MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Hennepin County Libraries Propose Cutting 140 Service Hours a Week in 2027

Hennepin County Library is proposing a 7 percent systemwide reduction in public hours as it searches for approximately $5 million in budget efficiencies. Fifteen branches could close one additional day each week, although no library location would be permanently closed.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (August 11, 2026) — Hennepin County Library is proposing to reduce public operating hours by approximately 140 hours a week beginning in January 2027 as higher personnel, health-insurance, technology and facility costs place growing pressure on the county budget.

The proposed reduction represents about 7 percent of the library system’s current public hours.

Most branches would move toward standardized eight-hour service days, generally operating from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fifteen libraries could be closed one additional day each week under the tentative schedule.

The changes are part of the library’s requested 2027 budget and have not been approved by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners.

Hennepin County Library emphasized that no branch would permanently close under the proposal.

Fifteen branches could lose one service day

The locations expected to close for one additional day each week include Arvonne Fraser, Champlin, Edina, Excelsior, Golden Valley, Linden Hills, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Penn Lake, Pierre Bottineau, Rogers, Roosevelt, St. Anthony, St. Louis Park and Wayzata libraries.

Several branches, including Golden Valley, would no longer offer Sunday service. Golden Valley Library is currently open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays but would be closed Sundays under the proposed schedule.

The effect would not be identical at every branch. Some locations would gain Sunday hours as the system attempts to distribute available employees and service times more consistently.

The proposed schedule would keep the Brooklyn Park and Brookdale libraries open seven days a week. Both would generally operate in eight-hour daily blocks.

Brooklyn Park Library would operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Friday through Sunday, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

Brookdale Library in Brooklyn Center would operate from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

Minneapolis Central would retain longer weekday hours, opening from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Several smaller Minneapolis branches would lose Sunday or weekday service, while others would remain open seven days.

County seeks $5 million in efficiencies

Hennepin County departments were instructed to prepare 2027 budget requests within a target equal to 102 percent of their current budgets.

For the library system, that requires finding approximately $5 million in efficiencies while absorbing higher expenses associated with maintaining existing services.

County officials cited increasing personnel costs, rising employee health-insurance expenses, inflation, technology and facility costs, higher prices for supplies and services, and uncertainty surrounding federal funding.

The library has already reduced spending in several areas. Its collections budget has declined by approximately $1.5 million since 2025. Hiring has slowed, and spending on public computers, employee training and other operating expenses has also been reduced.

Meeting the 2027 budget target would require the library system to leave a significant number of vacant positions unfilled.

Staffing needs will increase when the Southdale and Westonka libraries reopen in 2027 following renovation projects. Library administrators said the system could not safely and reliably maintain all current operating hours while reopening those branches with fewer employees available throughout the system.

Reductions are not driven by declining use

Library officials said the proposed cuts are not a response to falling public use.

Hennepin County Library has more than 600,000 active cardholders, its highest number in a decade. Approximately 14,000 people visit the county’s libraries on an average day.

First-time checkouts have increased each year since 2020. The system recorded 12.8 million first-time checkouts in 2025, surpassing its pre-pandemic circulation level.

Libraries also provide computer and internet access, employment assistance, educational programs, meeting spaces, homework resources, early-literacy services and access to information for residents who may not have those resources at home.

Reduced evening and weekend hours could have a disproportionate effect on working families, students, older adults and residents who depend on public computers or transportation.

Residents can submit feedback

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners will review departmental budget requests, receive public feedback and adopt the county’s final 2027 budget later this year.

The county’s public budget-hearing process is scheduled to begin September 22. Meetings will be open to the public.

Residents may also review the tentative branch-by-branch schedule and submit feedback to their county commissioner through an online form provided by Hennepin County Library.

Because the budget process remains underway, the proposed schedules may change before January.

Review the proposal and submit feedback:

• Hennepin County Library’s Proposed 2027 Hours
• Submit Feedback to Hennepin County
• Hennepin County Budget Process

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