Staff recommends that the City Council accept the donations to the Billings Public Library. 

The Billings Public Library has received $19,750 in outside funding: $3,500 from the Billings Public Library Foundation, $13,750 from the Friends of the Library, and a $2,500 grant from the Teen Science Café Network, a project of the STEM Next Opportunity Fund. The Foundation and Friends donations will expand the library’s collection and programs and support community outreach through advertising and library merchandise. The grant will fund teen programs in which local STEM experts and teens collaborate on presentations and hands-on science activities.

The Billings Public Library has received the following donations and grants for specific programs and projects:

Billings Public Library Foundation ($3,500) 
The Foundation received the following gifts and passed them through to the Library:

• $500 for Montana Room materials
• $3,000 from the Charitable Chicks for the CO+LAB’s Mini-Makers program

Friends of the Billings Public Library ($13,750) 
The Friends approved the following funding requests:

• $750 for a Montana Repertory Theatre performance
• $1,500 for community outreach materials
• $3,000 for advertising in Prime Connections
• $8,500 to launch the Library Swag Shop

Teen Science Café Network ($2,500) - This grant will support teen programs focused on STEM and other science topics.

There is no budgetary impact. 

Billings Public Library
Friends of the Billings Public Library
Billings Public Library Foundation

City Council may: 

• Approve the donations; or, 
• Not Approve the donations.