Stories of Impact

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Sue and Brody read together at Brookdale Library.

It's Library Day: How One Second Grader Turned a Page with Let’s Read. 

Brody may be a math whiz, but when he gets to a word problem, he slows to a halt.

You see, Brody has had trouble reading since kindergarten. He’s slow to sound out common words and has trouble with fluency. He gets frustrated practicing with his parents at home.

His family was at a standstill.

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Let's Read!
Mynah poses among the stacks at Ridgedale Library.

"The library established my passion for reading, and beyond that, for learning."

Meet Mynah, a library enthusiast and a member of the Library Youth Advisory Committee (LYAC). This group of teens provide feedback and guidance about how to best serve youth.

Meet Mynah
Teen leaders!
Senior Librarian Tami poses among the stacks at Ridgedale Library.

Have a Question? Ask Tami.

Here's your behind-the-scenes peek at the work of the Ask Us Service librarians!

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A man smiles holding his new library card at the Opportunity Center shelter.

Kindness Can Be Such an Antidote

Imagine the challenges you might face each day without a place to call home. Barriers to employment, hygiene, safety, nutrition, and more.

Now, imagine the comfort of getting lost in a story…gaining skills from an excellent how-to… healing with a self-help workbook….

Read how your library reaches out to neighbors experiencing homelessness.

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Community Based Hiring mentors and new hires stand together wearing their Hennepin County Library lanyards.

Building Libraries That Reflect Neighborhoods

“I would like to see our workforce look more like our residents. People should be able to come in and feel like they see themselves." Read how Community Based Hiring Pathways creates a more inclusive workforce at Hennepin County Library.

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Launching careers
Eden Prairie Library Lead Tutor works with a student at Homework Help program

Homework Help

How do you help a person see and believe in their capabilities? What does it take to build relationships that engage and empower? Ask Homework Help tutors! These caring adults not only help boost student grades, understanding, and confidence, but forge partnerships that have a lasting impact. Read about neighborhood tutors offering wisdom, patience, and life-changing lessons at the library.

Learn more about Homework Help
Nancy with her latest library books. Behind her is a photograph of her three smiling sons.

A Cup of Tea with Nancy, Who Reads a Book Every Day

From childhood to age 93, and all around the country, voracious reader Nancy has leaned on books for companionship, adventure, and community building. Now finding herself often at home, she relies on At Home Service to fuel her lofty reading habits (one book per day!) and transport herself to different worlds. Meet the person with a lifetime of literary memories to share!

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New Connections
Llamas visited 16 library locations, bringing the joy of live animals to urban settings.

Summer Learning Programs Sparked Delight and Discovery

Every summer, Hennepin County Library offers hundreds of free activities for children and teens across its 41 locations. Watch a video filled with the heartwarming moments library friends helped to make possible!
Irfan wearing Hennepin County Library batch and smiling

Franklin Library Helped Irfan Find New Community

“To be honest, the best people I’ve met are at the library.” Meet Teen Tech Squad member Irfan, whose loneliness transformed to belonging when he stepped into Franklin Library.
MNspin playing on phone

MNspin: Connect to Minnesota Music

MNspin is an online music streaming platform with a growing collection of albums by Minnesota artists curated by local experts. From hip-hop, jazz, and underground rock...
Woman in wheelchair reading a book

At Home Services

The livelihood and quality of life of so many patrons depend on At Home Services, a program that sends materials directly to those who are homebound. One patron shared, “If not for this amazing service, I'd be left adrift with no land in sight.” 
Johnny and Thomas standing among stacks at Sumner Library

From Childhood Check-outs to Workplace Readiness; Johnny Grew at Sumner Library

Johnny used to be just another teenager who lived in the neighborhood; now he was the guy behind the check-out counter at their favorite place.
Staff helps foster care family select a book from book giveaway

A Picnic of Stories

Sharing stories brings us together, just ask a librarian or the organizers of the Foster Care Picnic at Richfield's Veterans Park. Read about this heartwarming event that helped build up a community of families one story at a time.
Story stroll around pathway

Story Strolls Bring Tales Outside for Everyone to Enjoy

Learn about Hennepin County Library Story Strolls, and the library’s vision of spreading a love for literacy and bringing diverse stories to the heart of our neighborhoods, and the great outdoors.
Two kids reading a book in a beanbag chair

Launching the Next Generation of Readers

The library is one of the greatest forces fueling the next generation of readers. Every year, thousands of families depend on Hennepin County Library to spark their children's passion for reading...
An adult and child review historical photos and documents

Build & Preserve our Treasured Collection

At the heart of our Library is the collection, filled with information and transformative content, free and available to all. Each and every day, these shared resources are shaping and uplifting...
Person using software at Teen Tech Center

Best Buy Teen Tech Center

The Best Buy Teen Tech Center is a free workspace located in Minneapolis Central Library that gives youth access to cutting-edge technology and software to create and express themselves...
riverside park with van

All Are Welcome Van

The All Are Welcome Van has become a vital tool for the library, making resources, information, and services accessible to all. The van also serves as a friendly entry point for those who have never visited the library, conveniently introducing all it has to offer.
writing through loss

Writing Through Loss

Librarian Heather Fisch first witnessed the visceral pain and trauma of incarcerated women who had been separated from their children while helping lead the Read to Me program...
4H mural

Empowering Youth through Urban 4-H

At first glance, 4-H looks somewhat different from what many of us remember. Traditionally thought of as an agriculturally-focused initiative, 4-H today centers on citizenship, healthy living..
Curios cat with reading glasses

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