Tour de Library Day 17

August 13, 2024

Grand total 41 of 41 Hennepin County Libraries!  

Whooo-hoooo!  Crossing the finish line today feels amazing.  It took 17 days scattered over two Minnesota summers to get them all scheduled in between work and travel.  It started with a dose of curiosity about each location and communities the libraries serve, plus adding the challenge of biking to all HC libraries was enticing.  Especially completing my quest during an Olympic year, although library biking is not quite an Olympic sport...yet.

CENTRAL LIBRARY

300 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55401

Central Library was one of my shortest rides.  I consider this location one of a cadre of "home libraries" that are near me.  Lucky duck!  

When I visit the Central Library I feel as if I'm taking a field trip to an extraordinary, architectural gem, a fabulous hands-on museum of sorts.  Whenever time allows, I take a peek at the rotating exhibit in Cargill Hall on the 2nd floor.  Today I walked through "LaoMerica 50, Democracy and Diaspora."  I also made a quick stop on the 4th floor to grab a couple of world language and travel books for an upcoming trip in the Fall.    

The 3rd floor is where music, art and the grand piano live.  Yes, a grand piano in a soundproof room that you can reserve to play music to your heart's content!  You can also listen to the records collection in the Vinyl Revival Listening Room, which can be reserved for up to 2 hours.  Cool! 

I chatted with a librarian who has worked at Central for almost 5 years, and previously worked at about a dozen other HCL locations, this one being her favorite.   She speaks warmly about her coworkers, describing a dedicated staff who share goals and a mission to serve at this busy urban location, it's a place where you see a microcosm of humanity which makes her work both challenging and very rewarding.  She wants to encourage patrons to venture downtown and visit Central to see for themselves the depth of resources contained at this location. 

For families there are many options.  Teen Central and the Tech Center on the 2nd floor are a popular outlet for creativity, with technology and variety of multimedia tools.  Did you know, the children's library has the largest public library collection of children's books in the Upper Midwest?  Bring the kids and grandkids -- the area has lots of tactile equipment for busy little hands.  I heard many squeals of delight.  There are also plenty of quiet spots, I observed a mother reading to her two children near a sunny spot by the windows.   

On our journeys, I enjoy learning at least one new thing about our libraries.  Today I found out about assisted technology which is available for patrons with physical or cognitive disabilities.  The adaptive and technology lab at Central has workstations with specialized software and devices to use.  As much of the HCL resources, this is free of charge.
  
As you read this entry, I hope you are already thinking of scheduling your own field trip to Central Library, whether it's with the whole family, your book club or make time just for you.  Come to see the Cesar Pelli architecture, stay for the plentiful resources, collections and exhibits.  

Complete your visit by grabbing a bite to eat at Mocha Momma's Coffee located at street level inside the library or wander down Nicollet Mall or into the nearby North Loop area for more choices.  Happy exploring!  

  

                                                                                                   

Tour de Library Day 16

 

 

August 9, 2024

Total 40 of 41 Hennepin County Libraries 

The finish line is close at hand, yipee!  

I initially felt a little trepidation about today's bike ride to our two most northern HCL locations.  We wanted to look for areas to safely begin our ride, near the library community we wanted to explore and to have lots of fun along the way.  Mission accomplished!   

ROGERS LIBRARY

21300 Milless Drive
Rogers, MN 55374

The city of Rogers is situated between I-94 and Hwy 101, a gateway between Twin Cities and Greater MN, is best arrived by car.  We biked around mainstreet on our way to the library, seeing the historical buildings occupied by new businesses, a melding of rural and urban living.

The Rogers Library has truly maximized their layout for such a small footprint, making it somehow cozy and expansive at the same time.  The first thing you walk into is the children's area, then your eyes take you all the way across to the other end of the library.  In between there are a number of nooks, tables and group seating to settle into.  

Speaking to a staff member who has worked at 30+ HCL locations, he describes the Rogers Library patron as a mix of young families, more established families, and older population who have been here for many generations.  He finds helping the older patrons with tech support very rewarding.  New families are growing in number over the last 10 years.  "Baby story time" is one of their most popular programs.  The library also receive a number of new patrons from the other nearby regional counties who utilize the library reciprocity program due to the availability of many more books, eBooks and resources at HCL.

Speaking of fun, a trip to the Rogers Library would not be complete without making a stop at Linda's Cafe.  Try the homemade cinnamon caramel buns, which are so delicious I made yummy sounds while seated at the counter.  We even got a card for complimentary bowling nearby.  I have to hurry back before it expires 12/2024!

CHAMPLIN LIBRARY

12154 Ensign Ave N
Champlin, MN 55374

We entered the nearby Elm Creek Park Reserve enroute to our next library stop, enjoying miles and miles of freshly paved biking trails on this cool, almost fall-like day.  Thank you Three Rivers Park District!    

Library services have been available in Champlin since the 1900s at various community sites, settling in its current location since 1994.  They have a dedicated Mystery Book Club that has been running almost as long, since 1995!  

There is senior housing in the surrounding area close to the library, with art and crafts activities popular among the adult library patrons.  The library also gets many volunteers who are retired and enjoy sharing information and crafts with the patrons.  The staff member I spoke to enjoys working with seniors, a perfect pairing for this location.  She tried out a brand new activity for "Crafternoon" creating a lighted fairy house with clay, which was a big success!

One of the other things that stands out at this location is the wonderful artwork scattered all around the space.  Especially prominent in the children's section, helping kids make a beeline to this area.  Whether it's the Teen Wall Collage, Mississippi Flight or Herons in the Library, there is a lot of eye candy to explore on your trip to the Champlin Library. 

On the way out I was eyeing the "Block Printing: Minnesota Birds" class in September.  Hmmm...a loon would be nice to try. 

Tour de Library Day 15

 

 

August 2, 2024

Total 38 of 41 Hennepin County Libraries 

Today we biked through several neighborhoods and made our way to the Highland Park Reserve Trail which is nicely located between the libraries we planned to visit.  With all the rain and hot humid days, the flowers were loving the summer weather!  

 

EDEN PRAIRIE LIBRARY

565 Prairie Center Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55344

The Eden Prairie Library has been at its current location since 2004, the grand entrance harks back to its previous iteration as a Lund's grocery store.  After a remodeling period, the library opened back up February 2020 and closed March 2020 due to the pandemic  -only open for one month!

The staff supervisor showed me the Hennepin County Human Services kiosk available at this location, which is especially helpful for patrons with limited transportation options.  You can copy, fax and scan your documents directly to government services, making it easier to apply. 

One of the teen volunteer staff, previously a Team Tech leader, spoke about how much he enjoys working at the library and being involved with the Design Lab and the summer programing.  The library has made an impact on him as he prepares to start college in the fall.  

On the other side of library, the Bluestem conference room was filled with children attending a STEAM program.  I learned the "A" stands for Art.  Teen volunteers were arriving to help with the summer movie in the next conference room.  I was tempted to stay and watch "The Incredibles" movie, but alas there were two other libraries to visit today.  

PENN LAKE LIBRARY

8800 Penn Ave South
Bloomington, MN 55431

We headed towards Bloomington traveling along Anderson Lake Parkway to our next stop, the Penn Lake Library.  It was opened in 1970 and remodeled in 2003.  Much like the Golden Valley Library it retains its 1970's architectural charm.  Chatting with a helpful staff member, she told me Penn Lake has the eighth highest circulation in the HCL system.  This is impressive for a library of this size with a smaller footprint! 

The library is fortunate to have a wildlife refuge and nature center nearby,  making it an excellent partner for programming and activities.  I was curious about the "pollinator garden" right next to the outdoor play area, which was readily visible from inside the children's section.  There was a large display of books about pollinators available for families to explore and learn more.  

I walked outside to the pollinator garden space, watching bees buzzing and monarch butterflies flitting around the compact garden.  What a wonderful place for kids and families to grab a book, go outside and immerse yourself in the outdoor classroom!

 

OXBORO LIBRARY

8801 Portland Ave S
Bloomington, MN 55420

We arrived at the Oxboro Library with plenty of time before closing, having to avoid only a couple of high traffic streets during rush hour. 

The historic Oxboro neighborhood dates back to the 1850's.  The library opened in 1974 and serves the Bloomington and Richfield areas.  It was last remodeled in 2018-19.  I walked around the building, taking in the lovely modern exterior, with large windows, an area of picnic tables and adirondack chairs with good views of Valley View Middle School across the street.  

Situated within a diverse community, and having both a middle and elementary school nearby, the library brings in school age kids, teens and patrons from surrounding senior housing.  Take a peek at the colorful, award winning wall of book covers put together by students!  Bilingual staff are on hand to assist patrons in this growing Latino community.  

Oxboro may not have the highest circulation numbers, but staff report high percentage of in-person use of the library space.  Having a large language collection, lots of computer usage, and diverse programs for all ages, including Anime Friday, intro to watercolor, writing great college essays, or write your life stories.  They also offer one-on-one help with library service-related tasks, helping people getting started with eBooks and downloadable audiobooks, streaming movies and printing from your own devices.  Wow, concierge service all for free!

Tour de Library Day 14

 

July 18, 2024

Total 35 of 41 Hennepin County Libraries

Biking the Dakota Rail Regional Trail in the western suburbs, I marveled at marshlands and all the green space available for walkers and bikers to enjoy.  On another hot summer day, I was grateful for this shady bike trail keeping me cool and safe from traffic.  My navigator (husband) was also looking forward to the promise of a stop at Back Channel Brewing Co. near the trail and on the way home from our library expedition.  

WESTONKA LIBRARY

2079 Commerce Blvd
Mound, MN 55364

The moment I walked into the Westonka Library, I was greeted by friendly staff at the front desk.  According to one of the members, they make it their mission to greet every patron to make them feel welcome.  I relished the attention and the chance to hear about what makes their location special.

The current space is perfect for a visit on a bike, as it sits on a wooded area near Lake Minnetonka and the bike trail.  It has a cozy community feel, reminiscent of my own beloved Golden Valley Library which also opened its doors in the early 70's.  It makes me happy to hear staff speak of their love of their library.  I spoke to one staff member who grew up and went to school nearby.  Now her adult kids live in the area and also enjoy the library.    

The library is preparing to undergo a major remodel later in 2024.  This will be the first net zero greenhouse gas emissions library.  The library will be closed for 18 months during the remodeling period.  Luckily the community will have a number of sister libraries to choose from in the interim, including St. Bonifacius the next library on my visit.  

Hurry on over, here is your chance to visit Westonka Library and see the before and after transformation!

     

ST BONIFACIUS LIBRARY

8624 Kennedy Memorial Drive 
St Bonifacius, MN 55374

Our group returned to the bike trail and continued west towards the small city of St Bonifacius, a one square mile community originally settled by German immigrants.  Of note, St Bonifacius is the patron saint of Germany, brewers, tailors and file cutters.  The library building has a charming European style exterior and compact interior.  

I sat down with the two staff members who shared wonderful stories about the library's history and past.  Originally a bank building without running water, staff had to close up and go home to use a bathroom.  Luckily there is now a bathroom where the bank vault use to be, in the safest space in case of a tornado.  

St Bonifacius Library is a cherished part of the community, who rally to keep it open.  Despite its small size and small online presence, this library is a treasure trove for history buffs.  The St. Bonifacius Historical Society is conveniently located in the basement of the library.  

The staff also suggested we visit "Missile Park" located just down the hill from the library.  It is a unique look back to a time during the cold war period, when St Bonifacius was an important site in the nation's missile defense system.  It was the last resort in protecting the Twin Cities in case of a Soviet attack, yikes!   

Ask Us Service

June 15, 2024  "ASK US"

If you haven't yet used the HCL "Ask Us" services, you are missing out!  This personalized library service delivers a fountain of information regarding books, resources and answers many of your questions.  And it's all for free!   https://www.hclib.org/en/contact#ask-us 

After I left the last library location I had a few lingering questions, I decided to utilize my favorite method, the HCL chat line.  Within a few minutes, I had answers to my questions and a couple of resources to use or check out.  All from one reliable site.  You can also submit your questions by text or email, or call 612-543-KNOW (5669)

I was curious about sites designated as Federal Depository Libraries. The system was established by Congress in 1813 to ensure the public has access to government information throughout the U.S. You may wonder how many are in Minnesota. Well there are 21, the University of MN has 4 of the locations.  The downtown Central Library is the one in the HCL system. Gathering information this way just feels a lot more pleasant and satisfying than using google. Try it out and see what you think! 

Tour de Library Day 13

 

June 14, 2024

Total 33 of 41 Hennepin County Libraries

It is great to be back on tour for summer 2024.  How I've missed my "bike to the library" days.  It's hard to believe I've hit single digits for my remaining libraries! 

As we say, summers in Minnesota are for biking...and road construction.  Despite hitting snags along the tour, with closures for parts of Cedar Lake Trail due to light-rail construction, it did not dampen our enthusiasm on this beautiful day in the Twin Cities.   

 

RIDGEDALE LIBRARY

12601 Ridgedale Drive
Minnetonka, MN 55305

The Ridgedale Library has been serving the Minnetonka area for more than 30 years.  In 2008 when Minneapolis Library merged with Hennepin County Library, the Ridgedale Library became a book processing hub.  All new HCL books begin their journey at this site, first getting a barcode before being dispersed throughout the HCL locations and into our hands.  This location shares the building space with Hennepin County services and district courts as part of the Hennepin County Ridgedale Regional Center.         

There is original art along the light filled entrance, with tiled benches, and a large Minnesota themed painting as you walk up the stairs.  Try to find all the book quotes from the library's collection scattered throughout the painting.  

Looking around, I saw many family friendly amenities, including large reading spaces, interactive learning areas for children, an abundance of public computers, and a large number of meeting rooms.  The children's librarian reports summer activities keep the library buzzing.  At your next visit, grab a handy bookmark with the Ridgedale QR code for children and teen programs.  

Pick up your reserved books at the "self service holds" conveniently located at the entrance and right next door to Jones Coffee for a perfect ending to your visit.    

  

Tour de Library Day 12

 

October 11, 2023

Total 32 of 41 Hennepin County Libraries

A picture perfect fall day, the sun shining brightly, a chill in the air and the leaves full of color.  We were glad to save a couple of the west metro library locations for the month of October.  We biked along the Luce Line Trail and Baker Park Reserve.   

MAPLE PLAIN LIBRARY

5184 Main St E
Maple Plain, MN 55359

The bike trails were well marked as we entered the city and safely crossed Hwy 12, utilizing the pedestrian safety zones,  which landed us at the doorstep of the Maple Plain Library.  The library operated at many locations, with the current site a former grocery store.  The building fits very nicely into the surrounding community.  

In a prominent place as you walk in, there was a banned books exhibit with yellow caution tape all over. Each book had a card with the reason as to why it carries a "banned books" label in many parts of the country. It prompted me to investigate further, the library staff was helpful in providing more information on the topic.

The one community room is used by various groups, including the local Girl Scout Troop, and it was filled with kiddos earlier in the day for the music program in collaboration with MacPhail Center.

Staff report "the Maple Plain families are a crafty bunch," always keeping them busy with creative ways to engage them.

Open to ideas and dialogue, music, and crafts galore, they have found a keen way to build lasting community relationships with library patrons!

LONG LAKE LIBRARY

1865 Wayzata Blvd UNIT 108
Long Lake, MN 55356

The library services started in 1913 for the Long Lake community.  The Library was housed in a former bank building down the road.  Much like the nearby Maple Plain Library, it also moved around a bit until it found its current location within the Long Lake Town Center Mall in 1995.

The Long Lake Library has some similarities to the St Anthony Library, which is also located in a shopping center, and both have a large pick-up reserve section.  According to staff, the Long Lake community utilizes the broader HCL to check out materials and books in large numbers.  

The separate children's area is easily viewed through windows, providing a cozy space for children to claim as their own.  The self-check out section was busy with school age kids coming and going, with the friendly library staff greeting many by name.

Stay tuned for more biking the libraries, coming summer 2024!