Duluth Public Library Foundation Hosts 7th Annual Olga Walker Awards

The DPL Foundation celebrated three honorees and hosted Lakota author

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Library Foundation hosted the 7th Annual Olga Walker Awards on Sunday afternoon.

The event honored three members of the Duluth community who have made significant contributions to the library system: former DPL board member Stephen P. Welsh, long-time volunteer Morgan Swingen, and public services supervisor David Ouse.

The award ceremony is named in honor of Olga Walker, the founding donor of the Duluth Library Foundation. In 1964, she left her entire estate to the library. Her initial gift became an endowment that now exceeds two million dollars and resulted in more than a million additional dollars donated since 1990, all of which goes to books, new technology, and community programs.

“The Duluth Public Library is an amazing city service that offers community connection,” said DPL Foundation Executive Director Erin Kreeger. “We are still recovering from the pandemic. One thing, though, that has surpassed pre-pandemic levels is the amount of people attending library programs and events. People are seeking that connectivity.”

“Unfortunately, programs and events at the Duluth Public Library are not funded through the city budget. They are completely reliant on private donations. So events like today are an opportunity for us the celebrate the library but also to raise funds for the programs and events so many people in our community love.”

The ceremony also hosted an open conversation with a notable Lakota American author and book signing. This is the third time the event has featured an author.

“This year’s featured author is David Heska Wanbli Weiden of the Sicangu Lakota Nation,” Kreeger said. “David wrote a thriller called “Winter Counts” and he uses his book to expose some of the criminal justice issues on reservations. So, not only is his book a page turner and a really great read, but he uses his story to highlight issues on reservations. With our proximity to the Fond du Lac reservation we thought this was a great conversation for our community to have and to explore what’s happening with our Native American community.”

Kreeger said days like today help share the fundraising and advocacy the Foundation does for the library. Going forward, they’d like to keep encouraging Duluthians to get involved with the library and its programs.