Ramsey County Library Friends

The Maplewood Library’s Summer Reading Program Kickoff event is on Saturday 6/13 from 10:30am-12:30pm.

Event description: "Let’s turn 'garbage' into art! Join us as we turn everyday materials into brand new puppets and companions of your creation. Critters, people, or mythical creatures– the only limit is your imagination! Participants can use storytelling and creative drama to bring their new friend to life."

Materials for the SRP Program for children and teens can be picked up at any RCL branch library this summer if you don't make it to the kickoff events. Online trackers are also available at the links below. The program runs until August 8 with events and reading incentives happening at all seven RCL locations. Learn more:

🌞 SRP for kids through age 12: rclreads.org/news/kids-summer-reading-begins-june-1

🌞 SRP for teens: rclreads.org/news/teen-summer-reading-begins-june-1

The Ramsey County Library Friends organization is proud to be a sponsor of the Summer Reading Program and its kickoff events.

This month, the Friends and Ramsey County Library assembled and distributed more than 1,300 at-home learning kits for second graders in several local school districts! The kits consist of a new book for children to keep in their home libraries, a makers’ project, and information about Library programs. This was made possible by funding support from the Roseville Area Community Foundation, the help of over 30 volunteers, and donations from YOU, our members!

Second graders are in a milestone year in their reading journey, as they transition from learning how to read to falling in love with reading, making this an especially important time for them to have access to books. Research has consistently shown that having books in their homes has a positive impact on children’s educational growth and overall wellbeing.

We are so excited that 1,300 second graders will soon be opening their kits and reading their new books at home, and we hope to see many of them in the libraries!

Many thanks to the volunteers who assembled kits and to our members. Your contributions allow us to share the joy of reading, making, and learning with our local kids!

The Friends join RCL in celebrating Pride Month and the vibrant LGBTQ+ communities that make our county stronger. We’re proud to support this June 13th event as a sponsor and by hosting a table in the scavenger hunt, where Friends volunteers will have free books and other giveaways for those who complete a “Pride passport.” Stop by from 1:00-4:00pm and say hello!

Celebrate Pride with Ramsey County Library!

Library staff have put together several lists of recommended materials you can borrow to kick off Pride Month: rclreads.org/explore/?tag=lgbtqia

Come to RCL-Roseville to celebrate All-Ages Pride with library staff and the public on June 13 starting at 10:30 a.m. It's a joyful and welcoming day filled with a scavenger hunt, Pride crafts for all ages, drag storytime, and plenty of other activities: rclreads.bibliocommons.com/events/69fca0f7caf93436005a56f7

This summer, Ramsey County Library will be switching to new behind‑the‑scenes software that helps the library run smoothly. Library users will start to see temporary changes to how they use the library in June 2026. Checking rclreads.org throughout the summer will keep you informed and help you plan your visit.

Here's two things you can do now to prepare:

1. Read through our timeline at rclreads.org/news/library-software-transition. Consider signing up for our news e-newsletter to stay on top of the latest information about the transition.

2. Find the physical copy of your library card. Starting July 5, you will not be able to check out library materials using your digital library card in the app and we will not be able to look your account up with an ID. You must have your physical library card with you to check out materials. If you can't find your card, please stop in and get a new one.

Reminder: Free Minnesota Community Cookbooks Talk TODAY, May 13, 6:00pm at RCL-Maplewood.

The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) will discuss their cookbooks and says about their collection:

"When you have a smorgasbord of more than 2,000 community cookbooks, how do you select which to sample? MNHS has an extensive selection of cookbooks by, for, and about Minnesotans. These commonplace items provide a window into the everyday lives of the people of our state. They document foodways and reflect changing tastes, trends, social structures, and norms as well as foodstuffs available in the region.

Some recipes let you know they are from Minnesota without directly saying so. A 1936 Grace Lutheran Ladies Aid cookbook from Mankato contains an early use of the term “hot dish,” a regionalism that has become a way that we communicate our Minnesota-ness. Cookbooks can provide insight into communities.

Community cookbooks are those organized by a club, association, church, or school – usually to raise money for the organization or other charitable work. Rather than the product of a single chef, community cookbooks have multiple authors and often no editor. Each participant contributes a recipe. The MNHS collection includes cookbooks from various ethnic communities that make up the state; in them you will find recipes for lefse and lutefisk, many versions of German potato salad, Somali sambusa, and a stunning variety of hot dishes.”

rclreads.bibliocommons.com/events/69e65ca8b1165a41a6606f73

You may already know that the Libby App makes it easy to access ebooks, audiobooks, and more - anytime and for free with your library card. Here are a handful of insider tips that could make browsing, borrowing, and enjoying even easier!

Staff picks: 10 Libby hacks & features we can’t live without | Libby Life: Blog, Podcast, Book Clubs & More. Want to use Libby like a pro? Get insider tips with these 10 staff‑approved Libby hacks and features that improve browsing, borrowing, and listening in the app.

Ever wonder what recipes tell us about our history? Join us tomorrow evening for a fascinating look into the Minnesota Historical Society’s extraordinary collection of over 2,000 cookbooks! These aren't just lists of ingredients - they are stories of our values, our legacies, and the communities we've built together.

✨ Event Details:
What: Minnesota Community Cookbooks Talk
Who: Curator and librarian Catherine Cooney
When: Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 13 | 6:00-7:00pm
Where: Maplewood Library
Cost: Free and open to the public!

Did you know? Ramsey County Library volunteers regularly help source and donate gently used Minnesota cookbooks to MNHS to help grow this special collection.

📚 Got old cookbooks? We welcome your donations year-round at all seven Ramsey County Library locations! Your "well-loved" kitchen classics might just become a piece of history. Check out our donation guidelines here: rclfriends.org/donate-books

The winners of the 2026 Minnesota Book Awards have been announced!

Find more about the authors and books here:
thefriends.org/minnesota-book-awards/minnesota-book-awards-winners/

Many of these titles can be borrowed from Ramsey County Library:
rclreads.org

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees!