By

October 19-25 is National Friends of Libraries Week. It is a chance for libraries throughout the United States to recognize the contributions of their Friends of Libraries groups to their communities. New Ulm Public Library is grateful to have an active group of library Friends who support our collections, programming, newsletters, and more through their efforts and donations of both materials and funding. The Friends of the New Ulm Public Library is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) community organization that believes in the importance of the library and its services for people of all ages.

Each year the Friends hold a used book sale at New Ulm Public Library. This year’s sale will be held Thursday, Nov. 6 through Saturday, Nov. 8. Friends of the Library members, including new members, can shop the members-only preview sale from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6. If you would like to become a member of the Friends of the Library, annual individual membership is $10, annual family membership is $20, and lifetime individual membership is $100. The sale opens to the public on Friday, Nov. 7 from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 8 from 9:30 a.m.-noon. Saturday’s sale is a $2 bag sale until noon, then all items remaining on Saturday will be free from 12:30-3 p.m.

The Friends are looking for organizations that would be interested in receiving a donation of the items remaining after the sale. For more information please call Library Director April Ide at 507-359-8331 or email aide@tds.lib.mn.us.

The money that the Friends receive from the book sale is used to fund a variety of library efforts throughout the year. The Friends have donated funding to library programming for both children and adults. In 2025 alone, the Friends helped fund the Traverse des Sioux Library System’s Battle of the Books, the New Ulm Public Library’s summer reading program, our adult winter reading program, presentations on multiple topics, and our upcoming Stories for the Season YouTube series.

During 2025, the Friends have also help fund library collections and the library’s subscription to Wowbrary — a weekly email subscription service that features the newest items added New Ulm Public Library’s collection. You can sign up by visiting newulmlibrary.org; choose Stay Connected.

The Friends of the Library are some of our most devoted patrons, too; we can always count on them to stop by the Service Desk and share what they’re reading and make recommendations for us to pass on to others.

New Ulm Public Library staff would like to express their appreciation for the generosity of time, funding, and spirit that the Friends of the New Ulm Public Library have shared with us. Their enthusiasm for our library and its services contributes greatly to the positive impact the library has on our community. If you’d like to join the Friends of the New Ulm Public Library, please contact Library Director April Ide at 507-359-8331 or aide@tds.lib.mn.us.

New Ulm Public Library is located at 17 North Broadway and is open Monday-Thursday from 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. We hope to see you soon.

— April Ide is director of the New Ulm Public Library