New name. Same reason for being.
Library Foundation of Hennepin County Announces Change of Name to Friends of the Hennepin County Library

After a thorough strategic planning and branding process, the Board of the Library Foundation of Hennepin County has approved a name change effective September 12, 2011. The new name, “Friends of the Hennepin County Library,” combines past organizational histories and represents the start of a new, cohesive model for increased library support in Hennepin County.

“The Library Foundation of Hennepin County has always been driven by people and a strong desire to support our libraries,” says Daniel Spiller, Board President of the newly named Friends of the Hennepin County Library. “We’re a community of individuals, working closely together to make our library system stronger, richer and more accessible for all.”

“This name change reflects our collaborative spirit on a more personal level,” says Executive Director Stu Wilson. “This network of supporters brings together people dedicated to sharing a lifelong love of learning and discovery.”

The Friends of HCL mission:
Over the last ten years, the supporting library organizations in Hennepin County have provided more than $41 million in direct programmatic and cash support. From fundraising to purchasing library materials to presenting a diverse range of cultural programs, the independent, non-profit network helps make the Library more accessible to all. With a renewed vision to be the foremost library support organization in the nation, the Friends of HCL helps the Library fulfill its mission to nourish minds, transform lives, and build community together.

The relationship with the local Friends groups:
In 2010, the Library Foundation took on the role of coordinating the 41 local Friends groups, located at each library throughout the Hennepin system. While Friends of HCL and the local Friends are all independent, separate organizations, they work together closely and share a common mission of support for the Hennepin County Library. A new collaborative membership program offers members the option to join both a local Friends group while becoming a member of the system-wide Friends of HCL.

“It’s exciting to have all of our support organizations working collaboratively,” says Lois Langer Thompson, Hennepin County Library Director. “The Friends of HCL and its collaborative relationship with local Friends groups is poised to be a national model for library support organizations.”

Are you still a “Foundation”?
Public foundations are charitable organizations designed to accept donations, manage those funds, and give them away to support designated purposes, charities or community needs. The Library Foundation existed to accept donations for the Library and grant them to the Library for needed services. The new Friends of HCL maintains all of those functions, and even in some cases, enhances them. However, the “Friends” name also helps capture other functions of the organization that many foundations do not engage in, such as events and programs, local Friends coordination, advocacy, running a bookstore, and broader public awareness. Current members of the Library Foundation automatically become Friends of HCL members and all current membership benefits continue. Popular programs such as Pen Pals, Talk of the Stacks, and Childish Films will continue. In the coming year, there are plans to increase public awareness activities, fundraising, programming, and community partnerships across the County.

Background on the name change:
The Foundation Board approved a new three-year strategic plan in 2010. One goal of the plan was to undergo a branding and identity process to align the organization’s visual identity and language with its organizational mission. Through work with local advertising firm GdB, focus groups, surveys and a review of similar organizations around the country, a strong recommendation for a Friends-based name emerged. The full Board of the Foundation voted unanimously to change the organization’s name to “Friends of the Hennepin County Library” in August 2011.

Ways to get involved:
• Become a fan on our new Friends of HCL Facebook page.
• Become a member.
• Get involved in one of the local Friends groups in the Hennepin County Library system.
• Volunteer at the Library.
• Shop for books at Friends book sales or at the Minneapolis Central Library Bookstore.
• Donate good quality used books for resale at the Friends book sales or bookstore.
• Leave a gift to the Friends of HCL in your will or estate.
• Use the Library!

RELEASE CONTACT:
Rachel Fulkerson, Communication and Public Awareness Director
Friends of the Hennepin County Library
300 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612.543.8107
rcfulkerson@hclib.org