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.