Homework Help mentor and student
brunette woman reading a book wearing glasses smiling with a happy and cool smile
Father and daughter holding library cards and smiling
woman carrying stack of books
Man wearing glasses reading a book
Young curly hair child hides his smile behind an open book

Give back to the library you love!  Make your gift today.

See How Libraries Shape Lives Through Programs, Spaces, and Support—Watch Now!

Watch the video>>

 

Colorful collage of 2025-26 Pen Pals season book covers

Pen Pals returns for its 29th season - join us! 

Meet the latest slate of award-winning, bestselling voices comprising the 29th season of Pen Pals! In 2025-26, Pen Pals returns to Hopkins Center for the Arts to welcome Wally Lamb, Laila Lalami, Kaveh Akbar, Imani Perry, and Ariel Lawhon.

Learn more & Buy Tickets
Lecture series

Upcoming Events that Support the Library

Pen Pals

Laila Lalami

Oct 28-29
Ticketed Event - In-person + Virtual
Talk of the Stacks

Mitch Albom

Nov 3
Free Event - In-person + Virtual
Pen Pals

Kaveh Akbar

Dec 8-9
Ticketed Event - In-person + Virtual
Pen Pals

Imani Perry

Mar 5-6
Ticketed Event - In-person + Virtual
Pen Pals

Ariel Lawhon

Apr 30-May 1
Ticketed Event - In-person + Virtual
Three ACF book club members await the event.

Incarcerated Patrons Write Their Next Chapter With the Library

Since 1970, your library has offered service to adult and juvenile correctional facilities in Hennepin County.

Discover how your library reaches out during some of the toughest chapters in your neighbors’ lives.

Read the Full Story
Brody and his tutor, Sue, read and giggle together at Brookdale Library.

"It's Library Day!" How One Second Grader Turned a Page with Let’s Read. 

Brody may be a math whiz, but when he gets to a word problem, he slows to a halt.

You see, Brody has had trouble reading since kindergarten. He’s slow to sound out common words and has trouble with fluency. He gets frustrated practicing with his parents at home.

His family was at a standstill.

Read the full story
Let's Read!
Library is Magic Newsletter Cover image

The Library is Magic

Here at Friends, we get to hear about so many instances of library magic, both day-making and life-changing.

Here’s a glimpse of your neighbors who, in ways big and small, found exactly what they were seeking at the library.

Discover Stories of Library Magic
Beyond the Shelves
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Be the first to know!

Get the latest event updates, speaker announcements, and library news delivered right to your inbox!

A reader enjoys a paperback book next to the text "2025 Reading Survey Results."

2025 Reading Survey Results

A record number of library lovers filled out our annual reading survey. Thank you for diving into your reading habits, sharing your favorite books, and reflecting on the wisdom that you gained.

Read the Results
Results are in!
A man smiles holding his new library card at the Opportunity Center shelter.

Kindness Can Be Such an Antidote

Imagine the challenges you might face each day without a place to call home. Barriers to employment, hygiene, safety, nutrition, and more.

Now, imagine the comfort of getting lost in a story…gaining skills from an excellent how-to… healing with a self-help workbook….

Read how your library is reaching out to neighbors experiencing homelessness.

Read the full story
open staircase at Minneapolis Central Library

Explore the wonders of Minneapolis Central Library!

With more than one million books and visits per year, Minneapolis Central Library sparkles with ideas, activities, and unique resources. This landmark, the heart of the library system, is home to many stories, including yours. Discover the features of this stunning location, designed to help you write life's next chapter.

Step inside
Feed your curiosity
Detail of eleven 22 x 4.5 inch panels illustrated with printed with trees and insect fairies

Discover the Treasures of Special Collections

Show me the Book Arts
Rosa poses on her bike outside Sumner Library

Tour de Library: A Two-Wheeled Adventure

The "Tour De Library” is a passion project for Rosa Marroquin. Since June, she and her husband have kicked off each weekend by mapping a route to a handful of libraries and then hopping on their bikes – eager to enjoy a day of library visits filled with surprise and delight. 

Read the full story
Explore Your Library
Nancy with her latest library books. Behind her is a photograph of her three smiling sons.

A Cup of Tea with Nancy, Who Reads a Book Every Day

From childhood to age 93, and all around the country, voracious reader Nancy has leaned on books for companionship, adventure, and community building. Now finding herself often at home, she relies on At Home Service to fuel her lofty reading habits (one book per day!) and transport herself to different worlds. Meet the person with a lifetime of literary memories to share!

Meet Nancy!
Gale Cannon, Development associate at Friends, is captured candidly in a smile as she speaks to a FHCL donor on the phone.

Meet Gale

You may have heard her voice leaving a message to say thank you or seen her handwriting on a birthday card. Now, see the face and read the story of this kindhearted human being and integral part of the Friends team.

Meet Gale
Your library friend
Reader sits among the stacks, reading.

The Library is Magic

Here’s a glimpse of your neighbors who, in ways big and small, found exactly what they were seeking at the library.

Discover stories of library magic!
Mohammed Lawal portrait

Get to know Mohammed Lawal

Learn what role does the library play in the life of Mohammed Lawal, the CEO & Principal Architect of Lawal Scott Erickson Architects, Inc. and FHCL board member. 

 

Read the interview
Meet library friends