Hennepin County Library

There are 41 branches of the Hennepin County Library system serving the 1.6 million residents of the county. Some are historic buildings, some have scenic views over a lake, and some have a modern flare. All are well frequented.

Mission and vision

Our mission is to inspire, facilitate, and celebrate lifelong learning.

Shaped by the information needs and aspirations of our residents, we envision the library as a shared space for enrichment and connection.

Library services are an important part of thriving and interconnected communities. We believe that every Hennepin County resident should have a library card and use it regularly.

Although visits haven’t reached the 5 million high benchmark from pre-pandemic days, borrowing has surged to 12 million items. Visitors also use library spaces for remote work or gatherings in one of the many conference rooms.

When so many people of interest site a library or a librarian as an inspiration at a younger age, I wonder why more correlations are not made between library useage and outcomes in other areas.