Beginning on July 19, library customers can check out and download eBooks in the EPUB format through the Library’s website at www.hclib.org. An eBook is a digital or electronic version of a paper book. Instead of being printed onto paper and bound into books, the text is formatted into a digital file, which can be read with a special eBook reader, computer or other electronic device. Hennepin County Library is the first public library in the Twin Cities metro area to offer this format. eBooks offer existing library customers a new format, but also are a means for Hennepin County Library to reach out to people who otherwise may not use the library This pilot program offers approximately 700 titles available for download.
For complete details, read the Hennepin County Library's press release.
The Library Foundation funds the Hennepin County Library's outreach programs to incarcerated men and women at the County’s corrections and detention facilities and juvenile offenders through a series of collaborative programs. Participants are offered employment re-entry resources, technology classes, small business training, community service opportunities, full access to Library collections, and literary programs. The programs are designed to support the participant and improve the quality of life for their families and dependents. This year, in celebration of the program and national poetry month, the Hennepin County Library published two literary anthologies involving the participants in the literary program: "Free to Dream" and "Diverse City." Copies of both books will soon be available at all Hennepin County libraries or can be downloaded for free below.
Diverse City, Volume 10 features writing from participants in the Great Transitions program. In this volume, you will read the words of these young people as they write about who they want to be and the obstacles they face.
Free to Dream features poetry written by women residents at the Hennepin County Adult Corrections Facility (ACF) in creative writing workshops presented by a community volunteer.
The new Maple Grove library will open its doors to the public on Saturday, May 22. Located at 8001 Main St. N., the new library is almost triple the size of the old library. Stocked with more books and more computers, the building features a green roof, a drive-up book drop, and a parking ramp with quadruple the number of spaces as the old library. An opening day celebration, underwritten by Wal-mart through a grant to the Library Foundation, is scheduled for May 22 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and events throughout the day. Special programs are scheduled throughout the month, sponsored by the Friends of the Maple Grove Library.
For complete details, read the Hennepin County Library's press release.
For the tenth consecutive year, Hennepin County Library has been ranked among the nation's top-ten large library systems, according to Hennen's American Public Library Ratings. This year's seventh-place standing reflects strong library use, resources, and public investment. Hennepin County Library is truly held in high-regard by county residents and the national library community alike.
Since 1999, Thomas J. Hennen's Library Ratings has compared over 7,000 American public libraries, grouped by size, on statistics such as circulation, visits, spending per capita, and collection size. Hennepin County Library is one of only three libraries serving at least 500,000 people that has appeared in the top-ten list every year.
For complete details, read the American Libraries' article on this year's ratings.
The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded the Library Foundation of Hennepin County $20,000 in support of author programming. The award, part of the Access to Artistic Excellence program, recognizes the Pen Pals Author Lecture Series (which features acclaimed national and international authors talking about a body of work) and Talk of the Stacks (which features free programs on new works from nationally and regionally prominent writers). "We are honored to have been awarded this grant" says Stu Wilson, Library Foundation Executive Director, "it is a true testament to the high-caliber author programming that the Foundation presents."
For complete list of Minnesota grant recipients, visit NEA'S website.
Club Book brings acclaimed authors to library communities throughout the seven-county metropolitan area. From Stillwater to Chanhassen and Minnetonka to St. Paul, Club Book establishes area libraries as vital, vibrant centers of cultural programming and exchange. Kicking-off in April of 2010, Club Book is slated to last through June of 2011, and hopefully beyond. A collaboration of public libraries in the 7-county metropolitan area, this exciting new series presents best-selling and award-winning national and regional writers – proving that libraries may be the coolest club in town.
Club Book, a program of the Metropolitan Library Services Agency and coordinated by the Library Foundation of Hennepin County, is funded by Minnesota’s Legacy Amendment Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. The funding was made possible by the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008 which dedicated funding to preserve Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage.
Thank you to Minnesota Public Radio for media support, A/B Geist for the creative advertising and design, and Around Town Agency for helping our authors find their way to our libraries.
For more information on the series, link to clubbook.org or call 952-847-8107.
Grand opening festivities for the stunning Hennepin County Library in Plymouth (15700 36th Ave. N.) begin at 9 AM on Saturday, March 13. The celebration will include remarks from community leaders, special guests, a ribbon-cutting, and story time. The Friends of the Plymouth Library are planning activities through March and April.
The new 30,000 square foot library’s innovative design boasts more meeting room and activity space, greater resources, improved accessibility, and the latest green technologies.
This Hennepin County Library press release has complete details on the Plymouth Library and its grand opening.
The Library Foundation of Hennepin County has received a check for $25,000 from the Comcast Foundation to support Hennepin County Library's (HCL) Immigrant Resources Programs. “Immigrant Resources Programs provide new Americans with the tools they need to realize their full potential,” said Mary Beth Schubert, vice president of corporate communications. “We are delighted to be part of this important initiative.” Comcast’s funding allows HCL’s programs to help immigrant families in three key areas: life skills training through the Franklin Learning Center; technology and translation assistance through Library Links’ multicultural efforts; and strengthening English-speaking skills through discussion groups. “
We are extremely grateful to Comcast for helping to support HCL’s overall multicultural outreach and programming,” said Lynn DeVore, sponsorship and events director for the Library Foundation of Hennepin County. “The grant will help us increase participation from more immigrants, helping them to enhance their English, improve literacy skills, and provide a greater connection to the community with new cross-cultural friendships.”
The Comcast grant will support immigrant families in three key areas: life skills training through the Franklin Learning Center; technology and translation assistance through Library Links Multicultural Outreach and Programming; and strengthening English-speaking skills through discussion groups, conversation circles, and storytelling.
Beginning on February 8, the Central Library (300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis) will be open Mondays from 10 AM - 6 PM. The Central Library has been closed Mondays since 2007. The library's new Monday hours are made possible by revenue from the ballpark sales tax.
Since June 2008, revenue from the ballpark sales tax also has funded “Ballpark Sunday” hours at 13 libraries, bringing the total number of Hennepin County libraries open on Sundays to 18. The ballpark sales tax also will fund additional hours at the new Plymouth and Maple Grove libraries when they open in spring 2010 and summer 2010, respectively.
Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, 4th District, said, "You can't be one of the premier library systems in America and not have your downtown library open on Mondays."
Central Library is Hennepin County Library's largest facility, with more than 300 computers, a collection of 2.3 million items and daily programming for all ages. The award-winning building is a gathering place for individuals, families and groups from around the city, county, state and even the world. Last year, more than 1 million items were checked out from Central Library.
Children, teens, and adults are invited to be in the "opening day starting lineup" at a "Ballpark Mondays" kickoff celebration at Central Library on Monday, Feb. 8 at 9:30 a.m.
Link to the Library’s official press release for more information.
Thank you to the more than 4,800 contributors to the Library Foundation in 2009 who helped us meet – and exceed – our annual financial and programmatic goals. Your donations made it possible for us to grant $2,037,000 to the Hennepin County Library for capital projects, out-of-school time programs for youth, essential classes for seniors, new immigrants, small business owners and job seekers, creative programming at neighborhood libraries, and much more. Generous gifts from our Foundation members and Friends groups helped us to meet our goal of granting at least a quarter of a million for collections to purchase new books, CDs, and DVDs. Lastly, sponsorships from corporations, such as Comcast and The Private Client Reserve at U.S. Bank, made it possible to present exceptional author programs that continue to keep the Twin Cities on the literary road map.
Whether you are a Pen Pals subscriber, a bookworm who never misses a Talk of the Stacks, a long time member, or a first time donor, we know that this year you had to make your dollars stretch further in a challenging economic climate.
Thank you for keeping the Library Foundation high on your list. See you at the library in 2010!
If you would like more information about becoming a Foundation member, click here.