CUSTOMER DEMAND IN CHALLENGING TIMES DRIVES HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY
Twin Cities metro area residents turn to Hennepin County Library in good times and in challenging times. Even before the current national economic downturn began last fall, library usage has tracked a path steadily upward.
Hennepin County Library merged with Minneapolis Public Library on Jan. 1, 2008. Last year, more than 16.5 million items were checked out from the newly-merged Hennepin County Library -- an increase of about 2.5%, or more than 200,000 items, compared to the previous year. There were 16 million visits to both Minneapolis and Hennepin County Library's website home pages. Almost 200,000 people attended library programs. Use of the libraries' 1,750 public computers is at full or almost-full capacity at peak hours.
National ranking systems consistently rate Hennepin County Library as one of the top libraries in the country. Library Journal's Index of Public Library Service recently named Hennepin County Library a Five Star Library. The index ranked libraries from one to five stars by measuring per-capita circulation, visits, program attendance, and public Internet use. Hennen's American Public Library Ratings for 2008 ranked HCL number four in American library systems that serve a population of 500,000 or more.
"Clearly, our libraries are a critical resource for Hennepin County residents," said Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat, District 1. "Whether folks are seeking help looking for a job, for materials to advance their skills or just for a good book, the library has become a point of refuge."
Customers placed more than 4 million requests (reserves) for books and other materials in 2008, an increase of more than 13% over the previous year. More than 2.5 million DVDs were checked out from Minneapolis and suburban libraries in 2008, an increase of 12% over 2007. There are almost 40,000 visits per week to book lists on the BookSpace pages on Hennepin County Library's website,
www.hclib.org
"The merger brought together two great libraries, and the staff continues to provide excellent and innovative services to the community," said Lois Thompson, Hennepin County Library director. "The new Hennepin County Library is a success by all measures."
Hennepin County Library's highlights of 2008 include the following:
- Hennepin County Library and Minneapolis Public Library merged on Jan. 1, 2008.
- Roosevelt, Southeast, and Webber Park libraries reopened on Jan. 3, 2008.
- The Library Board, appointed by the County Board, expanded from seven to 11 members.
- On June 1, 13 libraries added Sunday hours, thanks to ballpark sales tax revenue funding. A total of 18 libraries are now open on Sundays.
- Ground was broken for new Plymouth and Maple Grove libraries on Oct. 13 and Nov. 19, respectively. The libraries are expected to open in 2010.
- Westonka Library's renovation was completed.
- The Library Foundation of Hennepin County and the Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library united.
- A unified fee and fine policy was established.
- New library card application procedures made it easier to register for a card at any of our 41 libraries.
- Work on the network consolidation progressed, with website unification taking place on Jan. 5, 2009.
- Government document collections at Southdale and Central libraries were combined into one collection at Central. Remaining space at Southdale is now a new Jobs & Small Business Center. HCL's five Jobs & Small Business Centers provide print and online resources and the expert assistance of librarians and community partners to support the increasing demand for job and business services. Attendance at jobs and small business programs, visits to our jobs and small business-related webpages, and use of our jobs and small business research databases are up significantly.
- Hennepin County Library won a National Association of Counties "best of category" achievement award for World Language Storytimes: Promoting Reading Readiness in Diverse Populations.
- Hennepin County Library developed partnerships with Hennepin County departments to deliver programs and services focused on economic and social issues, such as foreclosure workshops and veterans' information.
- Hennepin County Library's "55+" web pages received the American Library Association's honorable mention award in its best-of-show competition. Submissions were judged on content, originality, design, format and effectiveness.
- The Friends of the Rogers Library’s "Senior Tech Day" program was awarded the Minnesota Association of Library Friends' Evy Nordley Award. The Friends partnered with Best Buy to demonstrate five devices of interest to seniors: MP3 players, digital cameras, cell phones, high definition TVs and laptop computers. Young, tech-savvy Best Buy associates worked with the seniors and even challenged them to games of Wii bowling and other electronic sports.
- Hennepin County Library combined two successful after-school homework help programs to create "Homework Hub," attended by hundreds of students at 13 libraries.
- The Franklin Teen Center, which draws 30 to 50 youths daily, celebrated its grand opening.
- Hennepin County Library is recognized as a hub for the Twin Cities literary community with its scores of author programs, book clubs, writing classes, and reading incentive programs for all ages.
- "Signature" programs such as "Guys Read" and the Loft Literary Center's "First Pages" writing labs expanded and are now offered at libraries across the County.
- Thousands of children attended more than 700 children's summer programs.
For more information about Hennepin County Library, visit your local library or go online to
www.hclib.org
3/25/2009
