In 1949, library director Lucille Gottry sought to increase funding for the library and launch a bookmobile service for Olmsted County. To help achieve these goals, the Friends of the Rochester Public Library was established on September 26, 1949, with 24 prospective members in attendance. The group’s initial purpose was “to plan a campaign rallying additional support for a city charter amendment to boost the library levy,” the portion of the city budget allocated to the library.

At the time, the library was housed in the Crawford Building on 2nd Street SW, now the Mitchell Student Center / Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine.

Early Projects and Needs

Minutes from the first Friends meeting identified four projects to fund:

• Lights for the Reading Room and Children’s Room

• Refinishing furniture in the workroom

• Redecorating the building

Additional library needs included a projector and screen, slide scope, record collection, exhibit cases, and a bookmobile.

Advocacy and First Success

In 1950, the Friends ran newspaper and radio ads to promote a city charter change increasing the library levy from 2 mills to 3 mills. The amendment passed by 365 votes, raising the library budget to $52,000—compared to over $9 million in 2023.

The Friends’ first gift came in 1953: an outside book drop, costing $265. Resembling a mailbox, it was located at the corner of 2nd Street SW and 3rd Avenue SW near the Children’s entrance.

The Bookmobile

The Friends continued advocating for a bookmobile throughout the 1950s and 1960s. The first bookmobile began service in October 1966, with Friends members helping design the daily routes.

As the library prepared to move from the Crawford Library building to the renovated JC Penney building, the Library Board gave the Friends permission to sell culled library books. The first Friends book sale took place on June 5, 1971, in the Fireside Room of the Crawford Library, raising $765.

Fun fact: The Pied Piper scene from the Crawford Library fireplace mantel is now mounted above the mural just outside the current library bookstore.

New Library, Growing Volunteer Efforts

The library opened in the JC Penney building on November 7, 1972. Friends volunteers continued to support all areas of library operations, donating items as requested and providing hands-on assistance throughout the library.

• Friends began meeting monthly to coordinate increasing volunteer activities.

• Board members served as chairs of major volunteer groups, training volunteers and managing schedules.

• Volunteer activities included:

  • Book mending

  • Children’s programs

  • Microfilming

  • Delivering books to the homebound, nursing homes, and jails

  • Reading regularly to nursing home residents

Expanding Book Sales

The original Crawford Library book sale became an annual event at the JC Penney building. A second annual sale was added on September 22, 1979.

• Early prices: 5–10¢ for children’s books, a few dollars for reference materials

• Later prices: 25–50¢ for children’s books, 25–75¢ for paperbacks and hardcovers

• Due to weight restrictions, only 50 people were allowed on the auditorium sales floor at a time.

• Shoppers often lined up early to get numbered tickets and be among the first inside.

During the 1980s, the Friends of the Rochester Public Library became more involved in fundraising, volunteering, and community literacy initiatives.

Fundraising and Nonprofit Status

The Friends helped run the library’s annual fund drives. Separately, the Friends contributed $42,000 over eight years—an amount they now give in just a single year! On June 7, 1982, the Friends formally incorporated as a nonprofit organization.

Newsletter and Communications

In 1986, the Friends began publishing their own newsletter, mailed 4–5 times per year, sharing news about:

• Friends activities and volunteer opportunities

• Library events and programs

• Volunteer spotlights and feature stories

In 2015, the Friends, the Foundation, and the Library combined their newsletters into “Library Connections” to streamline communication.

Projects and Literacy Programs

• Large Print Catalog: Volunteers maintained and updated the typewritten catalog—retyped from scratch each time, before computers.

• Book Bags for Babies (1989): New parents at Methodist and Olmsted Hospitals received a baby book and library information. In 2006, the program merged with the United Way of Olmsted County and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to send one book per month to children until age five.

• Supporting Literacy: The Friends have funded books for HeadStart, Rochester Reading Champions, and donated used books to schools and community organizations.

Special Events

On November 28, 1989, First Lady Barbara Bush visited the library, reading Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day to forty preschoolers. Friends and staff recall how gracious she was, even turning an awkward moment with dark-iced cupcakes into a warm interaction.

The 1990s were a milestone decade for the Friends and the Rochester Public Library.

• Library Centennial & Grand Opening (1995):
  1995 marked the 100th anniversary of Rochester Public Library as a formal public library. The Friends contributed $1,500 to the Centennial Committee to support the celebrations and the Grand Opening of the new library building.

• New Friends Bookstore:
  Space for a Friends Bookstore was included in the new library’s design. From its opening in October 1995 through the end of the year, sales totaled $7,300. Initially, it was hoped that the bookstore would replace occasional large book sales—but that proved unsustainable within two years.

• First Large Book Sale in the New Building (1997):
  In June 1997, the Friends held their first large book sale in the new library building during Rochesterfest, using the Bookmobile garage.

  • The sale started as a one-day event, with books sold by donation rather than fixed prices.

  • The primary goal was to clear excess inventory while keeping books in circulation; making money was a secondary benefit.

Expanded Book Sales

• Silent Auction (2001): Launched to sell rare and collectible books, this project was a finalist for the Minnesota Library Association’s “Best Project by Friends” award in 2002.

• Rochesterfest Sale (2003–2008): Expanded to two days due to growing inventory, held in the Bookmobile garage. Sales sometimes required nightly teardown to make room for the Bookmobile.

• Holiday Book & Bake Sale (2003): Held in the auditorium, raised $800, and featured live music and hot chocolate.

• Midwinter Book Sale (2005): Introduced as a third annual sale, raising $645.

• Spring and Autumn Sales (2006): Added two more sales, bringing the total to five annual large sales—far surpassing the original plan for the bookstore to replace large sales.

Selling Books Online

In 2004, the Friends began selling books online after discovering that some books purchased for a few cents in the bookstore had high resale value online. This initiative has since become a significant fundraising activity.

Community Quilt Project

In 2009, the Friends designed a quilt from 54 community-made blocks celebrating Rochester’s diversity. Created in conjunction with the “RACE” exhibit at the library (May–September 2010), the quilt showcased needlework from different cultures and served as a historical record of Rochester’s unity. Over 40,000 people viewed it during the exhibition. The project earned the Friends the 2011 Evy Nordley Award from the Minnesota Association of Library Friends.

The 2010s were a decade of creativity, community engagement, and business growth for the Friends of the Rochester Public Library.

Fun and Community Events

• In 2010, a store mannequin named Paige Turner was introduced to help promote the bookstore and 2nd Saturday lobby sales. Friends members also enjoyed dressing in costumes for sales, annual meetings, and appreciation events.

• In 2011, the Friends hosted a Murder Mystery Tea, “Murder at the Earl of Grey’s Hound Manor,” as a fundraiser.

• In 2013, two Friends members organized a bus tour of Twin Cities bookstores with lunch and a visit from author William Kent Krueger.

• From 2012–2016, the Friends held annual Celebration of Area Authors events, allowing local authors of all genres to meet the public, showcase and sell their books, and participate in panel discussions about writing, publishing, and illustrating.

Bookstore and Operations Improvements

• A new entrance to the bookstore was added from inside the library, improving visibility and access for patrons.

• All auditorium sales switched from donation-based to fixed pricing, creating a more lucrative fundraising model.

• The sorting room was moved to a former maintenance storage area adjacent to the auditorium, streamlining donation processing. Friends now review all donations and only pass items suitable for the library collection.

Literacy and Community Support

• From 2014–2018, Friends helped organize book drives to supply mini-libraries across Rochester neighborhoods.

• In 2019, the Friends raised $25,230 to be matched by the Valley of Rochester Scottish Rite Children’s Foundation (up to $22,500) for Rochester Reading Champions.

• That same year, a $1,000 scholarship was established for a library page or staff member to pursue further educational studies.

These years brought unexpected challenges for the library, the Friends, and the Rochester community.

Construction and Water Damage

• Ongoing street construction around the library made access difficult for patrons.

• In 2019, a water softener leak caused significant damage to the back half of the library across both floors, affecting:

  • Auditorium sale inventory stored in the closet

  • 2,700 Read with Me books

• In March 2021, another water leak affected the bookstore, though with far less damage. Roof repairs and window resealing completed in 2022 and 2023 are expected to prevent future water issues.

COVID-19 Pandemic

• In March 2020, the library closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the Bookstore and all auditorium sales.

• Friends were unable to accept or process book donations because there was no way to sell inventory, though donations continued to accumulate in the sorting room.

The 2020s have been a decade of recovery, celebration, and continued impact for the Friends of the Rochester Public Library.

Gradual Reopening

• In March 2021, the library began reopening for limited hours, with Friends volunteers returning cautiously to public-facing activities.

• Outdoor sidewalk sales were held in the summer of 2021 to reduce backlogged inventory and restart fundraising.

• The Friends Bookstore and on-site auditorium sales fully reopened in October 2021 with limited hours.

Special Projects

• In August 2023, the Friends hosted the first—and last—“Curiosity Emporium in the Auditorium.” This unique event explored creative fundraising, but the Friends decided to focus on their core mission of books and library-related items.

75th Anniversary Celebration

• On January 31, 2024, the Friends celebrated their 75th anniversary at the Annual Meeting with:

  • A photo slideshow and PowerPoint presentation

  • Decorated cupcakes

  • Books published in 1949

• Eight past Friends Presidents, dating back to 1971, attended the celebration.

Impact and Legacy

• The Friends remain a fully volunteer organization—no one is paid, and all funds raised support the library.

• Over the past decade, the combined impact of volunteer hours, books donated to the library, bookstore proceeds, and direct contributions has exceeded $500,000 annually.

• Despite challenges over the years, the Friends have built a strong business model, continuing to raise record amounts and helping the library grow for the community, surrounding areas, and millions of visitors each year.