Saint Paul Public Library is pleased to announce that it has been awarded $1 million by the Mellon Foundation through a grant to The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library. The investment supports the continuation of responsive services and programming, strengthening community connection and trust over the next three years.
Saint Paul Public Library (SPPL) and Hennepin County Library (HCL) are partnering closely on this Mellon-funded initiative, building on their long histories as trusted, community-centered public libraries. HCL has also been awarded a $1 million grant from the Mellon Foundation. Both systems provide welcoming spaces of belonging where residents of all ages and backgrounds can connect, learn, participate and grow.
“Saint Paul Public Library is grateful to the Mellon Foundation for this investment,” says Library Director Maureen Hartman. “This support validates the work our staff do every day to provide safe and welcoming spaces of belonging and connection for residents of all cultures, abilities, and communities.”
Through this collaboration, HCL and SPPL will bolster responsive programming, strengthen cultural engagement, and deepen intergenerational learning and family literacy, leveraging each system’s experience to accelerate community impact across the Twin Cities.
"We are so grateful for the Mellon Foundation's recognition of the critical role the public library plays in Saint Paul," says Beth Burns, Executive Director of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library. "This first-time investment from one of the nation's most recognized and respected funders affirms just how critical the Library's work is for residents of all ages, all backgrounds, and all interests."
The grant represents the largest non-capital gift The Friends has received in its 80-year history. In 2025, The Friends received a $2 million commitment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation toward its current capital campaign efforts to reinvest in the library's aging buildings and infrastructure.
Saint Paul Public Library extends its gratitude to the Mellon Foundation and The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library for their partnership and support.