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The Chanhassen, Chaska and Victoria libraries all have active Friends of the Library groups that work to increase the use of the library through increasing public awareness, supporting cultural programming, advocating for strong public funding of the library, and providing private funding to enhance library services.
The primary objective of the Friends groups is to increase the capacity of the libraries by securing materials beyond the command of the ordinary library budget. Funds are raised primarily through book sales held throughout the year. Victoria and Chanhassen hold two sales a year, while Chaska has four.
All three groups support the Lucky Day collection. Lucky Day books are best-selling books that a patron would normally have to get on a waiting list to obtain, but with the Lucky Day collection, visitors might walk into one of the libraries and find it on the shelf.
Lucky Day books are checked out for two weeks and cannot be renewed. In 2024, the Friends combined contributed $7,250 which purchased 428 titles. Those 428 titles were checked out an amazing 7,103 times.
Each group engages in other projects, too.
At Chanhassen, the Friends funded programs such as Great Decisions, purchased new toys for the kids’ area, and bought new Easy Reader books.
The Chaska Friends supported teen and tween book clubs, and supplies that helped craft projects and programs come alive. They’ve even contributed hardware to support the community garden, along with many other items that enrich the library experience.
Adult informational programs and craft supplies for kids’ programs, as well as hosting the Roe Family Singers for the library’s 10th anniversary celebration, were the 2025 focus of the Friends of the Victoria Library.
