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Minn.
Authors

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 in support of our beautiful new downtown library.

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.

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

Why was the campaign begun?
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, has now met its goal by raising $15 million. Other committee members include 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. Any additional funds received will be dedicated to purchase books and materials for the new Central Library and all 14 community libraries.

The Friends of the Library is a non-profit, 501 (c) 3 organization incorporated with the State of Minnesota. All donations are deductible to the full extent of the law. The Friends acknowledges that no goods or services will be exchanged for your gift.

On a personal note, as a Father's Day present in 2005, my wife Debbie and my children Eddy and Kate donated the funds to have a chair named in my honor. It was one of the nicest Father's Day gifts they have ever given to me, and I take special pleasure in knowing their thoughtfulness will benefit the new Minneapolis Library.

Which authors qualify as Minnesota authors?
To qualify, authors must reside, or 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.

If you'd like me to add a name to my list of Minnesota authors, please send me an e-mail. 

Minnesota authors with partially funded chairs

How and why are Minnesota authors supporting 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

"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

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

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     &