News

Keep up with the latest news about Hennepin County Library building projects, events, people, services and resources. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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March 28, 2023

Westonka Library project resumes

Planning for the Westonka Library project will resume in 2023.

Category: Building projects

March 23, 2023

Hennepin County Library discontinuing Freegal service

We are discontinuing the Freegal music streaming service April 14, 2023.

Category: Resources

March 23, 2023

New Cargill Gallery Exhibit: Art Is My Weapon

“Art Is My Weapon” is a multimedia group exhibition that empowers Minnesota artists to creatively address gun violence in our communities and runs from April 6 – May 27, 2023.

Category: Events

March 15, 2023

Minnesota musicians: be heard!

Hennepin County Library is searching for Minnesota musicians to feature on MNspin. Submissions will be accepted from March 15 – April 17.

Category: Events

March 13, 2023

New features coming to Libby from OverDrive

Starting March 21, patrons can use Deep Search & Notify Me tags in Libby to let libraries know about content they would like to see that is not yet offered.

Category: Resources

March 13, 2023

Sumner Library renovation planning open house on April 10

Renovation plans for Sumner Library are being finalized. A follow-up open house will be held at the library on Monday, April 10, 2023, from 6-7:30pm.

Category: Building projects

March 1, 2023

Minnesota children's book awards

From March 1-23 kids are invited to vote online for two book awards: Star of the North and Maud Hart Lovelace.

Category: Events

January 30, 2023

Hennepin County Law Library Continuing Legal Education Series

Hennepin County’s Law Library offers a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) series that provides continuing education credits to attorneys. The classes are free of charge and open to anyone. Registration is not required. Attendees may receive one credit per session.

Category: Events

January 27, 2023

Black History Month

Check out these great resources for listening to, learning about, and celebrating Black history.

Category: Events

January 12, 2023

TESTIFY Exhibit Returns to Hennepin County Library

The TESTIFY exhibit is returning to Minneapolis Central Library on February 1, with weekly events and programs through March 29.

Category: Events

December 21, 2022

St. Louis Park Library will reopen Monday, Jan. 9

St. Louis Park Library will reopen Monday, Jan. 9. The building was closed for a full roof replacement, replacement of doors and windows, ADA-related concrete walk improvements, repaving of the parking lot, and LED lighting upgrades throughout the building.

Category: Building projects

December 21, 2022

Rockford Road Library refurbishment planning continues

Rockford Road Library is finalizing design development for a refurbishment in 2023. 

Category: Building projects

December 21, 2022

Southdale Library planning will resume in 2023

Southdale Library planning will resume in 2023 and will include building on the existing site.

Category: Building projects

December 20, 2022

Hennepin County Library's most borrowed books of 2022

The end of the year is often a time of reflection. At Hennepin County Library, we’re reflecting on our year of reading, and book checkouts. Of the 10 million checkouts across the Hennepin County Library system in 2022, here are the most borrowed titles.

Category: Resources

November 30, 2022

New Cargill Gallery Exhibit: Poetry of the Brush

Artists Ben Wong and Craig Steinmetz showcase original black ink paintings, known as Sumi-e. The Asian art form uses different concentrations of ink to paint in shades of black, with brushstrokes that convey an essence or spirit of nature. December 3, 2022 – January 27, 2023 

Category: Events

October 19, 2022

Teen Lit Takeover

Teen Lit Takeover is a regional event series that celebrates teen literature, promotes reading and writing, and creates a community of readers by connecting teens and authors. Hennepin County Library, along with seven other Twin Cities metro public libraries, are hosting online and in-person events through November 19.

Category: Events

October 7, 2022

Mezinibii'igejig Wenjibaawaad Odaawaa Zaaga'iganiing: Artists Who Come from Lac Courte Oreilles

October 6 – November 27: The images in this exhibit represent clan relationships and stories of the Lac Courte Oreilles people, one band of the Ojibwe nation, who reside throughout the Great Lakes and Atlantic Coast. With a focus on the Woodlands style, artists create visual representations of Ojibwe cultural knowledge.

Category: Events

October 3, 2022

Roosevelt Library hours expanding October 10

Hennepin County’s Roosevelt Library will begin offering expanded hours on Monday, October 10. The new schedule will double the library’s open hours from 24 to 48 hours per week.

Category: Services

September 28, 2022

Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day

Monday, October 10 is Indigenous Peoples Day. Celebrate with resources from your Hennepin County Library.

Category: Events, Resources

September 6, 2022

Sumner Library renovation planning open house September 12

Renovation plans for Sumner Library are currently in the design development phase. An open house will be held at the library on Monday, September 12, from 6-7:30pm.

Category: Building projects

September 6, 2022

Temporary closure of St. Louis Park Library

St. Louis Park Library will close for a building maintenance and preservation project on September 25, 2022. Work will include roof replacement and parking lot refurbishment.

Category: Building projects

September 2, 2022

Rockford Road Library planning underway

Rockford Road Library is scheduled to undergo a refurbishment project in 2023. In preparation for the project, Hennepin County Library is seeking your input. We want to know how you use the library and where we can make improvements. [The survey closed on September 30.]

Category: Building projects

August 29, 2022

Rockford Road Library reopens September 6

Rockford Road Library will reopen on September 6, following the first phase of a two-part parking lot maintenance project. The second phase of the project will be completed in 2023.

Category:

August 18, 2022

OverDrive streaming video discontinued

Starting September 1, streaming video will no longer be part of the OverDrive collection.

Category: Resources

August 9, 2022

Hope and healing in pandemic times

Nineteen artists from the Interfaith Artist Circle present “Hope and Healing in Pandemic Times”, on display through September 27.

Category: Events

July 22, 2022

Rockford Road temporarily closing on August 9

Rockford Road Library is temporarily closing for site work August 9 – early September. During the closure, all holds will be sent to Golden Valley Library. To change to another location, ask staff.

Category: Services, Building projects

July 15, 2022

Help us plan for the future

Hennepin County Library is preparing a new strategic plan and we need your input.

Category: Services

June 14, 2022

We Are Still Here

The “We Are Still Here” exhibit features pieces made by Indigenous creators from Dakota, Anishinaabe, Diné, and Luiseño Nations. They intentionally dismantle harmful narratives by having accurate, honest, and meaningful conversations through their work. The exhibit runs June 8 through July 28.

 

Category: Events

June 1, 2022

June is Pride Month

Celebrate Pride with programs and recommended books for all ages.

Category: Events

May 25, 2022

North Regional renovation celebration

 Explore the recently renovated North Regional Library during an open house on June 4. All are welcome! 

Category: Events

May 18, 2022

Juneteenth 2022 - Honoring Ancestors: Dreaming Forward

This year, celebrations at Hennepin County Library will focus on the theme of ancestors, recognizing the contributions and legacies of local leaders. 

Category: Events

May 10, 2022

Free printing with your library card

Beginning June 1, Hennepin County Library will begin a free printing program for library cardholders. 

Category: Services

May 9, 2022

Youth leadership opportunity at Hennepin County Library

The library is accepting applications for a new youth advisory committee. Fourteen youth, ages 16-19, will be appointed for one-year terms. Apply by May 27.

Category: People

May 1, 2022

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Celebrate Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with online events, videos and recommended books.

Category: Events

May 1, 2022

May is American Indian Month in Minnesota

Join us as we celebrate American Indian Month in Minnesota. Your library has resources about the Dakota and Ojibwe, who have resided for centuries in the area that is now Hennepin County. 

Category: Events

April 12, 2022

Temporary closure of Wayzata Library

Update – May 13: This project is nearing completion. Wayzata Library will reopen to the public on Monday, May 23 at 9 am. Wayzata Library will close on April 25 for an estimated 2-4 weeks. The library’s roof is being replaced. 

Category: Services

March 29, 2022

Read-along books now available at Hennepin County libraries

Read-along books allow children and families to listen to a high-quality audio recording while following along with the text of the book without any other equipment needed. These hardcover books feature a pre-loaded MP3 audio player securely attached to the front cover.

Category: Resources

March 20, 2022

UnderExposed at Cargill Gallery

Seven artists unflinchingly explore themes of relational trauma, violations of consent, and expressions of gender fluidity. The exhibit includes artworks created from traditional mediums and from unusual materials that speak directly to the politics of the body. The exhibit runs from April 7 - May 27, 2022

Category: Events

March 17, 2022

Women's History Month

Join us as we celebrate and honor Women's History Month in March with displays in libraries, digital collections and book lists.

Category: Resources

March 7, 2022

Sumner Library project planning begins

Sumner Library is scheduled to undergo a refurbishment project in late 2022. In preparation for the project, Hennepin County Library is seeking your input. We want to know how you use the library and where we can make improvements. 

Category: Building projects

November 29, 2021

Hopkins Library reopening

The library reopened on December 6 after a building maintenance project.

Category: Building projects

September 30, 2021

Pierre Bottineau Library reopening October 5

The library will reopen after a month-long maintenance project.

Category: Building projects

August 17, 2021

Pierre Bottineau Library closed for maintenance project

The library has closed for a maintenance project and is expected to reopen in late 2021.

Category: Building projects

August 17, 2021

Hopkins Library closed for maintenance project

Hopkins Library has closed for a three-month maintenance project beginning Monday, September 27.

Category: Building projects

December 1, 2020

Southdale Library project on hold

Hennepin County has paused its plans to relocate Southdale Library from the current 8-acre parcel on York Avenue in Edina.

Category: Building projects

March 4, 2020

Current status and next steps for Southdale Library

This spring, the City of Edina will review mall developer Simon Properties’ preliminary plans for the site, and schematic design for the new library will begin.

Category: Building projects

January 31, 2020

Southdale Library project update

Southdale Library lease agreements with the mall developer are continuing.

Category: Building projects

January 27, 2020

Westonka Library construction update

The project is currently on hold.

Category: Building projects

June 19, 2019

Southdale Library move to Southdale Center authorized by county board

Lease agreement negotiations with the mall developer will proceed, with community meetings to plan for the new library to be held this fall.

Category: Building projects

May 29, 2019

Meeting materials for Southdale Library open houses

Information shared at the open houses on May 30 and June 8 will include location details, advantages of a mall location, other mall library examples, and project next steps.

Category: Building projects

May 14, 2019

Southdale Library open houses May 30, June 8

Join us at two open houses this spring to learn more about the new Southdale Library site location at Southdale Center.

Category: Building projects

April 30, 2019

New Southdale Library location planned for Southdale Center; community meetings in May/June

Hennepin County staff are recommending to the Board of Commissioners that the new Southdale Library be constructed at Southdale Center in Edina, with community meetings to be planned later this spring.

Category: Building projects

February 27, 2019

Southdale Library location decision expected summer 2019

The new Southdale Library will be rebuilt either on the current site or at a nearby location, with a decision expected this summer.

Category: Building projects

September 12, 2018

September 22 community meeting on the new Southdale Library postponed

The next community meeting has been postponed as further study of the complex site and project continues.

Category: Building projects

August 1, 2018

Community meeting, survey results for new Southdale Library

At the next community meeting on September 22, project architects will present new plans incorporating community feedback.

Category: Building projects

June 13, 2018

New Southdale Library planning continues, community meeting on September 22

Join us for the next community meeting about the new library on Saturday, September 22, 10 a.m.-noon, at Southdale Library.

Category: Building projects

May 1, 2018

Southdale Library community meeting, survey to shape building project

Share your thoughts about the new Southdale Library on Monday, May 21, 7-9 p.m. or in an online survey.

Category: Building projects

November 15, 2017

Designer Selection Committee recommendation for Westonka Library

The Hennepin County Designer Selection Committee has recommended Gensler as the architectural firm for the new Westonka Library.

Category: Building projects

November 15, 2017

Designer Selection Committee recommendation for Southdale Library

The Hennepin County Designer Selection Committee has recommended MSR as the architectural firm for the new Southdale Library.

Category: Building projects

September 7, 2017

Architect selection process for new Southdale Library underway

The Southdale Library project architect to be named by the end of 2017, with continued community engagement into 2018.

Category: Building projects

July 21, 2017

Update on community input for the new Southdale Library

Library staff are currently reviewing input from community meetings held earlier this year and will complete the review and make a recommendation by early fall.

Category: Building projects

March 3, 2017

Community meeting on the new Southdale Library, March 23

Join Library leaders to share your ideas for the new Southdale Library and learn more about the project timeline at Southdale Library, Thursday, March 23, 6-8 p.m.

Category: Building projects

January 5, 2017

Help shape development concepts for Southdale Library site

Join the City of Edina at Southdale Library for an interactive workshop on Feb. 9, 7 p.m. to view revised concepts for the Southdale Library site.

Category: Building projects

November 15, 2016

What else should be built with the new Southdale Library?

Join us at Southdale Library tonight, 6-8 p.m. to give your input about redeveloping the 8-acre Southdale Library site. Return on Jan. 12 to hear a summary of the themes from the comment sessions.

Category: Building projects