CHASKA, MINN. — The Carver County Library recently received a substantial gift from the estate of County resident and library patron Charles Dahlke. A portion of that gift fully supports an annual $100,000 grant program for specific Library projects, programming, and services.
“We’re grateful to Mr. Dahlke and his estate for the generous gift,” Heidi Hoks, Carver County Library Director, said. “To have access to this level funding for things above and beyond our budgetary capabilities augments the services and programs we have in place.”
The library can utilize this grant money for such things as:
- Library pilot projects
- Enhancements to current specialized program and projects
- Enhancement to specialized services
So far, the Library Advisory Board recommended the funding go towards the purchase of digital conversion labs, STEM kits, the gardening seed library, and the “Next Chapter” book club. The grant also helps purchase service contracts for the Library’s mobile hot spots. All these projects and programming are slated for 2022.
“The impact of this grant program is powerful for many people in so many ways,” Hoks said. “Those who learn to use digital conversion labs not only will learn new technology but also make family memories available in a current format, bringing families together to reminisce and learn about their ancestors and themselves. Those checking out the STEM kits experience a hands-on intergenerational curriculum in science, technology engineering and math that encourages learning together as they discover the world in a new way.”
“The seed library project teaches young and old how to care for our planet with simple acts that sustain the Earth while also teaching the history of Carver County native plants as well as those transplanted to the County,” she added. “The Next Chapter book club empowers young adults with Down’s Syndrome, autism and other developmental disabilities by involving them in reading materials of interest to them as part of a group with its own powerful cachet – a book club.” Hoks noted the mobile hot spots enable the Library to reach unserved and underserved residents by providing access to information for schoolwork, for job applications and searches and much more.
The Carver County Library consists of six branches in the Cities of Chanhassen, Chaska, Norwood Young America, Victoria, Waconia and Watertown, plus the law library at the Chaska Government Center. Express library locations in the Cities of Carver, Cologne, Mayer and Victoria also allow patrons to pick up and drop off library materials at those locations.
