Advocacy

As we have shared previously, the County’s proposed 2026–2027 budget included a shortfall for the Library. On December 16, the budget was passed as proposed, and as a result, the Shoreview Library is now closed on Fridays. You can read more about this closure and other budgetary impacts on the RCL website.

While this outcome was not what we hoped for, your advocacy truly mattered. Your efforts raised awareness about the importance of libraries in our community and the challenges RCL is facing. Through this process, we had productive conversations with County Commissioners, and we move forward in partnership—with the goal of increasing Library budget support in future years.

The Friends remain committed to supporting RCL by increasing our annual grant in 2026 and continuing to raise awareness and advocate for the Library at multiple levels. Please join us by donating or becoming a member of the Friends.

In September, we let you know that Ramsey County’s proposed budget for 2026-2027 included a budget shortfall for Ramsey County Library. If approved by the County Board of Commissioners on December 16th, this shortfall will require a staff reduction of five full-time equivalent positions, which would result in reduced Library programs and services, including a closure of the Shoreview Library on Fridays.

As a library support organization, we are concerned to see funding for the Library moving backwards instead of forwards. Will you join us in letting County management know that you are concerned too?

Attend the Public Hearing on December 11th

Ramsey County Library Friends will be gathering a group of Library supporters to attend the County’s public hearing on the proposed budget for 2026-2027, in order to communicate our support for Ramsey County Library and our concern with the Library’s proposed budget shortfall. Attendees will receive a free t-shirt to wear to the hearing (while supplies last).

Date and Time: Thursday, December 11th, 6pm
Location: Council Chambers (3rd Floor), Saint Paul City Hall–Ramsey County Courthouse, 15 W. Kellogg Blvd, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Parking: Victory Ramp, 344 Wabasha St. N., Saint Paul, MN 55102 (County will provide parking vouchers)
County’s Event Info: Click here.
Sign Up to Make a Public Comment: Residents can sign up to give public comments at the hearing, for up to three minutes. Sign up here.
Questions: Please contact RCLF Executive Director Melissa Nykanen at mnykanen@rclfriends.org.
RSVP: Click here.

Contact your County Commissioner

Please write, call, or email your County Commissioner to let them know that you value your Library and to ask them to sustain Library funding.

The County Commissioners are working hard to support our communities through their role and they want to hear from their constituents! It’s especially helpful if you can provide specific examples of how the Library impacts your life or the lives of people you know.

Please feel free to use the template and script below. If you have any questions, you can reach out to RCLF Executive Director, Melissa Nykanen at mnykanen@rclfriends.org. We’d also love to hear from you if you do reach out to your County Commissioner! This will help us track our advocacy impact.

Read the letter from the Friends’ Board to the County Commissioners

The Ramsey County Library Friends Board wrote a letter to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners, and it is full of important facts and reasons why Library funding should be sustained. Please read the letter.

Donate

The funding that Ramsey County Library Friends provide to Ramsey County Library through our annual grant is an essential supplement to County funding and helps pay for many of the Library programs and collections that the community enjoys. We have committed to increasing the amount of our annual grant in 2026, but we can’t do it without you. Please help us fulfill our commitment by donating to the Friends.

Thank you for standing with your local library! We are glad to be a part of the Library’s community of support with you.

Email or Letter Template

Dear Commissioner [NAME],

Thank you for your support of public libraries in Ramsey County! I am a resident in [CITY] and I am writing to let you know how much I value the Ramsey County Library. I use the Library for/to___________. The Library is important to me because ___________.

Libraries serve their communities by providing free information resources, services, and programs to ALL residents. Libraries provide welcoming spaces, technology access, and free books and other information resources that help people meet essential needs and enrich their lives.

As you determine the county budget for 2026 and 2027, please consider the huge impact the Library has on community members like me. As a resident, it is important to me to see the Library’s resources, services, and programs continued at current levels.

Thank you for your support of our community!

Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]

Phone Script

Hello, Commissioner [NAME]. My name is [YOUR NAME]. I am a resident of [CITY], and I am calling to let you know that the Ramsey County Library is an important County resource that I value. I use the Library for/to_________. The Library is important to me because _________. As you determine the county budget for 2026 and 2027, please consider the impact the Library has on the community. As a resident, it is important to me to see the Library’s resources, services, and programs continued at current levels. Thank you for your time and consideration!

We’d like to share important information with you regarding Ramsey County’s proposed budget for 2026-2027 and how it could impact the Ramsey County Library system.

Ramsey County presented the proposed budget to the Board of Commissioners on September 2nd. Due to financial pressures on the County and rising service costs, this budget proposal, if approved, would result in a budget shortfall for Ramsey County Library that would necessitate a reduction of Library staff by 5 full-time employees. The most significant impact of this reduction would be the closure of the Shoreview Library on Fridays, starting in 2026. Fortunately, the Library will be able to avoid layoffs by eliminating positions that are currently vacant.

While we are disappointed by this news, we also support the Library and the County as they make difficult budget decisions.

It’s important to note that this proposed budget is not final. There will be two public hearings: one on September 22nd and another on December 11th. The County Board of Commissioners will vote on the budget on December 16th.

As Ramsey County residents and Library supporters, we encourage you to participate in the budget process. You can attend public hearings, provide testimony, submit comments, or contact your Commissioner directly. More information about how to participate can be found on the County’s budget website.

Details for attending or streaming the first public hearing on Monday, September 22:
You can attend in person at the Council Chambers, which are in Room 300 in the Saint Paul City Hall – Ramsey County Courthouse at 15 West Kellogg Boulevard in St. Paul. Free parking will be available in the Victory Ramp at 344 Wabasha St. North. You can also view the hearing online. Use the link for the video for the “Budget Committee of the Whole” listed as 9/22/25. Our understanding is that this link will be live at the time of the hearing.

We will continue to follow the budget process and send updates as we receive them. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at any time at friends@rclfriends.org.

The Friends are committed to supporting Ramsey County Library now and into the future. Thank you for being a vital part of the Library’s community of support!

Public Hearing Information
Dates:
Monday, September 22nd, 5pm
Thursday, December 11th, 6pm

Location:
Council Chambers, Room 300
Saint Paul City Hall – Ramsey County Courthouse
15 West Kellogg Boulevard
Saint Paul, MN 55102
Full details on the County’s budget website.

Additional Links
How to Participate (Scroll Down)
Summary of Budget Proposal Presentation
Video of Budget Proposal Presentation
2026-2027 Budget Book

2025 is a budget-planning year in Ramsey County! The budget that will define Library services and programs for the next two years (2026 and 2027) is in the process of development. Ramsey County Library depends on County funding for 98% of their annual budget. It is vital that the County continues to fund the Library at current levels to ensure continuance of the essential Library resources and services that you depend upon. Please write, call, or email your County Commissioner to let them know that you value your Library and to ask them to sustain Library funding!

You can use this page to find your commissioner. Navigate to their name on the left side of the page to find their contact information. Please be kind and respectful; remember that the County Commissioners are working hard to support our communities through their role and they want to hear from their constituents! It’s especially helpful if you can provide specific examples of how the Library impacts your life or the lives of people you know. And don’t forget to include your address!

Please feel free to use the templates and script below. If you have any questions, you can reach out to RCLF Executive Director Melissa Nykanen at mnykanen@rclfriends.org or at (651) 724-6127. We’d also love to hear from you if you do reach out to your County Commissioner! This will help us track our advocacy impact.

The funding that the Friends provide to the Library through our annual grant is an essential supplement to County funding and helps pay for many of the Library programs and additional collections that the community enjoys. Please help us continue this funding by donating to the Friends here.

Email or Letter Template
Dear Commissioner [NAME],
Thank you for your support of public libraries in Ramsey County! I am a resident in [AREA OR CITY NAME] and I am writing to let you know how much I value the Ramsey County Library. I use the Library for/to___________. The Library is important to me because___________.

Libraries serve their communities by providing free information resources, services, and programs to ALL residents. During times of economic hardship, communities rely even more heavily on their libraries. Libraries provide welcoming spaces, free Wi-Fi, job training and job seeking resources, and access to free books and other information resources.

As you determine the County budget for 2026 and 2027, please consider the huge impact the Library has on community members like me. As a resident, it is important to me to see the Library’s resources, services, and programs continued at current levels.

Thank you for your support of our community!
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]

Phone Script
Hello, Commissioner [NAME]. My name is [YOUR NAME]. I am a resident of [AREA OR CITY NAME], and I am calling to let you know that the Ramsey County Library is an important County resource that I value. I use the Library for/to___________. The Library is important to me because _. As you determine the county budget for 2026 and 2027, please consider the impact the Library has on the community. As a resident, it is important to me to see the Library’s resources, services, and programs continued at current levels. My address is [YOUR ADDRESS]. Thank you for your time and consideration!

On November 21, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island struck down the Trump Administration’s attempts to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The decision was issued in response to a lawsuit filed by the Attorneys General of 21 states.

The President of the American Library Association, Sam Helmick, said, “Today’s court decision is a powerful affirmation of what libraries mean to America. It restores everything that the executive order tried to take away: shared access to books in rural and remote areas, essential virtual learning tools, children’s reading programs and the countless library services available to anyone who walks into a public, school or academic library. This isn’t just a win for the 21 states who filed the case–it’s a win for every library user and every American in every state and territory.”

Read More on the American Library Association’s Website

On March 14th, President Trump issued an Executive Order to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which represents less than 0.003% of the federal budget but is an important funding source for libraries.

In Minnesota, loss of IMLS funding endangers Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library (MBTBL) that serve all public libraries in the state, including Ramsey County Library. Both are important services. With ILL, library users can have books from anywhere in the state delivered to their home library, and MBTBL provides direct library service to Minnesotans with print disabilities.

Recent court proceedings have temporarily halted the dismantling of the agency, but IMLS still needs our support. Please use this link to ask your U.S. Senators and Representatives to protect and fund IMLS.

For additional information on the status of IMLS, please visit these websites:

American Library Association – FAQ: Executive Order Targeting IMLS
ALA is the primary national organization supporting libraries and library staff. This website includes information on the executive order, including action items and a way to sign up for alerts.

Minitex – IMLS Information
Minitex is a state-wide organization that provides interlibrary loan services, as well as other services for the entire state of Minnesota. They receive significant funding from IMLS. This website includes information about the impact of the executive order on Minitex, and a detailed timeline.

Minnesota Library Association – Legislative Advocacy Page
Minnesota Library Association is the state organization that supports libraries and library staff. Their legislative advocacy page includes action items, links to library news in Minnesota, and information on how IMLS funding impacts Minnesota libraries.