Hennepin County Libraries Offer Curbside Pickup Service
Hennepin County libraries may be closed due to the novel coronavirus, but people can still access their vast collection of materials.
Eight of Hennepin County’s regional libraries began offering curbside pickup service on Monday, April 13. They are Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Ridgedale, East Lake, Eden Prairie, Washburn and Webber Park.
Curbside pickup service is available Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Step One: Place your items on hold
In order to use the service, people first have to place an item on hold via the Hennepin County Library’s website. It’s important for people to remember to select a location with curbside pickup. After you place the hold, the library will notify you via phone or email when your item is ready.
Step Two: Call the library and tell them you’re ready to pick up your items
After receiving your notification, you’ll need to call your library to let them know when you plan on picking up your held items. You’ll need to have your library card barcode number available when you make the call. A staff member will then pull your items, check them out, put them in a plastic bag, and place the bag on a cart outside of the building.
A woman gathers books from the Plymouth library via the new curbside pickup service.
Step Three: Pick up your items
When you make your way to the library, your bagged items will be on a cart outside of the building for contactless pickup. Each bag is labeled with a hold pickup number. Just find the number that belongs to you (it’s written on your library card). You’re then free to grab your bag and take it home.
Anyone checking out materials won’t be able to return them until the libraries reopen. Due dates will be extended to at least three weeks after reopening. Library officials ask people not to use the curbside pickup carts to return materials, as this is essential to maintain safe handling of all materials.
For more information, you can go to the Hennepin County Library Website.
