SPPL staff were seeing and hearing that some communities in our city were not experiencing the same access to library services as others. SPPL saw an opportunity to prioritize co-creating culturally responsive and informed programs, resources, and services, to bridge the gap between the library and underserved/underrepresented Saint Paul communities and to address inequities in library services.

Of the 310,00 Saint Paul residents:

15.7% are Black or African American

13% do not speak English

9.5% are Hispanic or Latino

11% are Hmong

3% are K’Nyaw

3% are Somali

To make sure that all communities in Saint Paul were being brought into library services, so they could join the nearly two-thirds of Americans who say their local library is extremely or very valuable to their community (2026 Knight-NORC poll), SPPL adopted an innovative culture-first approach to its programming which continues to transform alongside the evolving needs of the community.

Five Community Specialists representing Hmong, Spanish Speaking, Black American, Somali, and K’Nyaw define themselves as bridges, connectors, anchors and advocates for their community.

SPPL's innovative model transforms library services from the inside out to create an environment and connections between staff and community that provide patrons with a true sense of belonging and ownership at the library. The work is intentionally intergenerational and multilingual in the spirit of inclusivity and accessibility. Services offered include computer classes, cultural programs, one-to-one help interpreting information, and connecting to resources.

In the current environment in which people are being profiled and terrorized based on their racial and ethnic identities, the diversity and depth of SPPL’s culturally responsive library programming has been critical to building and rebuilding trust in the months and years ahead.

Highlights from co-created culture-first programming in the last year are:
-The K’Nyaw community specialist began a book club for the K'Nyaw young adult community to foster social healing through shared reading, group discussion, and collaborative reflection, build strong peer relationships within the K'Nyaw community, and strengthen connections between SPPL, staff, and emerging K'Nyaw young professionals.
-226 people attended SPPL’s first ever Ethiopian Cultural Day , a program to introduce and share Ethiopian culture with the community through the exploration of ancient Ethiopian manuscripts, a performance by a Begena player featuring the traditional ten-string Ethiopian instrument, coloring and instruction in writing Ge’ez, one of Ethiopia’s historic languages and script, and a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony.
-The Somali Community Specialist built and distributed Muslim prayer kits that include prayer rugs, water jugs for bathroom hygiene, information on prayer times.

Supporting Materials:

• Facebook Short: Saint Paul Public Library
  Last fall, we launched this library card honoring the 50th Anniversary of Southeast Asian resettlement in Saint Paul. Designed by local Hmong American artist Kao Lee Thao, this card celebrates the vibrant Cambodian, Hmong, Lao, and Vietnamese communities who have built new roots in Saint Paul and across Minnesota. This special edition library card is still available at our branches – celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with the library by signing up for one this month! (While supplies last)
• CBS News Video: "St. Paul Public Library hosting Black History Month Doc-N-Dine event"