New name. Same reason for being.
After a thorough strategic planning and branding process, the Board of the Library Foundation of Hennepin County has approved a name change effective September 12, 2011. The Foundation’s new name is Friends of the Hennepin County Library. Our new name and look combine our past organizational histories, and represents the start of a new, cohesive model for increased library support in our community.

Why the name change?
The Library Foundation of Hennepin County has always been driven by people and a strong desire to support our libraries. We’re a vibrant community of individuals, working closely together to make our library system stronger, richer and more accessible for all.

We decided it was time for our name to reflect that collaborative spirit on a more personal level. Which is why we’re excited to announce that our network of supporters is now called Friends of the Hennepin County Library. It may seem like a somewhat obvious evolution (especially given our organization’s coordination of “Friends” groups involved at the local library level) but we feel it’s an important one. As we move forward it will help guide our efforts to build networks of people dedicated to sharing a lifelong love of learning and discovery.

How does the Friends of HCL support the Library?
Friends of the Hennepin County Library (Friends of HCL) is a vibrant community of supporters for our library system. Over the last ten years, our support community has provided more than $41 million in direct programmatic and cash support to libraries in Hennepin County. From fundraising to purchasing library materials to presenting a diverse range of cultural programs, our independent, non-profit network helps make the wonder of learning and discovery more accessible to all. With a renewed vision to be the foremost library support organization in the nation, the Friends of HCL helps the Library fulfill its mission to nourish minds, transform lives, and build community together.