North Lake County Public Library District

In conjunction with the Great Falls Public Library Foundation, the Library is selling the C.M. Russell print, “The Night Before Christmas” for $15 as a fundraiser.  The history is that Josephine Trigg was the children’s librarian at Great Falls Public Library and a close friend of Charlie and Nancy Russell, both of whom visited the library often. Charlie Russell especially liked to visit the library during the Christmas holidays and Trigg suggested to him that he paint a scene to go with the Christmas décor of the Children’s room. Agreeing, Russell painted “The Night Before Christmas” and gave it to the Children’s Room. Many years ago, the Great Falls Public Library Foundation had prints of the painting made to sell as a fundraiser. They ordered a bit too many and now are sharing these prints with the entire state.

The Library retains $5 of the purchase price with the remainder split between the Trust for Montana Libraries and the Great Falls Public Library Foundation.  The Trust for Montana Libraries is a newly-formed, nonprofit organization that serves as the state’s library foundation. Its goal is to increase private support for all libraries, as well as the Geographic Information Services, through the State Library so that all Montanans have access to high quality information and library services.