton Co. whose mission supports the cultural, historic and education heritage of Winona.
The Friends of Winona Public Library is a 501c3 nonprofit that maintains an interested membership, focuses attention on the library, stimulates the use of library resources, receives gifts and endowments to the library, and cooperates with the library in developing services and facilities for the community.
Last year, the library itself received a Southeastern Libraries Cooperating (SELCO) Community Collaboration grant for historian, Greg Gaut, to research, write a manuscript and publicly present the history of the Winona Public Library. His presentations will be June 15th to the Winona City Council, September 12 at a Winona Public Library event and late 2016 at the Winona History Center (date TBA).
Patrons and visitors of the library often ask if there’s a book about its history. The Friends group searched for a way to publish the new manuscript as a book. Winona librarians created a brief flyer about the history to hand out. The building’s central dome and white stone on the outside coupled with the interior’s copper shelving, glass block floors, quality woodwork, stained glass and Kenyon Cox mural are a delight for people to see.
In 1897, two years before the first Carnegie library in Minnesota, William Harris Laird planned and donated the library to the city of Winona with the stipulation that the city maintain it as a public institution. Laird’s thoughtful, generous gift is a legacy that the Friends of the Library assist in maintaining. The Winona Foundation is a nonprofit funded and administered by the family of the Laird Norton Co. whose mission supports the cultural, historic and education heritage of Winona.
The Friends of Winona Public Library is a 501c3 nonprofit that maintains an interested membership, focuses attention on the library, stimulates the use of library resources, receives gifts and endowments to the library, and cooperates with the library in developing services and
facilities for the community.