Celebrate Minnesota Libraries: Great North Star Read Together Comes to Columbia Heights

Celebrate Minnesota Libraries: Great North Star Read Together Comes to Columbia Heights

Columbia Heights, MN — On Saturday, September 20, Minnesotans will take part in a statewide initiative to honor the vital role libraries play in communities. The event, Celebrate Minnesota Libraries, is part of the Great North Star Read Together, a coordinated effort inviting residents to gather at libraries across the state to read together in a show of support.

Locally, the Columbia Heights Public Library, located at 3939 Central Ave. NE, will serve as the host site for Anoka County and nearby Coon Rapids residents. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., offering a welcoming space for readers of all ages.

Participants are encouraged to bring along a favorite book, magazine, e-book, or audiobook—or check one out from the library upon arrival—and spend time reading in a shared, communal setting. Organizers say the simple act of reading together underscores the importance of libraries as centers of learning, connection, and community enrichment.

“Libraries are more than buildings filled with books—they are vital gathering spaces where communities come together,” Anoka County officials noted in promoting the event.

The Great North Star Read Together is a statewide celebration, with libraries across Minnesota hosting similar events simultaneously. By participating, residents collectively highlight the enduring value of public libraries and the resources they provide, from literacy support to technology access and lifelong learning opportunities.

For Coon Rapids and Columbia Heights residents, this weekend’s gathering offers a chance not just to read, but to stand in solidarity with libraries at a time when their role as community hubs is more important than ever.

MinneapoliMedia