MARCH 2025 NEWSLETTER
DONATION TO HELENA HIGH SCHOOL
The Trust donated $1,000 to the Helena High School Library in support of a city-wide program to entitled “Connecting Our Community.” The program is based around the PBS Independent Lens Documentary '“Free For All.”
Librarian Joanne Didriksen’s funding application stated the “program is designed to unite members of the Helena area through conversation and celebration of libraries and public services… in discussion about the valuable role public libraries play in shaping our history and securing our future…”
The Trust is proud to support these upcoming discussions and appreciates the Helena High School Library’s efforts to encourage the use of America’s best lifelong learning resource, its public libraries.
If you are aware of a project within the Trust’s mission, visit the Trust’s website for application information.
Trust OFFICERS FOR 2025
President, Kris Goss
Vice-President, Honore Bray
Treasurer, John Rogers
Secretary, Bruce Newell
Call for Trust Board Members
The Trust wants to increase the size of its board and broaden the scope of its representation. If you or someone you know is prepared to find new ways to help Montana libraries serve their communities, we’d like to talk with you.
Visit the the Trust’s website to express interest or speak to any board member to learn more.
Montana LIBRARY Dialogue
The Trust board is undertaking a series of conversations with members of Montana’s library community with the goal of meeting our shared goals.
In order to honor its mission and strategic plan, the Trust wants to find out how Montanans feel about their libraries:
How can we, as library supporters and leaders, unite and work together to strengthen library services?
What are our libraries doing well?
Where do our libraries need additional support?
How can libraries meet the unique opportunities created by specific geographic and economic realities?
Please join Trust board members during a session on Friday morning at the MLA Annual Conference in Bozeman for the first of these conversations. The results of this ongoing dialogue will guide Trust’s operations in the coming year.
AED PROJECT UPDATE
The Trust has received two $10,000 matching gifts towards our goal of providing AEDs and accompanying training to public and tribal libraries in need of these life saving devices. The Trust is pursing additional donations and funding opportunities to maximize this grant. Please contact project leaders Bruce Newell and Honore Bray if you are interested in assisting.
Trust Partnership with MLA
The Trust is proud to partner with the Montana Library Association. Recent collaborations include financial support for the Montanans for Libraries advocacy project. The Trust is also listed as a continuing partner in the grant that helped launch MLA’s Montana Library Assistance Helpline. The Trust looks forward to continued work with MLA.