SAINT PAUL, December 21, 2025—The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library announced today that it has been awarded $2 million from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to support the City’s vision to transform libraries in Saint Paul. The commitment will fund systemwide investment in Saint Paul Public Library spaces, including major renovations at Hayden Heights and Riverview libraries and technology and play and learn upgrades at all 13 locations.
The $2 million gift is the largest grant in The Friends’ history as the philanthropic foundation for the Library. It demonstrates Knight Foundation’s vision for a more thriving Saint Paul and close alignment with the values of both the Library and The Friends.
“When we invest in our libraries, we invest in a thriving community. Saint Paul’s libraries are more than places to check out books — they are engines of mobility, learning and free expression, and they remain one of our most trusted civic institutions,” said Charlene Bradley, Knight Foundation’s Saint Paul Director, who assumed her role in February 2025. “Knight Foundation’s historic investment reflects our deep commitment to Saint Paul and our ongoing partnership with the City to ensure libraries continue to serve everyone in the community.”
More than 1.2 million people visited Saint Paul Public Library branches in 2024 alone and borrowed more than 2.8 million materials. Over 47,000 people attended the variety of programs offered. The Library also served 841 students at Homework Centers and hosted nearly 700 mental health consultations.
“Saint Paul Public Library is deeply grateful to Knight Foundation for their tremendous gift to libraries in Saint Paul,” said Maureen Hartman, director of Saint Paul Public Library. “This gift is not only an investment in the future of Saint Paul, it’s a testament to the essential and unique role libraries fulfill in our communities as a place for connection to ideas, resources, shared public space, and each other.”
The City of Saint Paul recently announced that its 2026 budget will also include $3.55 million for the Hayden Heights library renovation and $784,000 to seed the Riverview library renovation, which brings the total public investment thus far to $16,024,000 of the City’s $25.5 million commitment. In a time of mayoral transition, The Friends is grateful to Mayor Melvin Carter for being a champion for libraries throughout his tenure and looks forward to partnering with Mayor-elect Kaohly Her to steward the next phase of library transformation.
“Saint Paul’s libraries are more than buildings—they are anchors of community, gateways to opportunity, and valued resources for people of every age,” said Mayor Carter. “Our partnership with the Knight Foundation reflects a shared commitment to generational investment in all our libraries, ensuring they continue to serve every person in our city today and for decades to come.“
Incoming Mayor Her reflected, “Saint Paul’s public libraries are one of the strengths of this City, and I am excited to continue to champion this remarkable public-private partnership. The Knight Foundation recognizes that investing in our libraries is investing in our residents, and this gift is going to reach people in every neighborhood to help us build a vibrant Saint Paul together.”
Knight’s investment will serve as the lead gift and catalytic investment in The Friends’ campaign to support Library transformation. The campaign, Transform Our Libraries | Discover Our Possibilities, is the latest effort in the 80-year public-private partnership with the City of Saint Paul. With a total goal of $35.5 million, the campaign will run through 2027 and fund a new Hamline Midway Library, major renovations at Hayden Heights and Riverview libraries, and technology and play and learn upgrades to all 13 library branches.
“In this moment when libraries are providing critical resources for Saint Paul’s children and adults, Knight’s remarkable investment ensures that our library spaces are equipped to meet evolving needs and our community’s expectations. Today’s libraries drive economic mobility, host and hold our cultural heritage, and anchor our information ecosystem,” reflected Beth Burns, Executive Director for The Friends. “This is a catalytic investment that is going to reach every neighborhood in Saint Paul and help us all thrive.”
About The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library acts as a catalyst for libraries to strengthen and inspire their communities. An independent, nonprofit organization established in 1945, The Friends invests in the Saint Paul Public Library through fundraising, advocacy, and programming; as a result, our library is a nationally-recognized leader in serving its community. The Friends also serves libraries across the country through its consulting services, Library Strategies, and promotes literacy, reading, and libraries statewide as the Library of Congress’s designated Minnesota Center for the Book.
About Knight Foundation
We are social investors who support a more effective democracy by funding free expression and journalism, arts and culture in community, research in areas of media and democracy, and the success of American cities and towns where the Knight brothers once published newspapers.
About Saint Paul Public Library
At Saint Paul Public Library, we welcome all people to connect, learn, participate, and grow. We are at 14 library locations across Saint Paul, online at sppl.org, and on our app. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky.