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 EMaple 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 108Long 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!
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