Hennepin County Library050

With 41 urban and suburban locations, the Hennepin County Library - which recently merged with the Minneapolis Public Library system - provides a host of traditional, as well as electronic, services, and a considerable range of free events and programming for all ages, including an extensive series of live performances each summer. The collection encompasses more than five million books, CDs, and DVDs in 40 languages, and 1,600 public-use computers.

Anticipated long-term benefits of the merger are more streamlined service, lower overhead, easier access to the entire collection, and expanded programming and information. However, the merger is still a work in progress and the systems are not yet fully integrated. Visit the new unified website for information on the merger, as well as events, materials, volunteer opportunities, job links, and reading suggestions.

Account information is also available online, making renewals a breeze and helping to avoid late fees; patrons can also sign up to receive email notification of approaching due dates.

Most items in the online catalogs can be requested, and, once available, held for pickup at the branch of your choice. It's as easy as placing an order at Amazon.com, but it won't set you back a dime!

The reciprocity agreement between metro area public library systems offers enormous convenience. A card from one system provides access to all, and checked out items can be returned to any branch in any of the systems, regardless of where you got them. (It takes longer for such returns to be reflected in the computer system, but late fees stop accruing on the actual return date, not when the items are reshelved at the original branch.)

Patrons can ask librarians questions four ways: in person at any library; by calling 952.847.KNOW; by email; and via live online chat, available 24/7 by clicking Ask a Librarian on the website.