The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce that Hennepin County Library – Minneapolis Central, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, will now be open Mondays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The library's new Monday hours are made possible by revenue from the ballpark sales tax.
Children, teens, and adults were invited to be in the "opening day starting lineup" at a "Ballpark Mondays" kickoff celebration at Minneapolis Central Library on Monday, Feb. 8. Former Twins star player Ron Coomer was there to sign autographs and pose for photos. Also representing the Minnesota Twins was mascot T.C. Bear, who joined in on a special storytime, and Sue Nelson, the Twins' official game organist, who played "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and other favorite Twins game tunes.
Minneapolis Central Library was last open on Mondays in December 2006.
A display of Twins baseball memorabilia will be on exhibit in the library's entry from late January through mid-February.
"Hennepin County is continuing to deliver on our promise of expanded library hours for our residents."
Commissioner Mike Opat, chair of the Hennepin County Board
"Along with Ballpark Sundays and Hennepin Youth Sports Grants, I'm very proud that the county's commitment to building Target Field will now also fund open hours at Minneapolis Central Library on Mondays," said Opat.
Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, 4th District, said, "You can't be one of the premier library systems in America and not have your downtown library open on Mondays. The consolidation of the Minneapolis and Hennepin County library systems and the ballpark sales tax made this restoration of hours possible."
Minneapolis Central Library is Hennepin County Library's largest facility, with more than 300 computers, a collection of 2.3 million items and daily programming for all ages. Last year, more than 1 million items were checked out from Minneapolis Central Library. (Library cards are free — to apply for one, all you need is a form of identification. Apply for a card at your library or go online)
Since June 2008, revenue from the ballpark sales tax also has funded “Ballpark Sundays” hours at 13 libraries, bringing the total number of Hennepin County libraries open on Sundays to 18.
The ballpark sales tax also will fund additional hours at the new Plymouth and Maple Grove libraries when they open in spring 2010 and summer 2010, respectively.
