Angie Reinoehl/MDN Director of the Minot Public Library, Josh Pikka, was presented with a Leadership Award on April 16th for displaying significant development of relationship-building skills he learned during an eight-week leadership course.

Josh Pikka has dedicated the last 10 years of his career to the Minot Public Library, starting as the technology coordinator in March 2016. He was promoted to library director in January of this year. He recently was presented with an award for his growth in human relations-based skills over an eight-week Dale Carnegie leadership training course.

In addition to recognizing Pikka’s achievement, the Minot Public Library (MPL) celebrated National Library Week April 20-24. To observe the spirit week, staff of MPL dressed to new themes each day and hid 3D prints of their new mascot, Blaze the Dragon, in Minot parks and businesses.

Pikka said the week wasn’t just about getting additional patrons through the doors but about celebrating the people who make the magic at the library happen.

“It’s appreciation for our workers who do spend the whole year helping out everybody in our community,” he said.

Pikka went on to speak about how emotionally charged their everyday interactions can be at MPL. The staff is there for all the highs and lows. One moment they can help an excited child check out their first library book. The next could be showing a widow how to apply for state aid because she needs it to survive. They see it all.

“It’s really important that the library is here because there are people who really do need us,” Pikka said. “The library really is for everyone. We serve babies, the elderly and everybody in between. We serve people who are our friends, visitors just rolling by, the unhoused and everyone you can think of. It’s really nice to have a week where we can tell our workers that they really are appreciated for what they do for our community, because they are here every day, helping people.”