About the Friends!
The Friends of Buckham Memorial Library stand as a key pillar in the library’s support ecosystem. From the modest record-player purchases of the 1960s to six-figure investments in public spaces and ongoing program underwriting, our history reflects a consistent pattern: identifying emerging needs, mobilizing community resources, and ensuring that the library can offer more than basic services. We hope you will join us.
Mission Statement
To amplify the impact of Buckham Memorial Library.
Vision Statement
A well-resourced, well-used, and well-loved library.
A Space to Gather and Learn
A library is more that a repository of books. It serves as a central community space—one designed to be free, accessable, and engaging to all. It is a space to explore new ideas, engage with new neighbors, and participate in new programs. Whether you are interested in jumping down the rabbit hole of 3D printers or want to rock out on a ukulele, the library can be that place of exploration.
Visit the Library Today!Join us for an event!
Friends events bring readers, neighbors, and library supporters together to celebrate Buckham Memorial Library, build community, raise support, and have a little fun along the way. Browse the calendar for upcoming gatherings, fundraisers, and opportunities to get involved—we hope to see you there!
NEW EVENT!: Join us for Trivia Night on the first Friday of each month at Corks & Pints here in Faribault! Learn more here.
Our Team
Behind every Friends initiative is a group of volunteers who believe a strong library strengthens the whole community. Our board advocates, organizes, fundraises, and builds connections so Buckham Memorial Library can serve more people in more ways. Meet the neighbors helping move that work forward.
Board Chair
Katherine “Kathy” Sandberg is retired after a career spanning education, alcohol and drug services, and community collaboration. She began as a substitute teacher and later taught full time at the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf. Her work with high school students sparked an interest in the pressures young people face to experiment with alcohol and other drugs, leading her to pursue licensure to provide alcohol and drug services. She then spent 15 years with a pioneering treatment program serving Deaf people before serving as coordinator of the Rice County Family Service Collaborative. Kathy and her wife, Nalani, have two adult children and three grandchildren.
Treasurer
Profile information forthcoming.
Secretary
Profile information forthcoming.
Board Member
Jan Kjergaard moved from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Faribault in 2020 to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. She joined the Friends board in 2023. Jan enjoys quilting and shares her home with Zoey, a dog who—as Jan puts it—rules the house.
Board Member
Erin Liu is a stay-at-home mother of two young children with a passion for service, lifelong learning, and literacy. As a board member of the Friends of Buckham Memorial Library, she is proud to support programs and resources that strengthen the library’s role as a welcoming community resource for all. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with her family.
Board Member
Fern Schiffer is a longtime Faribault resident and a new member of the Friends of the Library board. They enjoy cooking, walking at the nature center, and reading a good book on the porch when the weather allows.
Board Member
Mary Kubes has worked at Hy-Vee for 25 years and manages the Caribou Coffee shop there. She has three children, a bonus daughter, and eight grandchildren. Family keeps her traveling regularly to Ely, Lakeville, and Florida, where she also lends a hand at her son’s restaurant, Smoqehouse. Mary enjoys gardening, walking, reading, spending time with friends and her five siblings, and birdwatching—especially loons. She has been a Friend of the Library for more than 15 years and is passionate about its role in the community.
Board Member
Michelle Ashleson was born and raised in Faribault. An avid reader, she usually reaches for murder mysteries and thrillers. She also enjoys iced coffee and cheering for local sports teams—especially the Minnesota Lynx.
Support the Friends
Every gift writes the next chapter.
For more than six decades, community support has helped the Friends turn good ideas into meaningful resources—from purchases that expand access to major investments in public spaces and ongoing support for library programs.
Your gift helps us respond to emerging needs, strengthen programs, and give Buckham the flexibility to offer more than basic services. It supports a library where children discover books, neighbors connect, and people of every background can learn, explore, and belong.
Every amount matters. Give once or make a recurring gift to help keep Buckham Memorial Library well-resourced, well-used, and well-loved for generations to come.
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