Friends Of The Morrill Free Public Library

Goal: $25,000.00

Specific Need

This year the library's Friends initiate the task of protecting the community's long investment in our library facility.

This historic Carnegie Library (1907) was built as a commitment to lifelong learning and a monument of community pride, a space later enhanced by the basement renovation and new front entrance (1967), the southward expansion that more than doubled capacity (1993), the recent modernization and renovation (2020), and this year's repair and upgrade of the personnel elevator.

We are the people the founders imagined as heirs to this legacy. We've honored it with a century of care.

Now, the urgency to protect this investment for future generations requires rebuilding the roof and guttering. Early signs of damage from leaks (see photos below) demand attention and a community response on several fronts—the library's Trustees, city government, library patrons and Friends. We're in this together. Future scholars and community leaders will thank us!

The 4th Annual Give Back to Move Forward Match Days, Friday May 24th through Sunday the 26th, presents an opportunity to launch the roof project with a boost—a Hiawatha Community Foundation match that can increase our collective donations to the Friends of the Morrill Free Public Library by up to $2,000.

Mission

The Friends of the Morrill Public Library is a non-profit organization whose object shall be to promote the interests and welfare of the library as a cultural, educational, and recreational asset in the community with a broad focus of service to patrons of all ages.

Profile

We are very thankful for the annual support received through family and business memberships.

In 2023-2024, the Friends of the Morrill Public Library has:

• Supported the 2023 Summer Library Program, "All Together Now"
• Purchased a subscription to "Book Page" so patrons can enjoy it for free
• Hosted the Used Book Sale in October and stocked Little Free Libraries around Brown County
• Continued to update the Digital Newspaper Archives provided by the library
• Funded Beanstack, the library's digital reading tracker
• Funded the library's Halloween Frolic activities 
• Maintained the Friends of Morrill Public Library Facebook page with up-to-date news about library programs and events.
• ...and many other services