Pledge your support to easing the Grand Rapids Area Library’s fiscal crisis! Donate to support the Grand Rapids Area Library through the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation’s newest fund, the Grand Rapids Area Library Fund. The fund is established to enable library supporters to demonstrate their support through contributions to the continued operations of the library. The library will be cutti
ng back hours and staff next year, due to significant cuts in its revenues. The fund enables those who use the library, but who live outside of the city of Grand Rapids, to donate to rebuilding its operations. The Grand Rapids Area Library (GRAL) is owned and operated by the City of Grand Rapids. Unlike most library systems in the state, ALS is a federated library system with each city’s library run independently but sharing resources through ALS. There are five other libraries in Itasca County located at Bovey, Coleraine, Calumet, Marble and Keewatin. The Minnesota Department of Education notifies cities and counties of their minimum library requirement, which is funded through a levy. Set by state law, this minimum has not increased since 2011. The city’s minimum is set at $391,618.00; since 2011, the city’s funding has increased to $825,128. Itasca County’s minimum is set by the state at $342,709. The county’s share goes in part to the GRAL but not to the other five libraries in the system. The county will increase its share to GRAL by $50,000 in 2026, for approximately $178,000. The city and county are working together to develop a funding proposal that more equitably funds all six libraries. The Grand Rapids Area Library is used by all residents of the county, yet more than two-thirds of the library’s card holders live outside the city, and account for about half of the check-outs from the system. It’s not just books: the library provides space to learn, explore and visit. The Grand Rapids Area Library Fund Drive will accept donations through 2026. The goal is to raise $300,000 by September 1, 2026. Funds donated through the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation will be paid directly to the city each quarter and will be earmarked to the library budget. If you’d like to support the Grand Rapids Area Library, you can donate online at gracf.org by clicking “Donate” and selecting the Grand Rapids Area Library Fund. Donations can also be mailed or dropped off at the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation, 350 NW 1st Avenue, Suite E, Grand Rapids, MN 55744.
