The Minnesota Timberwolves have partnered with Hennepin County Library (HCL) and Saint Paul Public Library (SPPL) to introduce special-edition library cards designed to inspire reading, celebrate local creativity, and strengthen community connections across the Twin Cities.
The exclusive library cards feature original artwork from Minneapolis native Reggie LeFlore and Saint Paul-based Delia Touché, each bringing a unique artistic perspective to the Timberwolves brand while reflecting the spirit of their respective communities.
The initiative is part of the Timberwolves’ continued commitment to education and community impact, using the power of sports to inspire learning beyond the game. The organization also plans to expand the program in 2027, with the introduction of special-edition Minnesota Lynx library cards created by local artists.
“The Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx are proud to partner with the Hennepin County Library and the Saint Paul Public Library to inspire the next generation of readers, spark imagination, and foster a lifelong love of learning,” said Senior Director of Community Impact, Sondra Ciesielski. “Through this partnership, we’re excited to support literacy and celebrate the important role libraries play in strengthening and connecting our communities.”
Reading has the power to connect people, spark imagination, and create opportunities throughout life. The Timberwolves believe literacy is a foundation for strong, connected communities, and this partnership is designed to encourage fans of all ages to engage with their local libraries and embrace lifelong learning.
Reggie LeFlore is a visual artist based in the Twin Cities. He is primarily recognized for his spray-painted murals and public art. He seamlessly integrates his traditional skill set into the digital realm, employing a distinct style that layers rough illustrative sketching, expressive handwriting, and techniques that resemble various textures.
“For this project (The Hennepin County Library Card), a remixed version of the Timberwolves logo was made using the team’s new logo and these signature techniques,” said LeFlore. “The design features brand-inspired hand-lettering set against a ripped paper-like texture, revealing an alternative green sketch beneath the surface.”
Delia Touché is a Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota and Assiniboine printmaker, bookmaker and fiber artist based in the Midwest. A citizen of Spirit Lake Nation, their multidisciplinary practice explores the estranged and complex relationship they hold with their Indigenous identity, drawing from familial archives, Dakota and Assiniboine cultural frameworks, Native nuances, diaspora, wry humor, and pop culture. Touché designed the SPPL card. They reflect on the meaningful relationship between basketball and Native American students, stating that, “Basketball was introduced to Native American students during the Boarding School Era as part of broader efforts to assimilate Indigenous youth; to sever cultural and community ties. Rather than being a successful tool for assimilation, the sport became a source of refuge, resilience, and community for Native People.
Native people developed a deep, communal connection to basketball. The game provided a place for refuge and escape during a time when harmful policies were implemented to erase Native American culture. Structural and spiritual parallels to ancestral games were recognized, turning a tool of erasure into a source of cultural connection.
Basketball holds a special place in Indian Country and has become more than a sport. It creates a space for gathering, healing, and a way of carrying culture forward. I combined personal archives of my own community’s basketball tournaments with Indigenous iconography to reflect on the ways basketball has become intertwined with cultural identity.”
Fans interested in obtaining the HCL special-edition library card designed by Reggie LeFlore can visit www.hclib.org/card for availability and additional details. Fans interested in obtaining the SPPL special-edition library card designed by Delia Touché can visit any SPPL location while supplies last. For additional details, visit www.sppl.org/special-edition. To get a limited-edition library card, you need to be a resident of Hennepin County (for the HCL card) or Saint Paul (for the SPPL card), a photo ID, proof of date of birth, and proof of your current address.
(info courtesy of Timberwolves)
