Hennepin and Minneapolis public libraries approve merger.
Libraries to Merge on Jan. 1
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners and Minneapolis City Council approved the merger of the Hennepin County Library and Minneapolis Public Library systems effective Jan. 1, 2008.
As a condition of the merger, three closed Minneapolis libraries – Roosevelt, Southeast and Webber Park – will reopen Jan. 3. Community celebrations for the library reopenings are scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 12.
Last May the Minnesota Legislature approved enabling legislation allowing the libraries to merge. The merged system, to be called Hennepin County Library, will include 15 Minneapolis libraries and 26 suburban Hennepin libraries. All individual library names will be retained, including the Minneapolis Central Library. The combined libraries will provide more streamlined services to all county residents, offering more than five million books, CDs and DVDs (in 40 languages) and nearly 1,600 public computers. Hennepin County Library Director Amy Ryan will oversee the new merged system.
