You can learn more about the proposal to consolidate the Minneapolis and Hennepin County library systems by attending one of four informational meetings planned for early March. The public meetings come as two advisory committees wrap up their deliberations on a possible consolidation.
At the upcoming meetings, City, Library Board and County representatives will discuss why a consolidation is being considered and what changes a unified system might bring.
Informational meetings:
The consolidation vision calls for creating a premier library system that would provide better and more seamless service to the public, preserve each system’s complementary strengths, and adopt the best practices of both systems. Under the proposal, all existing library names would remain the same.
The Hennepin County library system has 26 suburban libraries, and the Minneapolis system includes 15 libraries, three of which are temporarily closed. Although the two systems have similar programming and complementary missions and collections, the financial picture of the two systems is quite different.
While the Hennepin County system is fiscally healthy, Minneapolis’s financial resources are inadequate and expected to worsen. Budget shortfalls in 2004 forced the Minneapolis Library system to lay off 30 percent of its staff, cut hours by 35 percent, and reduce spending on collections, programs, technology and maintenance. This year, Minneapolis closed three libraries and reduced hours at its libraries. With no uncommitted reserve, another round of service cuts is anticipated for 2010.
Learn more about the proposal at the Minneapolis Public Library or Hennepin County Library Web sites.
Get more information on the public meetings.
Feb. 22, 2007