The South Dakota Community Foundation awarded a $13,000 South Dakota Fund grant to the KO Lee Aberdeen Public Library. The funding will help grow the “A Place” program. The program helps immigrants adjust to their new homes while celebrating their heritage through programming, classes and a diverse collection of materials. The library is working to create a community center with universal access, not only for the Aberdeen community, but also for the surrounding communities.
“Without financial support from the South Dakota Community Fund, KO Lee Aberdeen Public Library would not be able to adequately meet the needs of our growing community,” said Anna Lillian Moser, director of KO Lee Aberdeen Public Library, in a news release . “As Aberdeen and the surrounding northeastern corner of South Dakota become increasingly diverse, we must do our best to provide programs and resources to immigrants and other newcomers that help these individuals and families integrate into their new homes while celebrating where they come from . Funding from the South Dakota Community Fund will help our library do just that!”
The Alexander Mitchell Library opened in 1901 thanks to a $15,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie. The library moved to a new home in 1964, but by 2015 the library was outdated and overcrowded. Through years of campaigning and fundraising, supporters were able to open the doors of what is now the KO Lee Aberdeen Public Library. The library’s mission is to enrich the lives of the community through universal access to knowledge, lifelong learning and literacy. Through resources, services and programming, the library aims to provide community members with access to a wide range of knowledge, ideas and opinions.
“Having a vibrant library in a diverse community like Aberdeen is a testament to how special the community really is,” Ginger Niemann, SDCF senior program officer. “We are proud to partner with the library to create a welcoming space where the entire community can learn and grow.”
To learn more about the funding opportunities the SDCF offers, visit our website at https://www.sdcommunityfoundation.org/
SDCF is a public nonprofit organization founded in 1987. SDCF, with offices in Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen, manages 1,200 funds that benefit hundreds of charitable organizations annually. The Foundation distributed nearly $31 million in grants in 2023, making a huge difference in communities across the state. If you have a specific cause you would like to support or would prefer to give for the greater good of our state, please visit https://sdcommunityfoundation.org/giving for more information or call 1-800-888-1842.
This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Aberdeen Library gets funding for heritage programming
