Beltrami Electric Cooperative has selected the Blackduck Community Library board as the winner of the local 2021 Touchstone Energy® Community Award from a pool of excellent and worthy nominations. The award recognizes organizations for showing a strong commitment to their community and comes with a $500 cash award and an engraved Touchstone Energy Community Award plaque.

The Blackduck Community Library Board is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the library and the community it serves. The board works to make the library an inviting place to learn and grow and offers a safe place for area children to spend their spare time while learning new things. The needs and interests of the community are at the forefront of their efforts.

The Library Board was kicked off by the Blackduck Tri Sigma Club over 50 years ago, and has eight members along with a city representative. Collectively they apply for grants, organize fundraising events such as a pie sale, book sales and gift basket sales, and pursue donations to help facilitate programs and projects for the entire community. The Library Board has hosted programs and events such as Trunk or Treat, After School Movie Night, Adult Craft Nights, Adult Winter Reading Program, the Children's Summer Reading Program and other regular programming. They make a point of adding money to the book funds so the library can keep up with ordering materials that they couldn't otherwise afford. Additionally, they have sponsored a family-friendly community event at the Backwoods Bash each year. 

"The community and surrounding area take great pride in this cozy little library," said Kelly Hanks, branch manager. "We are so happy to see everything that the Library Board is doing in our community."

The Blackduck Community Library Board application will be submitted for consideration to the statewide Minnesota Touchstone Energy Community Award committee. The statewide award recipient will be selected from numerous local award winners throughout Minnesota and the overall winner will receive $1,000 toward a community cause of choice.