Library Consolidation Updates

library merger updates

Library Merger Updates

April 5, 2008

Creating a Premier Library System for Hennepin County

It’s a home run for local libraries! On March 25 the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved extended Sunday library hours – from noon to 5 p.m. – for 13 Hennepin County libraries. Starting June 1, 18 Hennepin County libraries will be open Sundays.

The following libraries will be open Sundays: Minneapolis Central, Augsburg Park , Brooklyn Park , Champlin, East Lake , Golden Valley , Hopkins , Hosmer, Oxboro, North Regional, Rockford Road , St. Louis Park and Westonka. Currently, five Hennepin County libraries – Brookdale, Eden Prairie , Maple Grove , Ridgedale and Southdale – are open Sundays.

The expanded hours were made possible with revenues from the Twins’ stadium ballpark tax; Minnesota statute provides that up to $2 million per year of sales tax revenue in excess of amounts needed for ballpark debt service may be used to add hours at Hennepin County libraries.

The Hennepin County Board will hold a Board Briefing on the Minnesota Planetarium and Space Discovery Center on Thursday, May 8, 9:30 a.m. , 24^th floor of the Government Center . State funding for the planetarium project transferred to Hennepin County with the library consolidation. Discussion is now underway as to next steps.

Off the shelf and on to the celebration: The Friends of Minneapolis Libraries and the Library Foundation of Hennepin County are planning Off the Shelf, a fundraising gala to be held at the Minneapolis Central Library on May 31. Look for more exciting details in the near future.