Come see what's new: online tutoring, combined catalog, retirement workshops.

The "back to school" commercials may have begun in July, but now reality hits as thousands of youth don backpacks and head off to a new school year.

Hennepin County Library takes special note of this time of year because that's when we see a resurgence of kids and teens using all the great resources available at the library so they can succeed in school.

Homework Hub becomes a magnet for youth needing help with their studies. New this year is another way for students to get homework help – through an online tutoring service. Check out the kids fall program guide for details.

In addition to celebrating the new school year, we're celebrating another new beginning. At the end of August, we consolidated two library catalogs into a single catalog containing more than 5 million books, CDs, DVDs, and other items. Combining the two catalogs gives you access to the nation's 12th largest public library collection. Using either your Minneapolis or suburban library card, you can now visit just one place to access a wealth of resources. This accomplishment is another step in the continuing merger efforts between the former Minneapolis Public Library and Hennepin County Library systems.

What else is new at the library? Flip through this guide to learn about upcoming "How Can I Afford Retirement?" workshops, writing classes and more. And don't forget to visit www.hclib.org, where you can get the latest updates on everything from top reads according to BookSpace (our readers' online community) to library construction updates.

See you at the library,

Lois Langer Thompson
Library Director