County Commissioners Announce Plans to Add Sunday Hours at Four Libraries in Minneapolis (3/25/08)
On March 25, Hennepin County Commissioners approved plans to add Sunday library service hours at thirteen libraries across the County, including four libraries in Minneapolis (Central, East Lake, Hosmer, and North Regional).
The following libraries will be open Sundays beginning June 1: Minneapolis Central, Augsburg Park, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, East Lake, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Hosmer, Oxboro, North Regional, Rockford Road, St. Louis Park and Westonka. Currently, five Hennepin County libraries – Brookdale, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Ridgedale and Southdale – are open Sundays.
The expanded hours were made possible with revenues from the Twins’ stadium ballpark tax; Minnesota statute provides that up to $2 million per year of sales tax revenue in excess of amounts needed for ballpark debt service may be used to add hours at Hennepin County libraries.
“We are thrilled that more families, students and working adults will be able to visit, enjoy, study at and open new doors at 13 more libraries on Sundays,” said Hennepin County Library Director Amy Ryan. “We looked at library size and resources, proximity to other libraries open on Sunday and financial sustainability to select these libraries. We look forward to greeting more customers on weekends starting this summer.”