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Thanks for joining
the Minnesota Authors Campaign
for the Minneapolis Central Library!

Do you believe in the power of community?


 Thanks so much for your participation in
 the Minnesota Authors Campaign!

Thanks to your generosity, we raised more than $100,000 on this website in support of our beautiful new downtown library.

The Authors Campaign is now closed,
but as always the Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library
would appreciate your support.

 

Minnesota authors for whom chairs have been designated
Each named chair in our beautiful new state-of-the-art, 235-seat auditorium stands as a tribute to our dynamic literary community.

Minnesota authors and their generous supporters

David Mura on libraries, including two poems,
presented at the September 18, 2006, celebration of
Minnesota authors and their generous supporters

"Where would we be without libraries?"
by Stephen Wilbers

 

 

In 2000, as a testimony to their love of the Minneapolis Public Library, the citizens of Minneapolis overwhelmingly approved a referendum that has raised $110 million toward the $125 million project, leaving a $15 million margin to be raised from private sources.

A group of authors led by Judith Guest and Charles Baxter, along with the Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library, met its goal by raising $15 million. Other committee members included Sandra Benitez, Kate DiCamillo, Louise Erdrich, Susan Carol Hauser, Robert Hedin, Lorna Landvik, James Lenfestey, Alison McGhee, George Rabasa, Bart Schneider, Faith Sullivan, Laura Waterman Wittstock, and R. D. Zimmerman.

The story behind the Minnesota Authors Campaign

The Minnesota Authors Campaign involved naming chairs (literally) in the new state-of-the-art Pohlad Hall in recognition of $500 gifts. On a personal note, my wife Debbie and my children Eddy and Kate donated $500 to have a chair named in my honor as a Father's Day present in 2005. On a tour of the hall, I was pleased and honored to see a plaque with my name on an arm of one of the chairs.

During that tour, I asked Friends Executive Director Colin Hamilton how the named-chair campaign was going, and he said slowly. I said maybe $500 was too large a contribution for many authors and their supporters, and I asked if he had considered accepting smaller donations adding up to $500. He said he had, but that the library didn't have the staff or volunteers to process smaller donations.

So I volunteered my time and my website to collect minimum donations of $50. As an incentive for people to support both the library and their favorite Minnesota authors, I offered to post the name of every contributor and every author for whom a contribution was made.

I had no idea how many hours would be involved in this effort, but I was thrilled to help the library raise $100,000 and honored to do my part in supporting a dynamic community of readers and writers.

Minnesota authors and their generous supporters

Which authors qualified as Minnesota authors?
 To qualify, authors must have resided in Minnesota, and must have published a book, published an article, story, or poem in a magazine or newspaper, written a play that was produced, or sold a screenplay.

How and why did Minnesota authors support this campaign?

"As valued members of this community, Minnesota authors have already added to the body of knowledge that the Library offers its citizens. This ground-swell of support from the literary community is inspiring and sends a strong message to all about the importance of the Minneapolis Public Library to our statewide community."

-- Colin Hamilton, Friends Executive Director

 

"Ever since I was a kid, libraries have lured me, taught me, sustained me. What I love most about the Minneapolis Public Library is the absolute certainty that I will be able to find anything and everything I need within its walls. Even now I am looking at an obscure, out of print title on my desk: Lizzie Borden, A Dance of Death by Agnes DeMille, which I borrowed from my neighborhood Hennepin County Library. And where did they find it? An inter-library loan from the Minneapolis Public Library."

-- Judith Guest

"Stories save us, of this I am certain. Where else but at the library can be contained all the stories we'll ever need to restore and preserve us?"

-- Sandra Benitez

"An author -- or a would-be author -- goes to the library the way a musician goes to the concert hall, as a place to learn and a place to be. The library is the brightest and warmest resource word-people have. It is still one of the traditional markers of civilized life. In the library, the past is still alive; it is where the dead are speaking to us. In the stacks, among those books, writers and readers can raise their voices and hear other voices speaking. The myth of the silent library is false. Death has no dominion there."

-- Charles Baxter

 

 

Minnesota authors and their generous supporters

Authors with partially funded chairs

Minnesota authors for whom chairs have been named
(224 chairs)

 

Jonis Agee
Louis Alemayehu
Joseph Amato
Carol Ann Anderson
Edna A. Anderson

Annette Atkins
 Marge Rogers Barrett
Charles Baxter
Sandra Benitez
 Jim Berg

Lisa Ann Berg
John Berryman
 Lee Blessing
Robert Bly
 Ann Bogle
Barrie Jean Borich
 Betsy Bowen
Betty Bridgman
Carol Ryrie Brink
Michael Dennis Browne
Emilie Buchwald
Lois McMaster Bujold
Kevin J. Cashman
Marsha Wilson Chall
Sharon Chmielarz
Gabrielle F. Civil
Taiyon Coleman
 Carol Connolly
Kathleen Coskran
Florence Chard Dacey

Philip Dacey
Leo Dangel
Pierre Delattre
Kate DiCamillo
Carol Dines
Jim Dochniak
 Michael Dorris
Kat Duff
Bob Dylan
Jack El-Hai

Heid E. Erdrich
Louise Erdrich
K. J. Erickson
Sara Evans
Robert O. Fisch

F. Scott Fitzgerald
 Barbara Flanagan
Charles Macomb Flandrau
Pamela R. Fletcher
Patricia Weaver Francisco

Arvonne Fraser
Patti Frazee
Iris C. Freeman
 Orville L. Freeman
 Thomas L. Friedman

Future Minnesota authors
Mary Gabriel
 Wanda Gag
Stephen Gammell
Juanita Garciagodoy

Abigail Garner
Larry Gavin
Diane Glancy
Natalie Goldberg
Dan Graves
Graywolf Press Authors
Cheryl Green
Alvin Greenberg
Paul Gruchow
Judith Guest

Larry Haeg
Gus Hall
Colin Hamilton
Patricia Hampl
Phebe Hanson

Ellen Hart
Margaret Hasse
Jon Hassler
 Pete Hautman
Sharon Darby Hendry
Michael J. Henley
Greg Hewett
Jim Heynen
William Hezlep
Amy J. Hinds

Kim Hines
Carolyn Holbrook
Bill Holm
Ari Hoptman
 William S. Howell

Louis Jenkins
 Elizabeth Bourque Johnson
Mary L. Junge
Judith Katz
Deborah Keenan

Garrison Keillor
Peg Kerr
Susan Deborah King
Duke Klassen
 Kevin Kling
Kathryn Kysar
Lorna Landvik
Katherine Lanpher
David Lebedoff
Ed Bok Lee

Sherry Quan Lee
Jim Lenfestey
Rodney E. Leonard
Meridel LeSueur
Vicky Lettmann

Anne Gillespie Lewis
 Kathy Lewis
Sinclair Lewis
Roseann Lloyd
Mary Logue
 		 Delos W. Lovelace
Maud Hart Lovelace
Harvey Mackay
Brian Malloy
Judith Mattison

Roy McBride
 Patricia Condon McDonald
Alison McGhee
Thomas McGrath
Susan Hunter McLean

Susan Kay McLean
Anna George Meek
Margaret J. (Peg) Meier
Ken Meter
Maureen Millea-Smith
Leslie Adrienne Miller
John Minczeski
Howard Mohr
Jim Moore
 Mai Neng Moua

Edith Mucke
Dale Mulfinger
David Mura
 Joseph E. Murphy
 Marguerite Murphy

Ivan Musicant
Paul C. Nagel
Margaret M. Nelson
Pamela Hill Nettleton
Tim Nolan

Tim O'Brien
 Isabel Monk O'Connor

Sheila O'Connor
Don Olsen
 Oliver K. Olson
Sigurd Olson
Jeannine Ouellette

Joe Paddock
Gordon Parks
Alexs Pate

Irene Paull

Juliana Pegues
Jane Pejsa
Christine A. Peterson
 Thien-bao Thuc Phi
Arthur Phillips
Michael M. Phillips
 David Pichaske
Wang Ping
 Sally J. Power

J. F. Powers
Marsha Qualey
George Rabasa
Willam Reichard
Thomas E. Reiersgord

Cheri Register
Joanne Reisberg
 Mary Francois Rockcastle
 Beverly Rollwagen
 Ole E. Rolvaag

John Michael Rosengren
 Calvin Rutstrum
 Ewa Rydaker
 Roxanne Sadovsky
 Jane St. Anthony

John Sanford
John Sayer
 Pauline Schatzlein
 Neala Schleuning
 Charles Schulz
Julie Schumacher
 John L. Shannon, Jr.
John T. Shepherd
 Al Sicherman
 Margot Siegel

Rolf Norman Skogerboe
Alec Soth
 Faith Sullivan
Larry Sutin
Joyce Sutphen

Bart Sutter
 Wallace K. Swan
Catherine Thimmesh
Jane Resh Thomas
 Brad L. Thompson

Stew Thornley & Brenda Himrich
JoAnne Van Tilburg
Susan Allen Toth
Anne Ursu
Ka Vang

Carla Waldemar
Connie Wanek
Catherine Watson
Beth Weatherby
 Jack Weatherford
Susan Welch
Stephen Wilbers
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Morgan Grayce Willow
August Wilson
Laura Waterman Wittstock
Warren Woessner
Bryan Thao Worra
Patricia C. Wrede
Vincent Wyckoff

Biloine (Billie) Young
Nolan Zavoral
R. D. Zimmerman
Jon Zurn
 

 

 

 

 

 

Top

 


 Thanks so much for your participation in
 the Minnesota Authors Campaign!

Thanks to your generosity, we raised more than $100,000 in support of our beautiful new downtown library.


Minnesota Authors and their generous supporters

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Jonis Agee
        Chair!


 
Mary Ann Adrian
Heid E. Erdrich
 Kathryn Kysar
 Jim Dochniak
Leslie Adrienne Miller
 
       $500




 
   Louis Alemayehu
        Chair!









 		 Gayla Ellis
Thembi aka Valerie Geaither
Grandchildren Dayna, Cylas,
  and Aminah
Ellen Hinchcliffe and Juma
   Essie
Michael Luft
Carei Thomas
Joyce Thomas
Nadinne Cruz
Barry Kleider
 		        $500










 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged
   Joseph Amato
         Chair!

 		 Eileen E. Thomas
Michael Kopp
Beth Lindholm
Catherine Amato		        $500


 
   Carol Ann Anderson
         Chair!

 

James A. Anderson,

Eric Anderson and
  Janalee Aurelia
 

        $500


 
   Edna A. Anderson
         Chair!







 		 Mark and Kari Baumbach
 Paige Berg and Peter Cookson
Karina Berg
Edward and Sharon Peckels
 Mark and Barbara Johns
Lonni and Cindy Johns
 Gary and Rachel LeTendre
Nancy and Russ Petersen
 Yvonne and Jerry Lundholm
 		       $1,050








 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged
   Elizabeth Andrew
 		 Barbara Davis
 		        $100
 
   Annette Atkins
         Chair!

 		 Ross Sutter and Mary Lofgren
John Taylor
 Tom Joyce
 		        $500


 
   Conrad Balfour

 		 Vicky Lettmann
Pamela R. Fletcher
 		        $150

 
   Marge Rogers
     Barrett
         Chair!
 		 Alice Ross Rogers


 		        $500


 
   Charles Baxter
         Chair!
 

Arturo L. Steely

 

        $500

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Sandra Benitez
         Chair!
 
Liz Petrangelo

 
       $500

 
   Lisa Ann Berg
         Chair!



 		 Alison Grey
Gwenn Solseth
Nik Neu
Karen Gustafson and Beth
   Furth
 		        $500




 
   Jim Berg
         Chair!











 

James Berg and Gary Schiff

Bunny Greenwald

Cara Letofsky

Kelley L. Lindquist

Peter McLaughlin

Jane Miller, Judith A. Neiswander

Mary Petrie and
  John Thompson

Lynette Reini-Grandell

Brian Shekleton

William G. Weber, Jr.
 

        $500

 

 

 

 


 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   John Berryman
         Chair!

 
Leslie Adrienne Miller
Kathryn Kysar
 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund
 
       $500



 
   Lee Blessing
         Chair!

 		 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund

 		        $500


 
   Carol Bly
 		 Jean Replinger
 		         $50
 
   Robert Bly
         Chair!


 		 Jim Heynen
 Kathryn Kysar
 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund
 		        $500



 
   Ann Bogle
         Chair!



 		 Bruce Johnson
 Maureen E. Mulvihill
 Alexis Quinlan
 Robin Reagler

Tony Sanders
 

        $500

 


 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Barrie Jean Borich
         Chair!




 
Judith Katz
Adoring Husband
 Peter Farstad
Paul Mellblom
Jeanie Taylor
 Fay Marie DeBellis
Robert A. Borich
 
       $500






 
   Betsy Bowen

        Chair!

 

 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund

 		        $500


 
   Betty Bridgman
         Chair!







 
George Bridgman
John Bridgman
William Bridgman
Art Bridgman and Myrna
   Packer
Paul and Katherine (Bridgman)
   Ellgen
Anne (Reeves) Austin and
   Hersh Austin
 
        $500








 
   Carol Ryrie Brink
        Chair!


 		 Stephanie Smith
Kerry Wyckoff
 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund
 		        $500



 
   Ignatia Broker

 		 Roseann Lloyd
 Heid E. Erdrich
 		        $100

 
   John M. Bryson

 		 Barbara Crosby, John K.
   Bryson, and Jessica Bryson
 		         $50

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Mary Casanova
 
Jean Replinger
 
        $50
 
   Nancy Carlson

 		 Katie and Tim McGinley and
   family
 		        $200

 
   Michael Dennis
     Browne
         Chair!
 		 Annie Breitenbucher
Julie Schumacher
Deborah Keenan
Beverly Rollwagen
 		        $500



 

   Emilie Buchwald   
        Chair!

 

 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund

 		        $500


 
   Lois McMaster
     Bujold
         Chair!
 		 The Lois McMaster Bujold
   Mailing List

 		        $500


 
   Kevin J. Cashman
         Chair!
 

LeaderSource Inc.

 

        $500

 
   Marsha Wilson Chall
         Chair!


 

Lindsay and Robbie Chall
 John R. Zeyer
 Mary Ann Hoese
David and Marilynn Cook
 

        $500



 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Sharon Chmielarz
        Chair!

 
Ann Bauleke
 Ted and Ella Grenz
Tad Chmielarz
 
        $500


 
   Gabrielle F. Civil
        Chair!

 

Family, friends, and colleagues

Kate and Andre Civil

Myrtle Jean Jones
 

         $500


 
   Taiyon Coleman
         Chair!
 		 Pamela Moore
Mirai and Shose Minde
Mai Neng Moua and Blong
   Yang
Elizabeth and Louis Moore
Jacqui Coleman
Michele Sahar
Joi Lewis and Joan Ostrove
Andrea Jenkins
Rufaro and Blessing Rugara
 		         $600









 
   Carol Connolly
         Chair!




 		 Gayla Ellis
Louise Klas
Carolyn Holbrook
Bill McLellan
Midwest Villages & Voices,
   Independent Publishers
 		         $500





 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Kathleen Coskran
        Chair!

















 
Alex and Dana Sosa
John and Julie Coskran
Anna Coskran and Jordi
   Morales
Nelson, Tietz, and Hoye
Theresa Coskran
Jeff, Nannette, and Hattie
   Johnson
Jessamine and George
   Johnson
John and Angela Mullin
Mary Daniels
Patricia Bachmeier and other friends in The Laughing
   Women
Ahmed Aduss and Nabat
Grandchildren Kilian, Núria,
   Cailyn, Sienna, Beck,
   Caden, Sa'ada, and Senat
 
        $500


















 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Barbara Crosby
 
Anonymous
 		    
        $50
 
   Florence Chard
     Dacey
        Chair!










 		 Eileen E. Thomas
ET's Fellow Journiers
Philip Chard
Sue Kearns
Pat Kaluza
 Audrey Arner and Carol
   Westberg
Java River Poetry Slam
Miriam Olsen
Austin Dacey
 Andrea Fox Jensen
Jerry Ostensoe
Ross Sutter
 		        $550












 
   Philip Dacey
        Chair!





 		 Jack and Mary Hickerson
Susan McLean
Robert and Marian Ridley
Gary Rust
Doug Johnson
William Hezlep
Terry Bernhardt
 		        $500






 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Leo Dangel
        Chair!





 
Eileen E. Thomas
Melanie Ann Milbradt
Ted and Aileen Rowe
Jill McCartney
David and Marlys Simpson
Anne and Vincent LaPorte
Susan McLean
 
       $500






 
   Pierre Delattre
         Chair!
 

George Rabasa

 

        $500

 
   Kate DiCamillo
         Chair!
 

Anonymous

 

        $500

 
   Carol Dines
        Chair!







 		 Jack Zipes
Margie and David Dines
Leslie Morris and Shevvy
   Craig
Marcia O'Hagan Patrizia and
   Brent McBride
Carol Bouska
Iris Egan
Miriam Karmel
 		        $850








 
   Jim Dochniak 
        Chair!

 		 Gayla Ellis
Bonnie Hechtman
Anonymous
 		        $500


 
   Michael Dorris
         Chair!
 		 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund
 		        $500

 
   Kat Duff
         Chair!
 		 Mark A. Westman
Christopher Duff
 		        $500

 
   Bob Dylan
         Chair!

 		 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund

 		        $500


 
   Al Eisele 
 		 John Taylor
 		         $50
 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Jack El-Hai 
        Chair!












 
Laurie Brickley and Marx
   Swanholm
Bonnie Dickel Hoffman and
   Eugene Hoffman
Peter Hutchinson and Karla
   Ekdahl
Jennifer Alstad and Eric
   Freeberg
Laurisa Elhai
Kate Sandweiss and Gerry
  Richman
Estelle and Joline El-Hai
Amy and Harry Funk
Nancy Gardner
 
       $700













 
   Heid E. Erdrich
        Chair!





 		 Deborah Keenan
 Kathryn Kysar
James Lenfestey
Mary Junge
 Ardie Medina
 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund
 		        $500






 
   Louise Erdrich
         Chair!
 

Marcia L. Morris

 

        $500

 
   K. J. Erickson
         Chair!





 

Patricia Kovel Jarboe

Margaret Maes Axtmann

Becky Kroll

Judith Oakes

Constance Osterbaan

Bonita Sindelir

Julia F. Wallace
 

        $500






 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Sara Evans
        Chair!
 
Charles Dayton

 
       $500

 
   Robert O. Fisch
         Chair!
 

Karen Bachman

 

        $500

 
   F. Scott Fitzgerald
        Chair!
 		 Elizabeth Redleaf

 		        $500

 
   Barbara Flanagan

        Chair!

 

 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund

 		        $500


 
   Charles Macomb
     Flandrau
         Chair!
 

Little & Co.


 

        $500


 
   Pamela R. Fletcher
        Chair!




 
Mr. and Mrs. Joe F. Fletcher
Mr. and Mrs. Piero Yarbrough
LaBridgette Fletcher and
   Larry Hardy
Edwin K. Fletcher
Joe F. Fletcher, Jr.
 
        $500





 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Patricia Weaver
      Francisco
        Chair!





 
Deborah Keenan
Garth Rockcastle
Danielle Sosin
Duke Klassen
Pat Rhoades
Tyone LaDouceur
Jane Lund
Kathy Lewis
Matt Sanford
Jeanne Farrar
       $550








 
   Al Franken
 		 Alice Lloyd and Jeff
    Crawford		         $50
 
   Arvonne Fraser
         Chair!
 

The Seltzer Family

 

        $500

 
   Patti Frazee
        Chair!

 		 Patti's friends at the First
   Universalist Church of
   Minneapolis
 		        $500


 
   Iris C. Freeman
        Chair!
 		 Warren Woessner

 		        $500

 
   Thomas L. Friedman
         Chair!

 		 Miriam Kagol
 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund
 		        $500


 
   Orville L. Freeman
         Chair!
 

Jane Freeman

 

        $500

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged
   Future Minnesota
     Authors
         Chair!		 The Loft Literary Center's
   instructors and families
 		        $500

 
   Wanda Gag

        Chair!

 

 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund

 		        $500


 
   Stephen Gammell
         Chair!
 

Kathleen Sara Johnson

 

        $500

 
   Juanita Garciagodoy
         Chair!
 

George Rabasa

 

        $500

 
   Abigail Garner
         Chair!
 		 Barbara Mauk
Lee Mauk
 		        $500

 
   Larry Gavin
         Chair!


 		 Eileen E. Thomas
David and Marlys Simpson
Howard Mohr
Tom Helgeson
Anonymous
 		        $500




 
   Diane Glancy
         Chair!


 		 Karen M. Strom
James Lenfestey
 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund
 		        $500



 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Natalie Goldberg
        Chair!









 
Michele Huff
"Tall" Susie Ekberg Risher
Beverly Rollwagen
Nita Sweeney
Nancy VanArsdall
Peter Kernahan and Carol
   Souter
Tamara Kaiser and Erik Storlie
 Linda Zimney
 Debra Hobbs and Elizabeth
   Schultz
 
       $600










 
   Dan Graves
         Chair!




 

Rachel Fulkerson

Greg and Cindy Fulkerson

Darlene Graves

Kathleen Maher

Erin Rafferty Bugher

Wes and Linda Skoglund
 

        $500





 
   Graywolf Press
     Authors
         Chair!
 		 Graywolf press


 		        $500

 
   Cheryl Green
        Chair!
 		 Robert and Doris Thimmesh

 		        $500

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Kate Green

 
Taiyon Coleman
Heidi Farrah
 
       $100
 
   Alvin Greenberg
         Chair!
 

Martha and Charles Baxter

 

        $500

 
   Paul Gruchow
         Chair!
 

Catherine and Steven Webster

 

        $500

 
   Judith Guest
         Chair!
 

Anonymous

 

        $500

 
   Larry Haeg
         Chair!
 

Little & Co.

 

        $500

 
   Gus Hall
         Chair!
 		 Family, friends and comrades
   of Gus Hall
 		        $500

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Ted Hall
 
Jean Replinger
 
        $50
 
   Colin Hamilton
         Chair!
 

Sandra J. Larson

 

        $500

 
   Patricia Hampl
         Chair!
 

Anonymous

 

        $500

 
   Phebe Hanson
         Chair!















 

Linda Gammell

Carol Bly

Jill Breckenridge and John Fenn

Kirsten M. Dawson

Natalie Goldberg

Bert and Susan Hill Gross

Joyce and Wally Kennedy

Patricia Kirkpatrick

Julie and Maury Landsman

Ruth L. Martin

Shirley S. Olson

Ann and Felix Olson

Marly Rusoff

Daniel and Helen Faith Sullivan

Cary Waterman

Margaret Yatsevitch
 

        $500
















 
   Erin Hart
        Chair!
 		 Patricia McAllister

 		        $500

 
   Margaret Hasse
         Chair!






 		 Roseann Lloyd
 David Grothe
Alex Grothe
Michael Grothe
Fred and Dorothy Grothe
 Mary Junge
Tom Trow
Ellen and John Buchanan
 		        $550







 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Jon Hassler
        Chair!
 


Patty Sander

 
       $500

 
   Pete Hautman
         Chair!

 		 Miriam Kagol
 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund
 		        $500


 
   Tom Hegg

 		 Robert L. Lee and Mary E.
   Schaffner
 		        $350

 
   Sharon Darby
     Hendry
         Chair!
 		 Bruce Hendry


 		        $500


 
   Michael J. Henley
         Chair!
 		 His friends and family

 		        $500

 
   Greg Hewett
         Chair!

 

E. Thomas Binger and Rebecca Rand Fund of the

   Minneapolis Foundation
 

        $500


 
   Jim Heynen
        Chair!
 		 Eileen E. Thomas
Anonymous
 		        $500

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   William Hezlep
        Chair!



 
Eileen E. Thomas
Robert and Marian Ridley
The Perlman family
Jan Loft
Wil and Owen Hezlep
 
       $500




    
   Amy J. Hinds
         Chair!












 

Mark & Jeanette Anderson

Bryan Barth

Burke Hinds

Emily Hinds

Bruce & Wendy Howe

Knox Neighborhood Theatre

Knox Presbyterian Church

Lisa Lundell

Yvonne May

Kris Nelson

Chris Sandford

Greg, Vickie, Kate & Sarah Wilcox
 

        $500













 
   Kim Hines
         Chair!


 		 Beth Gillelard
Janet Stewart
Valerie Geaither
The Hines and Nelson families
 		        $500



 
   Carolyn Holbrook
        Chair!









 		 Taiyon Coleman
Mai Neng Moua and Blong
   Yang
Tania Montgomery
Andrea Jenkins
Joseph White
Gayla Ellis
Tessa Bridal
Diane Wilson
Ann Markusen
Joanna Barnett
 		        $550










 
   Bill Holm
        Chair!


 		 Eileen E. Thomas
Michael Kopp
Southwest Minnesota State
   University
 		        $500



 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Kristine Holmgren
 
Grace Deason
 
        $50
 
   Ari Hoptman
         Chair!
 

Nancy Goldstein and Philip Geller
 

        $500

 
   William S. Howell
         Chair!
 		 Sally Power

 		        $500

 
   Louis Jenkins
        Chair!
 		 The Sweet Rock
   Poets
 		        $500

 
   Elizabeth Bourque
    Johnson
        Chair!		 Bob McGarry
 		        $500
 
   Mary L. Junge
         Chair!









 		 Mark Matasovsky
 Keith and Joyce Junge
Donald and Ardette
   Matasovsky
Corey L., Patti M. and Ella G.
   Junge
Michael and Ember Reichgott
   Junge
Justin Matasovsky
Andrew Matasovsky
Peggi, Richard, and Shelby
   Fossell
        $500






 



 
   Neal Karlen
 		 Miriam Kagol
 		         $50
 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Judith Katz
        Chair!






 
Barrie Jean Borich
Leslie Morris
Darla J. Kashian
RBC Dain Rauscher
Eleanor Savage
Sara Axtell
Frieda Gardner
Susan Oppenheim
 
       $500







 
   Deborah Keenan
         Chair!















 		 Paulette Warren
Frieda Gardner
Mary Junge
Ilze Mueller
 Lois Welshons
 Nolan Zavoral
Annie Breitenbucher
Ed Grayden
Joyce and Wally Kennedy
 Mary Francois Rockcastle
Graduate School of Liberal
   Studies at Hamline
   University
Hamline GLS Alumni
  Association
Yvette Nelson
Heid E. Erdrich
 		        $600
















 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Garrison Keillor
        Chair!

 
Lynn Genter
 Julie Schumacher and Larry
   Jacobs
 Dwight and Carolyn Buntrock

Ross Buntrock

Andrew Buntrock

Heidi Marie Buntrock

Jack and Rita Johnston

Grace Johnston

Olivia Johnston

John A. Johnston

Victor and Melissa Martinez

Claire Martinez

Cruz Martinez
Aaron A. Ottman

Anthony A. Ottman

Mary Kay Ross
Patricia Hampl
 
       $600


















 
   Peg Kerr
        Chair!
 		 Christine Gordon
   Mack
 		        $500

 
   Susan Deborah King
        Chair!

 		 Mayflowers
 Granny Pac
Mariana Shulstad
 		        $550


 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged
   Duke Klassen
        Chair!








 
Kathleen and Bob Seestadt
Ann Catherwood
Sarah Hanna
Nancy Ray
Eileen Sivert
Carolyn Jasperson
Cardiotext
Gail and Erik Ibele
The St. Thomas Volleyball
   Outreach Crew
 LaDes' Book Group
 		        $500









 
   Kevin Kling
         Chair!
 		 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund
 		        $500

 
   Kathryn Kysar
         Chair!




 		 R. Scott Velders
 Jean Suzette Stutsman
 Cynthia Cone
Myrna and Robert Kysar
 Robin Moede and Joel
   Lagerquist
 		        $500





 
   Lorna Landvik
         Chair!
 

Anonymous

 

        $500

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Katherine Lanpher
        Chair!
 
John Habich and Andrew
   Solomon
 
       $500

 
   David Lebedoff
        Chair!
 

Randi Lebedoff

 

        $500

 
   Ed Bok Lee
        Chair!









 		 Teens Rock the Mic
Tatiana Ormaza
Kathryn Kysar
Thien-bao Thuc Phi
 SooJin Pate
Mai Neng Moua and Blong
  Yang
 Pan Asian American Voices
 for Equality
The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund
 		        $500










 
   Sherry Quan Lee
        Chair!








 		 Louis Alemayehu
Deborah Keenan
Carolyn Holbrook
Barbara Bergeron   
Valerie Bump    
Ann Freeman    
Kris Frykman    
Sandra Newbauer  
Tiana Newbauer-Hampton 
Lori Young-Willams    
 
        $500









 
   Jim Lenfestey
        Chair!

 		 University of Minnesota
   Libraries

 		        $500


 
   Rodney E. Leonard
         Chair!
 

Jane C. Freeman

 

        $500

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Meridel LeSueur
        Chair!










 
Eileen E. Thomas
Roseann Lloyd
Gayla Ellis
Midwest Villages & Voices
Neala Schleuning
 Graduate School of Liberal
   Studies at Hamline
   University
Toni McNaron
Maggie Petersen
April and Jim Knutson
Jim Lenfestey
 
       $700











 
   Vicky Lettmann
         Chair!




 		 Mary Junge
Ruth Hodges
Jason and Jaci Lettmann
Mike Lettmann
Susan and Jared Andersson
John Lettmann
 		        $500





 
  Anne Gillespie Lewis
         Chair!
 		 Maggie Petersen

 		        $500

 
   Kathy Lewis
         Chair!
 		 Lin Bick

 		        $500

 
   Sinclair Lewis
         Chair!
 		 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund
 		        $500

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Roseann Lloyd
        Chair!








 
Mary Junge
Deborah Keenan
Annie Breitenbucher
Friends of Lloyd Skelton
Sharon Chmielarz
Cass Dalglish
Mary Kay Rummel
James O. Smith, Jr.
Elizabeth Weber
Betty Jane Skelton
 
       $550









 
   Mary Logue
         Chair!
 		 Miriam Kagol
 Bruce Hendry
 		        $500

 
   Delos W. Lovelace
         Chair!



















 

Brian and Susan Albrecht

Stacey Burford

Barbara and Thomas Carter

Julie Chuba

John and Nancy Cleaveland

Jennifer Davis-Kay

Michael and Connie Fahling

Jammie Gomoll-Dennin

Sheila Irons

Sallie Knowles

Constance Martin

Maud Hart Lovelace Society

Robert and Joy Miller

Suzanne Nezin

Cynthia M. Price

Melissa Roselle

Susan Stanfield

Sharon Thonen

Susan Wagenhals

Kristin Woizeschke
 

        $500




















 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Maud Hart Lovelace
         Chair!
 


Maud Hart Lovelace Society

Kathleen Baxter
 
       $500

 
   Harvey Mackay
         Chair!
 

Francie and Mark Paper

 

        $500

 
   Margaret Todd
     Maitland
 		 Cheri Register

 		         $50

 
   Brian Malloy
         Chair!























 

Earl and Bunny Anderson

Julia Ashley

Dottie Malloy and Robert Bader

Sherrie and Bradley Beal

Karen Nickel and John Blaylock

Anne Ursu and John Broich

Patricia Cummings

Terese Foley

Mark Ritchie and Nancy Gaschott

Karen Kelley-Ariwoola

Ann Phibbs and Deb Leavitt

Dorothy McRee

Peter Farstad and Paul Mellblom

Betsy Husting and
   Joyce Mellstrom

Gerry Tyrrell and Kevin Reuther

Brad Shark and Don Sommers

Terrence Straub

Daniel Stringfield

Robert and Carol E. Thompson

John Flanigan and
   Michele Zurakowski
 

        $500
























 
   Frederick Feikema
     Manfred
 		 John Taylor
 Eileen E. Thomas
 		        $100

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Freya Manfred
 
Jean Replinger
 
        $50
 
   Judith Mattison
         Chair!






















 

Diane L. Brady

Betty Lia and Rudy Hoagberg

Lynn and Lois Bollman

Rianne Leaf

Don and Beth Nelson

Peter Nelson

Makr Nelson

Jeffrey Nelson

Julianne Nelson

Becky Hunter

Phil and Eve Overby and
   family

Matt and Colleen Lindstrom

Shirley Nygaard

Jim Martin

John Hoffman

Karen Dahlen

Jean Roessler

Joannea Selstad

Nicole and Mark Eikenberry

Nathan Selstad
John and Shelley Selstad
 Jean Sweeley
 

        $550























 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Roy McBride
        Chair!









 
Gayla Ellis
Jim Dochniak
Rebecca Dalton
Kathee Foran
Holly Windle and Richard
   Rames
 Barb and David Tilsen
 Renner and Martha Anderson
 Kimball and Margaret
  Anderson
Powderhorn Writers Festival
 
       $550










 
   Eugene McCarthy



 		 Eileen E. Thomas
Jim Dochniak
Louise Klas
John Taylor
 		        $200



 
   Patricia Condon
     McDonald
         Chair!
 		 Malcolm McDonald


 		        $500


 
   Alison McGhee
         Chair!







 

Katie Dorn

Kathy and Hazen Graves

Carol Lansing

Kathleen MacLennan

Janie Rine

Denise Roy

Wendy Skjerven

Susan Stehling

Nancy Wiltgen
 

        $500








 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Thomas McGrath
        Chair!
 
Betty M. Smith
Alice McGrath
 
       $550

 
   Ethna McKiernan

 		 Gayla Ellis
 Marilaurice Hemlock
 		        $100

 
   Susan Hunter
     McLean
        Chair!
 		 Maggie Petersen 


 		        $500


 

   Susan Kay McLean
        Chair!









 
Eileen E. Thomas
Paul and Sharon Johnson
Ann Brownson
Lisa Hurd
Anne Connell
Fred Booth and Ann Kiernan
June and Jack Ponzette
Fred and Laura McLean
Mary McLean and Darren
   Newman
Sandy and Frank Jablonski
John Finamore
 
       $500











 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Anna George Meek
        Chair!






 
Sarah Meek
Julie Plaut
Laurie Blumberg-Romero and
   Tom Romero, II
Marilaurice Hemlock
Michael and Kathleen Myhre
Cathedral Choir, Cathedral of
   St. Paul
Erin Bowley
 
       $550








 
   Margaret J. (Peg)
     Meier
         Chair!
 

Anonymous


 

        $500


 
   Ken Meter
         Chair!
 

Anonymous

 

        $500

 
   Maureen Millea-
     Smith
         Chair!
 

Rosemary Furtak


 

        $500


 
   Leslie Adrienne
     Miller
        Chair!
 		 Judge and Mrs. Ray G. Miller


 		         $500


 
   John Minczeski
        Chair!





 		 Jim Heynen
Anonymous
Jessica Minczeski
E & B Shapiro
Carol Roberts
Joe O'Brien
Jennifer Cennamo
 		         $500






 
   Howard Mohr
        Chair!
 		 Southwest Minnesota State
   University
 		        $500

 
   Jim Moore
        Chair!

 		 Anonymous
Deborah Keenan
Lois Mary Dunlap
 		        $500


 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Rachel Moritz
 
Juliet Patterson
 
        $50
 
   Mai Neng Moua
         Chair!




 		 Thien-bao Thuc Phi
Sharon Hilberer
Cheri Register
Janet Heidinger
Xai and Yer Moua Xiong    
Eric and Douangta Vang-
   Sitcler
Blong Yang
Anne Carroll
 		        $500








 
   Edith Mucke
         Chair!




 		 Ruth Runsvold
Cathy Meagher
Jane Elmore
Roxy Soth
Mary Sissel
Beth Willis
 		        $500





 
   Dale Mulfinger
         Chair!
 		 Jan Mulfinger and daughters
   Kira and Anna
 		        $500

 
   David Mura
        Chair!









 		 Tatiana Ormaza
Juliana Pegues
 SooJin Pate
 Susan Sencer
Deb Brisch-Cramer
Joanna Perkins
Susan Mura
Linda O’Toole
Carolyn Nayematsu
Marlina Gonzalez
Tom and Terry Mura
 		        $600










 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Joseph E. Murphy
         Chair!
 
John and Suwanee Murphy

 
       $500

 
   Marguerite Murphy
         Chair!
 

Nancy Slaughter

 

        $500

 
   Ivan Musicant
         Chair!







 

T.J. and M.T. Broder

Kathie Doty

Christine Doty-Cain

Jeanne Harkness

Mary Hourigan

Georgianna Ludcke

Kathleen Montgomery

Gretchen Musicant

Elise Schadauer
 

        $500








 
   Paul C. Nagel
         Chair!
 

Anonymous

 

        $500

 
   Margaret M. Nelson
         Chair!
 

Anonymous

 

        $500

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Pamela Hill
     Nettleton
        Chair!





 
William Schrickel
 Jay and Susan Mann
 Ed and Judy Kaplan
Lisa and Jon Lewis
 Dawn Johnson
 Thomas E. Schrickel
Vera Mariner
 Teri Hill and James D. Larson
 
       $600







 
   Judith Niemi

 		 Cheri Register
Trish Herbert
 		        $100

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Tim Nolan
        Chair!




 
Annunciation Poetry Group

Rich and Jessica Thomas

Regan Byrne Palmer

Nancy Burkhardt

Cathleen Olive

Constance Turke
 
       $500






 
   Jim Northrup
 		 Gayla Ellis
 		         $50
 
   Jude Nutter
 

Neala Schleuning

 

        $100
 
   Tim O'Brien
         Chair!
 

Maureen Hartman

 

        $500

 
   Isabel Monk
     O’Connor
         Chair!
 		 Catherine and Steven
  Webster

 		        $500


 
   Sheila O'Connor
         Chair!



 

Elizabeth Brazil

Timothy Frederick

Erin O’Conner

Carlene O’Connor

Patricia Rowe
 

        $500




 
   Don Olsen
        Chair!



 		 Eileen E. Thomas
Fred Olsen
Sten Olsen
Eric Olsen
Miriam Olsen
 		        $500




 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Oliver K. Olson
         Chair!
 
Douglas and Jane Koons

 
       $500

 
   Sigurd Olson
        Chair!
 		 Charles Dayton
 Rebecca Rom and Reid Carron
Steve Piragis
Byron Starns
Jim Lenfestey
 Martin and Esther Kellogg
 		        $500





 
   Peggy Orenstein
 		 Miriam Kagol
 		         $50
 
   Tatiana Ormaza




 		 Sofia Ormaza
 Thien-bao Thuc Phi
 Juliana Pegues
Adam Pine
Ed Bok Lee
 		        $250




 
   Lon Otto
 		 Deborah Keenan
 		         $50
 
   Jeannine Ouellette
         Chair!
 

Jon Zurn

 

        $500

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Joe Paddock
        Chair!





 
In memory of Robert J.
   Pearson
Janet Pearson
Tom Balcom
Stephen and Debbie Wilbers
Jean Replinger
Eileen E. Thomas
 


       $500






 
   Nancy Paddock
 		 Jean Replinger
 		         $50
 
   Gordon Parks
         Chair!

 		 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund

 		        $500


 
   Alexs Pate
        Chair!






 		 James Lenfestey
 Carolyn Holbrook
Tom Trow
 SooJin Pate
Taiyon Coleman
 Susan Sencer
Carolyn Nayematsu
Mark Tang
 		        $500







 
   GE Patterson

 		 Deborah Keenan
Juliet Patterson
 		        $100

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Juliet Patterson

 
Teens Rock the Mic
Deborah Keenan
 
       $100

 
   Irene Paull
        Chair!
 		 Midwest Villages & Voices
The family of Irene Paull
 		        $500

 
   Christine A.
     Peterson
         Chair!
 		 Mary E. Cavert


 		        $500


 
   Juliana Pegues
        Chair!








 		 Tatiana Ormaza
Barrie Jean Borich
Claire Wilson
John Strauss
Rondi Atkin
Lori Stee
Jeanie Taylor
Pamela R. Fletcher
Judith Katz
Sara Axtell
 		        $550









 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Jane Pejsa
        Chair!


 
Anonymous
Plymouth Congregational
   Church 60s Fellowship Group
   and other Plymouth Friends
 
       $750



 
   Thien-bao Thuc Phi
        Chair!






 		 Faith Sullivan
 Barrie Jean Borich and Linnea
   Stenson
 Kathy Mouacheupao
 Tatiana Ormaza
Carolyn Holbrook
Ardie and Mike Medina
Teens Rock the Mic
James Lenfestey
Julayne Eun Jin Lee
 		        $600









 
   Arthur Phillips
         Chair!
 		 Ann and Felix Phillips

 		        $500

 
   Michael M. Phillips
         Chair!
 		 Ann and Felix Phillips

 		        $500

 
   David Pichaske
        Chair!
 		 Michelle Pichaske

 		        $500

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Wang Ping
         Chair!
 
Anonymous

 
       $500

 
  J. Otis Powell


 		 SooJin Pate
 Louis Alemayehu
Gayla Ellis
 		        $150


 
   Sally J. Power
        Chair!
 		 Anonymous

 		        $500

 
    J. F. Powers
         Chair!
 		 Patricia Hampl
Garrison Keillor
 		        $500

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Marsha Qualey
         Chair!







 
Kathleen and Bob Seestadt
Ann Catherwood
Peg Peck
Sarah Hanna
Nancy Ray
Eileen Sivert
Carolyn Jasperson
 Darcy Knight and Elizabeth
   Trumble
 
       $500








 
   Mary Francois
      Rockcastle
        Chair!

 		 Deborah Keenan
Garth Rockcastle
 Hamline GLS Alumni
  Association
 		        $500



 
   Cheri Register
         Chair!

 		 Amy and Ken Kaminsky
Ruth-Ellen Joeres
Naomi Scheman
Sara Evans
Monika Zagar and Al Fisher
Elaine Tyler May and Lary May
Nancy Register Wangen and
   family
Brian Boyd
 Diane Gulbrandson
 Maria Register and Grace De
   Jong
Riv-Ellen Prell and Steven
   Foldes
Joyce and Wally Kennedy
Janet Heidinger
 		        $700















 
   Willam Reichard
         Chair!
 		 Jim Cihlar

 		        $500

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Thomas E.
     Reiersgord
         Chair!
 
Camilla Reiersgord


 
       $500


 
   Joanne Reisberg
         Chair!

 		 Bernard and Joan Reisberg Family Foundation

 		        $500


 
   Beverly Rollwagen
         Chair!



 

John Rollwagen

Jake and Jennifer Rollwagen

Lorayne Bakanowski

Barbara and Terry
  Tomaszewski
 

        $500




 
   John Michael
     Rosengren
         Chair!





 

Robert and Amy Hill

Catherine and Robert Kruse

John and Maria Frias Rosengren

Steven and Jeanne Rosengren

William and Rosemarie Rosengren

 

        $500







 
   Ole E. Rolvaag
         Chair!

 		 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund

 		        $500


 
   Calvin Rutstrum
         Chair!
 		 Jean Replinger

 		        $500

 
   Ewa Rydaker
        Chair!
 		 Maggie Petersen

 		        $500

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Edith Rylander
 
Jean Replinger
 
        $50
 
   Roxanne Sadovsky
         Chair!





 

Joan Autrey

Rose Day

Susan Foster

Elise Sanders

Lucia Vilankulu

Elizabeth Wexler

Jeanne Bain
 

        $500






 
   Jane St. Anthony
        Chair!












 		 Susan Foster
Dick Brewer
 Denise Malmgren, in honor of
   her children, Sky, Steve,
   and Nica
 Jane's Book Club:
   Linda Miller
   Diane Pearson
   Sandra Ecklein
   Denise Cronin
   Alice Sylvestre
Neal St. Anthony
Louis, Edward, and Emily
   Allgeyer
 		        $500













 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   John Sanford
        Chair!

 
The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund

 
       $500


 
   John Sayer
         Chair!
 

From his comrades

 

        $500

 
   Pauline Schatzlein
        Chair!

 

Dale Schatzlein
Emily Maltz
Bill Schatzlein
 

        $500


 
   Neala Schleuning
        Chair!
 

Maggie Petersen

 

        $500

 
   Bart Schneider
 

George Rabasa
 

         $50
 
   Charles Schulz
         Chair!

 		 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund

 		        $500


 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Julie Schumacher
        Chair!













 
Jim Heynen
 Ginna Portman Amis
Elizabeth Lincoln
Jane Young
Donna Hoffman
Kathleen Sheehy
Kristi Trostel
Leslie Anderson
Marcia Eland
Margaret Chutich
Mary Curtin
Pamela Hoopes
Peggy Wilcox
Robbie Weisel
Sarah Mulligan
 
       $500














 
   John L. Shannon, Jr.
         Chair!
 		 Katy Shannon

 		        $500

 
   John T. Shepherd
         Chair!
 		 Marion Etzweiler

 		        $500

 
   Sun Yung Shin

 

Sharon Her
Deborah Keenan
 

        $100

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Al Sicherman
         Chair!













 
Karen Anderson
Deb and Phil Ford
Mark Geiger
Kirsten Ingerson and
   Charlie Pinto
Karol Jensen 
Rebecca Lindholm
Peg Meier
Jane and John O'Reilly
Sue Peterson
Dick Parker
Mary Ann Ringwelski
Jarrett Smith 
Ann and John Watson 
Catherine Watson
 
       $500














 
   Margot Siegel
         Chair!
 		 Anonymous

 		        $500

 
   Rolf Norman
     Skogerboe
         Chair!
 

Ching Skogerboe


 

        $500


 
   Alec Soth
         Chair!
 		 The Willis Family
The Sissel Family
 		        $500

 
   Faith Sullivan
         Chair!








 

Patricia Barone

Sandra Bloom

J. Colleen Breen

Marian Enos

Katheren Koehn

Constance and Daniel Kunin

Nancy Massman

Barbara K. Strandell

Eleanor Waldrup

 

        $500









 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged
   Larry Sutin
         Chair!



 
Graduate School of Liberal
   Studies at Hamline
   University
Hamline GLS Alumni
   Association
Larry's Students
 
       $500




 
   Joyce Sutphen
         Chair!


 		 Lisa Calame Berg
The Sweet Rock Poets
Nancy Nelson
Howard Lieberman
 		        $500



 
   Bart Sutter
        Chair!





 		 Jean Replinger
Eileen E. Thomas
 Denise Scharlemann
 Ross Sutter and Mary Lofgren
Joe and Linda Muldoon
Anne Paine Williams
Nancy and Dexter Thue
 		        $650






 
   Wallace K. Swan
         Chair!
 		 Rod Krueger

 		        $500

 
   Jane Resh Thomas
        Chair!




 		 Loretta Ellsworth
 Aimee Bissonette

Kari Baumbach
 Bruce Sterling Casselton
Eileen Beha
Maggie Moris
 

        $500





 
   Brad L. Thompson
         Chair!
 

Ellen Velasco-Thompson

David and Katie Thompson
 

        $500

 
   Stew Thornley and
     Brenda Himrich
         Chair!
 

Stew Thornley and
   Brenda Himrich

 

        $500

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Susan Allen Toth
        Chair!

 
Anonymous
Bruce Oksol
Pat Bernthal
 
       $500


 
   Jane Jeong Trenka

 		 SooJin Pate
 Deborah Keenan
 		        $100

 
   Anne Ursu
         Chair!
 		 John Borich

 		        $500

 
   JoAnne Van Tilburg
         Chair!
 		 Anonymous

 		        $500

 
   Ka Vang
        Chair!





 		 The family of Ka Vang
Penh Lo
Mai See Vang
 Cheng-kou Tongkhuya and
   Aroone Vang
Dia Cha
Maggie Petersen
 		        $500






 
   Gerald Vizenor

 		 Eileen E. Thomas
Karen M. Strom
 		        $100

 
   Carla Waldemar
         Chair!













 

Joan von Ohlen
Georgia Bailey

Esther Derby

Warren Kitzmann and
   Gary Russell
 Walt Cygan and
   Karen Stuhlfeier

Linda Gill and Michael Levitz

Christine McVay

Helen and Arnold Walker

Alex Rothman and Nina Sayer

Dorothy Katz

Mina Fisher
 Bernt von Ohlen

 

        $500














 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Connie Wanek
        Chair!
 
Lieberman-Nelson
The Sweet Rock Poets
 
       $500

 
   Beth Waterhouse
 		 Jean Replinger
 		         $50
 
   Catherine Watson
        Chair!












 		 Eileen E. Thomas
 Beryl Singleton
Al Sicherman
Karla Tillotson
Sue Blythe
Sharon Emery
Kathe Connair
Nancy Entwistle
Debb and Phil Ford
Laura Langer
Marla Kapperud
Diane Smith
Jean Comstock
Marty Buennecke
 		        $500













 
   Beth Weatherby
        Chair!

 		 Southwest Minnesota State
   University

 		        $500


 
   Jack Weatherford
         Chair!
 

Miriam Kelen

 

        $500

 
   Will Weaver
 		 Eileen E. Thomas
 		         $50
 
   Susan Welch
         Chair!
 

Rebecca Rand

 

        $500

 
   Stephen Wilbers
        Chair!
 

Debbie, Eddy, and Kate
  Wilbers
 

        $500

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Laura Ingalls Wilder
        Chair!






 
Kathleen Baxter
Stephanie Smith
Kerry Wyckoff
Julie Chuba
Melissa Roselle
Audrey Babcock
 Katie and Tim McGinley and
   family
 
       $500







 
   Morgan Grayce
     Willow
        Chair!

















 		 Blake Lynden
Betty Shriner
Joanne VonBlon
Teresa Chandler and Wendy
   Zeller
Rondi Atkin
Kate Kysar
Tom Hautman
Todd Nesser
Naomi Cohn
Anita Ryan
Johannah Bomster
Jane Leach
Jim and Karen Weber
Bob and Marlene Weber
Larry and Maggie Weber
Judy Yaeger Jones
Mary Adams
Kate Lynn Hibbard
Rebecca Frost
 
        $650



















 
   August Wilson
        Chair!









 		 Eileen E. Thomas
 Carolyn Holbrook
Deborah Keenan
 Leigh Herrick and Roseann
   Lloyd
 Sharon Hilberer
Pamela Fletcher
 Mary Junge
 Alice Lloyd and Jeff Crawford
Margaret Hasse
Stephen and Debbie Wilbers
 		        $500










 
   Laura Waterman
     Wittstock
         Chair!

 		 Linda K. Merritt
Her friends and family


 		        $500



 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged
   Warren Woessner
        Chair!
 
Friends of Warren Woessner at
   Schwegman, Lundberg,
   Woessner & Kluth, P.A.
 		        $500

 
   Bryan Thao Worra
        Chair!









 		 Anonymous
 Karen Tanaka Lucas
John and Pam Worra
William and Marilyn Worra
Barbara Nichols
 Thien-bao Thuc Phi
 Pan Asian American Voices for
   Equality
 Sharon Her
Thien-bao Thuc Phi
Terri & Curt Koene and family
 		        $550










 
   Patricia C. Wrede
        Chair!
 		 Her friends in the Usenet
   community
 		        $500

 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged

   Vincent Wyckoff
         Chair!



























 
Sybil Axner
 Trevor and Rebecca Axner
Mary and Jim Frey
Smokey Nielsen
 Juleann Long
Franny Barry
John and Shelley Selstad
 Mary and Austin Engel, Jr.
Kim Leventhal and Kevin
   Nobish
Sam Axner-Engel, Marya
   Axner, Howard Axner,
   Sophie Axner, and
   Mary Froiland
Martha Anderson
Mark and Nicole Eikenberry
Autumn Wyckoff
Mackenzie Wyckoff
Pam Arnett
Jeremy Schaffrath
Stephen Pastick
Jeff Stanko
Tim Highland
Charlotte Mansur
Eric Connors
Dorothy and Julienne Wyckoff
Miriam, David & Skyler West
Jim Koppel
Beth Haney   
 
       $800




























 

Author   

Contributors  

Total pledged
   
   Biloine (Billie)
     Young
        Chair!





 
Nancy Slaughter
Marge Hols
Joan Duddingston
Marion Etzwiler
Joan Higinbotham
Joanne S. Laird
Dee Anne Nelson
Martha Maguire
 		        $500





 
   Nolan Zavoral
        Chair!















 		 Annie Breitenbucher
 Melissa Gilman
 The Gang O' Writers:
   Holly Birkeland
   Amy Snow Landa
   Julie Rothschild Levi
   Julie Pfitzinger
   Barbara Tuttle
Mary Breitenbucher
Joannie Breitenbucher
Lindsay Nielsen
Pam Schmid
Jennifer S. Fogg
 Jean Breitenbucher and kids
 Scott A. Schneider
Steve Hunegs and Jennifer
   Robbins
Karen Gail Jostad
 		        $700

















 
   R. D. Zimmerman
        Chair!
 		 Anonymous

 		        $500

 
   Jon Zurn
         Chair!
 		 The Friends of the Minneapolis
   Public Library Author Fund
 		        $500

 

 

Top

 

Minnesota authors

(C) = chair designated
(P) = pledges for partially funded chairs

Cezarija Abartis
Harold Adams
Jonis Agee (C)
Paulette Bates Alden

Darragh Aldrich
Louis Alemayehu (C)

Floyce Alexander
Joseph Amato (C)
Janis Amatuzio
Betsy Amster
Edna A. Anderson (C)
Elmer Andersen

Carol Ann Anderson (C)
Dale Gregory Anderson

Linda Anderson
Maureen Anderson

Poul Anderson

Tom Anderson

Elizabeth Andrew (P)
James Armstrong
Eleanor Arnason
Carlen Arnett

Annette Atkins (C)
Daniel Bachhuber

David Backes

Thomas W. Balcom

Conrad Balfour (P)
Rosanne Bane

Margaret Culkin Banning

Marge Rogers Barrett (C)

Ann Bauer

Marion Dane Bauer
 Charles Baxter (C)
Michael Bevilaqua

David Bengston
Sandra Benitez (C)
Kate Benson
Jim Berg (C)
Lisa Ann Berg (C)
John Berryman (C)
John Bessler
Connie Bickman

Carol Pearce Bjorlie

Candace Black

Les Blacklock
Theodore Christian Blegen
 Lee Blessing (C)

Carol Bly (P)

Robert Bly (C)
Martha Boesing
Ann Bogle (C)
William Borden
Barrie Jean Borich (C)
 Betsy Bowen (C)

Anne Boyd
Thomas Boyd
Teresa Boyer

Mary Bracho
 James Brandenberg

Peter Brandvold
Jill Breckenridge
Greg Breining

Dan Brennan

Tessa Bridal
Betty Bridgman (C)
John M. Bryson (P)
Lois McMaster Bujold (C)
Ethel Claire Brill

Ruth F. Brin
Carol Ryrie Brink (C)
Emma Lillian Brock

Lucille Broderson
Ignatia Broker
Kerri Brostrom
Brenda Y. Bell Brown
Lloyd L. Brown
Michael Dennis Browne (C)

David Brunet
Steven Brust

Emilie Buchwald (C)

Solon Justus Buck

Marjorie Buettner
Emma Bull

Lisa Bullard

Alan Burns

Culleen Bailey Burns
Stephen Burt
Richard Burton

John Caddy

Joan Calof
Patricia Calvert
John Camp/John Sanford (C)

Nancy Carlson (P)
Bob Cary

Evan Cary
Mary Casanova (P)

Kevin J. Cashman (C)
Barry Casselman

Gail Cerridwen
Marsha Wilson Chall (C)
Marisha Chamberlain
Ann Chidester

Sharon Chmielarz (C)
Heart Warrior Chosa

B. Joy Chute

Marchette Chute

James Jay Cihlar
Gabrielle F. Civil (C)
Richard Coffey
Naomi Cohn
Syma Cheris Cohn
Carolyn Colburn
Taiyon Coleman (C)
Ben Connelly

Carol Connolly (C)
Marvel Cooke

Kathleen Coskran (C)
Kent Cowgill
Jeanette M. Cox

John Coy
Barbara Crosby (P)

Amanda Cross

Steve Crow

Kate Crowley

Patrick Cudmore
Patricia Cumbie

Mary Cummings

Laine Cunningham

Florence Chard Dacey (C)

Philip Dacey (C)

Cass Dalglish
Kara Dalkey
Leo Dangel (C)

Danielle Daniel

MaryJanice Davidson
Holly Day

Kate Hallet Dayton
Jim Dochniak (C)
Pamela Dean

Emilio DeGrazia

Pierre Delattre (C)

Judy Delton

Pat Dennis

Frances Densmore
 Kate DiCamillo (C)
Gordon R. Dickson

Margarette Ball Dickson
Kirsten Dierking
Carol Dines (C)

Thomas M. Disch

Ignatius Donnelly

Frank Pierce Donovan Jr.

Marjorie Dorner

Michael Dorris (C)

Claire van Breemen Downes

Joan M. Drury
Kat Duff (C)
Bob Dylan (C)

Kathleen Eagle

Charles Eastman
Scott Edelstein

William C. Edgar
Al Eisele (P)
Jack El-Hai (C)
Loretta Ellsworth

Brian Engel

Leif Enger

John Engman
Heid E. Erdrich (C)
 Louise Erdrich (C)

Anne Marie Erickson
K. J. Erickson (C)

Jean Ervin

Barbara Juster Esbensen
Sara Evans (C)

Kelly Everding

Bill Faucett

Michael Fedo
John Fenn

Monica Ferris

Michael Finley
 Robert O. Fisch (C)

F. Scott Fitzgerald (C)

Kevin FitzPatrick
 Barbara Flanagan (C)

Charles E. Flandrau
Charles Macomb Flandrau (C)

Grace Hodgson Flandrau
Jacquelyn B. Fletcher

Pamela R. Fletcher (C)
Vince Flynn
John M. Ford
Sarah Fox
Patricia Weaver Francisco (C)

Al Franken (P)
 Arvonne Fraser (C)

Debra Frasier

Patti Frazee (C)
Brian Freeman
Iris C. Freeman (C)
Orville L. Freeman (C)

Thomas L. Friedman (C)

Catherine Friend

Carol D. Fritsch

Venessa Maria Fuentes

Michael Furtman
Future Minnesota Authors

Daniel Gabriel
Mary Gabriel (C)

Wanda Gag (C)

Margot Fortunato Galt
 Stephen Gammell (C)

Juanita Garciagodoy (C)
Mary Gardner
Abigail Garner (C)

Olivia Gault
Larry Gavin (C)

Carl Gawboy

Maureen Gibbon
Dobby Gibson

Thomas Gifford
Jay Gilbertson

Carolyn Gilman
Mary Giordano
Diane Glancy (C)

Natalie Goldberg (C)

Joan Oliver Goldsmith

Ray Gonzalez

Steven (Venus) Grandell

Paula Granquist
David Grant

Bonnie Graves

Dan Graves (C)
Dianne Gray
James Gray
 Graywolf Press Authors (C)
Cheryl Green (C)
Kate Green (P)

Alvin Greenberg (C)

Steve Grooms

Mary Ann Grossman

Jan Zita Grover
 Paul Gruchow (C)

Ann Lundberg Grunke

Judith Guest (C)
Angela Gustafson
Larry Haeg (C)

Janet Hagberg

Carla Hagen
Gus Hall (C)

Ted Hall (P)

Cindra Halm

Madeline Hamermesh

Susan Thurston Hamerski
 Colin Hamilton (C)
 Patricia Hampl (C)

Ron Handberg

Mary Alice Hansen
 Phebe Hanson (C)
Stephanie Weller Hanson
Keith Harrison
Ellen Hart

Erin Hart (C)

Joanne Hart

Margaret Hasse (C)

Jon Hassler (C)

Joan Hause

Susan Carol Hauser
 Pete Hautman (C)

Ellen Hawkins

Ellen Hawley

David Haynes
Judith Healey
Steve Healey
Mary Hedin

Robert Hedin
Tom Hegg (P)

Kathleen M. Heideman

Miron Heinselman

Nicole Lea Helget

Scott Helmes
Sharon Darby Hendry (C)

James B. Hendryx
 Michael J. Henley
Tom Hennen
Thomas M. Heski

Greg Hewett (C)
Jim Heynen (C)
William Hezlep (C)
Kate Lynn Hibbard

Rebecca Hill
Amy J. Hinds (C)

Kim Hines (C)

Mary Hirsch

William Hoffman
Kevin Hogan
Linda Hogan
Carolyn Holbrook (C)

Endesha Ida Mae Holland

Bill Holm (C)
Kristine Holmgren (P)

Patricia Hoolihan

Helen Hoover
Ari Hoptman (C)

Joan Houck

David Housewright
Jon Hovde
 William S. Howell (C)

Ann Sarah Iverson

Carol Iverson

Florence Page Jacques

Louis Jenkins (C)

Pamela Carter Joern
Elizabeth Bourque Johnson (C)

Fred L. Johnson

Greg L. Johnson

Jim Johnson
Lindsay Lee Johnson

Tony Johnston

Lynne Jonell

Roger Jones
Mary L. Junge (C)
 Neal Karlen (P)

Judith Katz (C)
Bob Kearney
Deborah Keenan (C)

Garrison Keillor (C)

N. M. Kelby

Carrie Kennedy
Ellen Kennedy
Joyce Kennedy

Justine Kerfoot
Peg Kerr (C)

Sallie Ketcham

Elizabeth Kilde

Susan Deborah King (C)

Patricia Kirkpatrick
 Kevin Kling (C)

Jim Klobuchar
Duke Klassen (C)

W. J. Knox

Barbara Knutson

Maureen Koelsch

Patrice Clark Koelsch

Herbert Krause

Jack Kreitzer
Naomi Kritzer

William Kent Krueger

John Krumberger

J. L. Kubicek

Kathryn Kysar (C)

Norah Labiner

Robert Lacy
Winona LaDuke

M. D. Lake

Lynn Maria Laitala
Lori L. Lake
Katherine Lanpher (C)
Julie Landsman
 Lorna Landvik (C)

Dietrich Lange
Ellen Lansky

David LaRochelle

Agnes M. Larson

William E. Lass
 David Lebedoff (C)
Ed Bok Lee (C)
Sherry Quan Lee (C)

Gretchen Legler

John Lehman

Paul Lehmberg
James Lenfestey (C)

Susan Lenfestey
Rodney E. Leonard (C)

Peter M. Leschak

Meridel LeSueur (C)

Vicky Lettmann (C)
Anne Gillespie Lewis (C)
Kathy Lewis (C)

Sinclair Lewis (C)
James Lileks
Amy Lindgren
Marissa Lingen

Mike Link

Laura Littleford

Sophronia Liu

Roseann Lloyd (C)

Bill Lofy

Mary Logue (C)

Eric Lorberer
Adrian Louis
 Delos W. Lovelace (C)
Maud Hart Lovelace (C)
Duane Lund

Paul Maccabee

Joseph Maiolo

Margaret Todd Maitland (P)

Rosalie Maggio

Brian Malloy (C)

Dorothea Malm

Frederick Feikema Manfred (P)

Freya Manfred (P)

Harvey Mackay (C)

Marie Markoe

Patrick W. Mathias
Judith Mattison (C)

Justin Maxwell
Roy McBride (C)

Eugene McCarthy (P)
Audrey McClellan

Kelly McCullough

Ken McCullough
 Patricia Condon McDonald

Jane Taylor McDonnell

Lynda McDonnell

Alison McGhee (C)
Thomas McGrath (C)

Linda Back McKay

Ethna McKiernan (P)
Susan Hunter McLean (C)
Susan Kay McLean (C)
William James McNally
Toni A. H. McNaron
Ardie Medina
Anna George Meek (C)

Margaret J. (Peg) Meier (C)
Ken Meter (C)

Maureen Millea-Smith (C)
Jorie Miller
Leslie Adrienne Miller (C)

Larry Millett
Matthew Miltich

John Minczeski (C)

Liz Minette

Howard Mohr (C)
Isabell Monk

Jim Moore (C)
Mary Carroll Moore

Michael Moos

Lyda Morehouse
Rachel Moritz (P)

Gulian L. Morrill
 Mai Neng Moua (C)
Ilze Mueller
Dale Mulfinger (C)

David Mura (C)
 Joseph E. Murphy (C)
 Marguerite Murphy (C)
Ivan Musicant (C)
Paulette Myers-Rich

Paul C. Nagel (C)

James Naiden
Yvette Nelson
 Margaret M. Nelson (C)
Nan Nelson
Sara Nelson

Kent Nerburn
Pamela Hill Nettleton (C)

Suzanne Nielson

Judith Niemi (P)

Marc Nieson
Tim Nolan (C)

Jim Northrup (P)

Jeremy Norton
Mark Nowak

Grace Lee Nute

Jude Nutter (P)
Jules Nyquist

Ernest Oberholtzer

Dillon O'Brien

John F. O'Brien
Tim O'Brien (C)
 Isabel Monk O’Connor (C)

Sheila O'Connor (C)
Jonathan Odell

Monica Ochtrup

John Olive

Marie Olofsdotter
Don Olsen (C)

Tillie Olsen

Denny Olson
 Oliver K. Olson (C)

Sigurd Olson (C)

Walter O'Meara
Edith Mucke (C)

Cynthia Orange
Mary Rose O'Reilly

Debra Kass Orenstein
 Peggy Orenstein (P)
 Tatiana Ormaza (P)

Audrey Osofsky

Martha Ostenso
Laurel Ostrow
Lon Otto (P)
Shawn Lawrence Otto
Jeannine Ouellette (C)

Sheila J. Packa
Joe Paddock (C)

Nancy Paddock (P)

Gordon Parks (C)

Alexs Pate (C)

Kathleen Patrick
GE Patterson (P)

Juliet Patterson (P)
Irene Paull (C)

Gary Paulsen

Marcia Peck
Juliana Pegues (C)

Mary Jo Pehl
Jane Pejsa (C)

Lisa Westberg Peters
Christine A. Peterson (C)

Thien-bao Phi (C)
Arthur Phillips (C)
Michael M. Phillips (C)
David Pichaske (C)
Wang Ping (C)

Robert Pirsig

Samuel W. Pond

Rick Ponzio

Deidre Pope

Mary Jean Port

J. Otis Powell (P)
 Sally J. Power (C)
Susan Power

J. F. Powers (C)
Marsha Qualey (C)

Miriam Queensen
Mike Quin

Patrick J. Quinn
George Rabasa (C)

Sima Rabinowitz

Nancy Raeburn

Susan Raffo

Cheryl L. Reed

Cheri Register (C)
Willam Reichard (C)
Thomas E. Reiersgord (C)
Lynette Reini-Grandell
Joanne Reisberg (C)

Judy Remington

Mary Rose Remington

Marcie Rendon
John Calvin Rezmerski (P)

Linda Lightsey Rice

Richard Robbins

Mary Francois Rockcastle (C)

Jessica Roeder

Lynn Rogers
Beverly Rollwagen (C)

Ole E. Rolvaag (C)

Phyllis Root
Joel Rosenberg

John Michael Rosengren (C)
Ruth Roston

Martha Roth
Tom Ruud

Mary Kay Rummel

Arthur J. Russell

Calvin Rutstrum (C)

Mark Ryan
Ewa Rydaker (C)
Edith Rylander (P)

Roxanne Sadovsky (C)

Mark Sakry

Harrison Salisbury
Donna Salli

Pat Samples

Jason Sanford

John Sanford/John Camp
John Sayer (C)
Pauline Schatzlein (C)
Neala Schleuning (C)
Fred Schmalz

Bart Schneider (P)

Henry R. Schoolcraft

Lawrence Schug

Max Schulman

Charles Schultz

Janet Schultz

Julie Schumacher (C)

R. Newell Searle

Mabel Seeley

Eric Sevareid
Angela Shannon
 John L. Shannon, Jr.

Mary Sharratt

Napier Shelton
John T. Shepherd (C)
Will Shetterly
 Al Sicherman (C)
 Margot Siegel (C)

Sun Yung Shin (P)

Clifford D. Simak
Rolf Norman Skogerboe (C)
John Sladek
Su Smallen
Gregory Blake Smith

Thomas R. Smith

William Joseph Snelling

Robert T. Sorrells

Danielle Sosin
Alec Soth (C)

Lavyrle Spencer

David Spohn

Madelon Sprengnether
Jane St. Anthony (C)
Sharon Staum

Milt Stenlund

Francine Sterle
Caroline Stevermer

Marie Stolte

Sarah Stonich

Adrien Stoutenburg

Faith Sullivan (C)
Charles Schulz (C)

Lawrence Sutin (C)

Joyce Sutphen (C)
Bart Sutter (C)
Gwenyth Swain
 Wallace K. Swan (C)

Steve Swanson

Susan Marie Swanson

Suzanne Swanson
Connie Szarke
Mary Helen Taft

Steve Thayer

Catherine Thimmesh (C)
 Jane Resh Thomas (C)
 Brad L. Thompson (C)

Ricki Thompson
Stew Thornley & Brenda Himrich (C)
Sarah Tieck

Susan Allen Toth (C)
Jane Jeong Trenka (P)
David Treuer

Robert Treuer

Brenda Ueland

Arthur  Upson
Anne Ursu (C)

JoAnne Van Tilburg (C)
Ka Vang (C)
 Diego Vazquez, Jr.

Thorstein Veblen

Jim dale Vickery

Mark Vinz

Gerald Vizenor (P)

Robert Voedisch

Carla Waldemar (C)
Nancy Walden

Donald Wandrei

Connie Wanek (C)

Beth Waterhouse (P)

Cary Waterman

Catherine Watson (C)

Beth Weatherby (C)

Jack Weatherford (C)
Will Weaver (P)
Maryann Weidt

Kathleen Weihe

Judith H. Weir
 Susan Welch (C)
Lois Welshons

James L. White
J. P. White

Roberta Hill Whiteman

Arvella Whitmore

Stephen Wilbers (C)
Laura Ingalls Wilder (C)

Marie Sheppard Williams

Susan Williams

Morgan Grayce Willow (C)

August Wilson (C)

Linda Wing

Mary Winstead

Laurel Winter
Laura Waterman Wittstock (C)

Warren Woessner (C)

Dave Wood

Douglas Wood

Kathleen Woodiwiss
Bryan Thao Worra (C)
Patricia C. Wrede (C)

James Wright

Vincent Wyckoff (C)
Pam Wynn

Jeri Smith Youness
Biloine (Billie) Young (C)

Nolan Zavoral (C)

R. D. Zimmerman (C)
 Jon Zurn (C)

 

Top

 

September 18, 2006, celebration,
 honoring Minnesota Authors at the Minneapolis Central Library

Presentation by David Mura

We live in an age when we are urged to shrink the government, to dismantle public institutions. A great public library is one of these, and therefore, an endangered institution.

Where did we learn the phrase, “a shining city upon a hill?” Were there great schools in that city? A public library? What do we remember of the great ancient city of Alexandria? That there was once a great library there, as famous as the hanging gardens of Babylon. That that library was destroyed by fire. And to this day something in us mourns that destruction. 

This new and magnificent library represents hope, represents something noble in us, this city. May it live up to that promise.

And if it is to live up that promise, it must be used. It must not simply open its doors to the people of this city, but it must invite them in. Even entice them, even seek them out. Especially those who have never felt invited in. By their government, by their schools, by the society, the culture. By those who have always felt they are inside, figuring out ways to keep those outside out.

In this way a public library is the opposite of a gated community. The so-called safety of the suburbs.

As a child I brought home loads of books from my public library.  Books on the planets and stars or ancient Egypt. Biographies of presidents and sports heroes, famous scientists and explorers. Novels of basketball teams or Washington politics. I never thought I'd ever become a writer. In all that time I never read a book of anyone remotely resembling myself. An Asian American, a Japanese American boy. Who could picture an author like that?

Today in this city, there's some young Somali girl or Tibetan boy, some Chicana or brilliant black kid, some boy whose family has fled wars or ethnic cleansings, some girl grown too familiar with alcoholism or abuse, who will come to read the books kept here, come for the silence and safety here, for the knowledge and the worlds held in these books. And perhaps that child may even some day become an author like me. But that's not so important. What matters is that that child finds her or his way here, comes to feel this place is one of safety, a haven, a home.

If that happens and happens often and over and over with child after child, then this library will have served its purpose, this fundraising will have not been in vain.

That is my hope, today. And I hope it is yours, too. In a time of war and fear and fear mongering, in a time when many of our public institutions are being failed and shriveled to nothing, together with this library we can try to achieve something to answer for that:

a child turning the page of a book, a child finding a context to her life, a child being opened to both his own and the greater world.
 


The Library


by David Mura

 

The figures in glass reading in the night --
Why does one bend her head in her hands?
With Chinese characters inked on her arms,
lip and nose pierced, along with her tongue,
she lowers her hands and her face is there,
staring back at her. And the page
on the table settles the plot in ways
she never imagined when the night began.

There are, of course, countless others.
Balding and pale he scribbles something
perhaps salacious in his journal
(or scholarly notes on the history of martyrs).
A child turns a heavy page, revealing
a cartoon Betelgeuse or an old woman knitting
in the corner, shadows surrounding her visage.
Someone cries out. A mirror breaks. Horrors
to delight and shiver with her roving eyes.

What's silent here is door after door opening.
There's evolution, there's constellations, each
involved with the way germs travel. Even
my obscure trip to the land of my ancestors
lies hidden somewhere on these shelves.
Morticians and Neapolitan pastries, news
across the centuries as a patron coughs
and someone looks up, interrupted, yet
already turning back the pages they left.

Yes, you may take this out. Just show me your card.

 
 

 Minneapolis Public

 

by David Mura

 

There are 150 first languages in our schools
and so many aliens even E.T. would go unnoticed,
though if your tongue moved one way in the land of your birth
it must move another now, awkward at first.

There are blacks here who've never been to Africa;
Africans who've never heard a Baptist prayer,
much less the solemn dirges of Lutherans
or how the artist formerly known is some sort of Prince.

In the anthology of American Buddhist poetry
you will find not one face of a Tibetan
but they are here with girls and boys named Tenzin
and one, my son's good friend, throws a hard mean spiral.

Esmir is not the name of a girl but a Bosnian
boy who crouches at a table and glues a lamp together
and later with my other son conspires on a book--“A Touch
of Rabies”--a heartbreaking tale of good dogs gone bad.

(Why tell a soul of the sieges that brought him here
or stories of the Dali Lama or the temples destroyed
or troops of the war lords in the streets of Somalia,
the borders dividing death from safety if not evil and good?)

Say you're Egyptian or Haitian: Here you're singular,
not part of a Big Apple ghetto. If you're Chinese,
most likely you're adopted, or else your parents study
engineering at the U. And have I mentioned the Mexicans?

In West Side Story the rumble starts with Puerto Ricans
and working class whites in a high school gym;
this year Maria's still Natalie Wood white to Jamaica's
half-black Anita and the Jets sport blacks, one Tibetan,

and my happa daughter who still doesn't question
such casting, or why Bye Bye Birdie  last year
just might not be the choice of half the school
for a song and dance they could take on as their own.

Still at the spring school dance J-Lo and Ja Rule
set the awkward bump and grind of junior high girls
and the boys watch on the sidelines as boys that age do,
whether Bosnian, black, white, Somali, Tibetan.

I'm told we live in the Land of Great Lake Wobegon
where all the women are strong, the men good looking,
and the children above average -- and, I always add,
everyone's white. Hey, Tenzin, Nabil, go tell Garrison:

Not now. Not quite.

 

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