ALMOST TRIPLED IN SPACE, NEW HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY - MAPLE GROVE OPENS ON MAY 22
The new Hennepin County Library - Maple Grove at 8001 Main St. N.— almost triple the size of the old library and with more books, more computers, a green roof, a drive-up book drop, and a parking ramp with quadruple the number of spaces as the old library — will open on Saturday, May 22. A ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 9:45 a.m. Doors open at 10 a.m.
Join your neighbors, Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson, Mayor Mark Steffenson, Library Board President Therese VanBlarcom, Library Director Lois Langer Thompson, library staff, Friends of the Maple Grove Library, and the Library Foundation of Hennepin County to celebrate the grand opening.
Opening day activities include a scavenger hunt to discover areas and features of the new library, live music by a jazz ensemble, an origami craft, and a visit by the Cat in the Hat.
Funding for the grand opening is provided by the Friends of the Maple Grove Library and by a grant to the Library Foundation of Hennepin County from Wal-Mart.
The new library is 40,000 square feet — almost triple the size of the old library, where use increased 79 percent over the past decade. It has more space for kids, teens, and adults; about 12,000 more books, CDs, and DVDs, for a total of 114,000; and 21 more computers, for a total of 69 computers with Internet access, plus five public catalog computers. Other features include a green roof, a drive-up book drop, and a parking ramp with 350 parking spaces — more than quadruple the number at the old library.
Customers checked out more than 1.1 million items from the old Maple Grove Library last year, making it one of the top four busiest libraries in the Hennepin County Library system of 41 libraries.
"The residents of Maple Grove are rightly proud and excited about this beautiful new building," said Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson. "It will serve as a central gathering point in one of the best communities in the state and will be a great place to read, study, meet or just hang out."
In the children's area, customers will find more books, more computers, family seating for reading together, and an early literacy interactive wall with educational puzzles and games. Brightly-colored walls, book bins, and lots of natural light enliven the area.
The new library will be a magnet for teens, who have their own space — a Teen Zone — and room for out-of-school learning, homework help, technology activities (18 computers), and study (three collaborative study rooms).
The new library also has comfortable reading and meeting spaces for adults and expanded space for book clubs and individual study.
The interior is distinguished by furniture with clean, contemporary lines, shorter shelving to improve sight lines (most shelving is 66 inches high, with the exception of the children's area), and natural materials — white oak on walls in the family lounge and two reading lounges, and warm Kasota limestone on interior pillars. Neutral gray carpeting grounds vibrant color found throughout the building.
Near the entrance, there is one customer service desk with three staff workstations — similar to the configuration at the new Hennepin County Library - Plymouth. To speed up customers' self-service check-out process, there is one additional Express Checkout machine, for a total of four.
The green roof is the new library's most noticeable environmental feature. Others include high clerestory windows to maximize use of natural daylight, lighting that automatically dims or brightens in response to outdoor natural light conditions, geothermal (lake-based) heating and cooling systems (so no furnace is needed), and low maintenance landscaping with native plants.
Also new: a summer entrance located off the west side of the building, with a "porch" for reading and relaxing. Nearby, there is an outdoor area seating area, which is just steps away from a pathway connecting to the city of Maple Grove's civic area and concert venue.
To passers-by along Main Street, the shape of the rooftop resembles an open book. That's a happy coincidence, according to Lois Lenroot-Ernt, Capital Projects manager, who said the intent was to make room for as many clerestory windows as possible.
The new library's exterior is constructed of Kasota limestone from the Mankato area, white oak on soffits, and glass. Architect is Meyer, Scherer, & Rockcastle, Ltd. General contractor is Adolfson & Peterson Construction.
The original library, a 10,000 square-foot structure, was built in 1987. Library use accelerated in Maple Grove, one of Minnesota's fastest growing cities, and within a few years it became apparent that a larger space was needed. The building was enlarged in 1996 to a total of 15,000 square feet.
In celebration of the library's opening, several summer programs are scheduled.
On Wednesday, June 9 at 7 p.m., there will be readings from Bethany House authors Lynn Austin, a five-time Christy Award winner, and Julie Klassen, a finalist in the 2010 Minnesota Book Awards. Bethany House is a Bloomington publisher of Christian fiction and nonfiction.
A new "Sunday in the Stacks" program series is sponsored by the Friends of the Maple Grove Library. On June 20 at 1 p.m., the Minnesota Crime Wave — mystery writers Ellen Hart, Carl Brookins, and William Kent Krueger — will discuss the foibles and follies of writing mysteries.
A Family Game Day of Wii games, board games, and cards is scheduled Sunday, July 11, 1-4 p.m.
Kids entering grade five and up are invited to dress as their favorite character and enjoy fun fantasy activities and games at a "Harry Potter vs. Percy Jackson" program on Sunday, Aug. 8, 1-4 p.m.
Hours at the new library will be:
Monday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Tuesday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Wednesday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Thursday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.*
Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday 12 noon-5 p.m.
*5 hours on Thursday funded by ballpark sales tax
Fact Sheet
For more information:
www.hclib.org
5/6/2010
