Dan Sloan & The Mill’s Support of Lincoln City Libraries
For more than 20 years, The Mill Coffee & Tea has hosted the annual One Book One Lincoln community reading project kickoff. This celebration marks the beginning of one of Lincoln’s most beloved reading traditions, and all proceeds are donated directly to the Foundation for Lincoln City Libraries.
Dan Sloan, owner of The Mill, has been a dedicated supporter of the Foundation, donating not just proceeds but also time and creativity to strengthen the libraries that have shaped his life.
Refuge in Books
“I’ve been a lifelong library user and lover of libraries since I could read,” Dan reflects. As a child seeking escape from his “three rowdy brothers,” he found that the library was a place where he was free to explore and learn. “That was the first time I fell in love with the library,” he shares.
Years later, as a father, Dan rediscovered that same love through his daughter’s eyes. “I raised a daughter who to this day is a voracious reader,” he says with pride. “And there’s no way we could have afforded to keep that kid in books without the library.” The Charles H. Gere Branch became their second home, where his daughter would check out towering stacks of books each week.
Dan laughs, recalling his family’s unique rule: “You don’t have a book limit, but you have a weight limit—you have to carry your own books.” He remembers his “little kid staggering out of the library” under the weight of stories, while other parents looked on in amusement. “That’s how we kept our house from being overwhelmed in books,” he says. “That was the second time I fell in love with the library.
A Lincoln Tradition
Dan’s personal connection naturally evolved into community action. The first One Book One Lincoln event began as a fundraiser for a longtime Mill employee who needed a kidney transplant. When Pat Leach, then Director of Lincoln City Libraries, saw the outpouring of community support, she suggested continuing the tradition with the libraries as the new beneficiary.
What began as a small gathering on The Mill’s dock, “people packed elbow to elbow,” Dan recalls, has since grown into a citywide celebration. During the pandemic, the event moved to the Telegraph District’s outdoor space, offering more room and free parking. Today, it draws up to 500 people each Memorial Day morning, kicking off the summer reading season in true Lincoln style.
“The Mill’s commitment runs deep,” Dan says. “Everything that we collect, all of our sales, and any donations, we turn over to the Foundation.”
This trust is rooted in respect for the Foundation’s leadership: “I trust them. Use the money the way you think you need it, because you know your mission better than I do.”
Dan believes that kind of unrestricted giving helps sustain the heart of the library’s work. “It allows them to fund programs that are vital and important—the ones that aren’t as visible but are crucial to the library’s mission,” he explains.
Build Something Bigger
Over time, Dan’s involvement deepened. He joined the Foundation for Lincoln City Libraries Board, later serving on the Library Board itself. “It was a way to be more a part of it,” he says. “It built ownership for me, and it’s gratifying to look at library projects and think, we helped do that.”
His excitement grows as he talks about the new Central Library, a project decades in the making. In August, just as Dan’s board term ended, the City of Lincoln signed the purchase agreement. “The invitation for the community to come in and be here—not just stop by and get a book—that’s going to be a real game-changer,” he says.
This new space will go beyond traditional stacks, creating a hub for connection and collaboration—a welcoming place for office workers, remote professionals, travelers, and anyone seeking inspiration. “It’s really the same spirit we always aim for at The Mill,” Dan adds, “a place where the community can come together.”
Unlike traditional libraries, this new space is designed for community connection. It will welcome office workers needing a change of scenery, remote workers, people on the road, or anyone who simply needs a great place to be.
Dan Sloan is the owner of The Mill and a longtime supporter of the Foundation for Lincoln City Libraries.
The Mill Coffee & Tea
