Fairbanks Library Foundation previews author series, $50,000 art donation and early bookmobile fundraising

Michelle Bammel, president of the Fairbanks Library Foundation, told commissioners on March 11 that the foundation continues regular communications and runs a monthly Alaska Author Night that draws 25–60 attendees depending on the author. "The Foundation continues to engage with library supporters and donors regularly with newsletter communications, social media updates, and the monthly Alaska Author Night events," she said.

Bammel said the foundation is beginning fundraising to help the borough purchase a new bookmobile, and that the foundation provides staff scholarships and purchases library furnishings and technology. She announced a donation of two large paintings by the late Fairbanks artist Alfred Skidanovich that will be displayed in the Noel Wien Library's Tote Auditorium; she told commissioners the widow, Patty Skidanovich, is donating the work and the pieces are valued at $50,000. The foundation intends to honor the family at an April 21 open-house event.

Commissioners asked for more detail on the bookmobile fundraising and timing; Bammel said fundraising is in early stages and that the foundation had only recently held a planning meeting. Library staff later told the commission the bookmobile purchase is expected in a future fiscal year (staff mentioned fiscal-year '27 and '28 in discussion of timing). Commissioners welcomed a regular foundation report to the commission and encouraged continued collaboration.

Why it matters: the foundation's fundraising can reduce the borough's capital burden for a bookmobile and contributes to programming and collection support; the announced art donation adds a notable cultural asset to the library collection and an event for public recognition.

No formal action was taken by the commission on the foundation report; commissioners thanked the foundation and invited representatives to provide scheduled reports in the future.