Monica Hansen and Andrew Suchy sit on some of the new furniture in the school library that was purchased through a donation from the Espeland Foundation.

In 1999 Art and Clarice Espeland gifted a permanent endowment of $1 million to the greater Henning community. Through the Minnesota Foundation, the family created the Art and Clarice Espeland Family Foundation.  

The mission of the foundation is to enhance the quality of life of the greater Henning area by providing financial support to organizations and projects that promote quality education, protect the environment and enhance social and civic opportunities within the community.

The new furniture provides a comfortable place for PSEO students to sit throughout the day.

A grant in the amount of $20,000 was awarded to the Pages for a Purpose library campaign from the Art and Clarice Espeland Family Foundation.  This money has been used to purchase new library furniture that is comfortable for library patrons to read or work at individually. 

Eight chairs were purchased.  All eight chairs have a side arm that swivels. The side arm can hold a chrome book or laptop computer and can be moved out of position if the user desires. These chairs have front casters that allow them to easily be moved for groups to meet. 

Three 36” ottomans with hard tops and casters also have been purchased.  These can be used for extra seating if needed.  

According to Pam Wiese the Post Secondary Enrollment students who take online college classes find that the chairs are so much more comfortable and inviting than previous seating options. Since many of these students spend  a majority of their day in the library, Wiese and Laura Smith knew that they wanted the furniture to be high quality, durable, and comfortable.  Also new to the library are two high top tables and four stools for the students to use.  Having different seating options allows the students to be flexible in their seating choices. 

Smith and Wiese are also adding new books to the middle school, high school, and adult fiction sections of the library with money granted by the Art and Clarice Espeland Foundation.  

“With this generous donation, we are able to provide  inviting furniture as well as high quality, durable books that will improve our library and turn it into a centerpiece of learning,” said Smith.  

Wiese agreed and added,  it was very exciting to learn that our library was chosen to receive funds from the Art and Clarice Espeland Foundation.  This grant will be benefiting people in the Henning area for years to come.  We are so thankful for this opportunity to create a space that today’s learners and citizens can truly enjoy.”

The library is both a school library and a public library. Both Smith and Wiese want the public to know that they are encouraged to attend open library hours  from 3:30-5:30 p.m.  each Tuesday and Thursday following the school calendar. The library would love to host civic meetings for local clubs and book clubs. If you or your group are interested in this, please contact the library at 583-2927 ext 8143.