Reminder Notices Available

You now have the option of receiving a courtesy e-mail reminder two days before your library materials are due.

This courtesy reminder service is only available via e-mail. You will still receive a receipt at the time of checkout as your official due date reminder. Please note that you are not exempt from overdue fees if the courtesy reminder is not received.

If you would like to sign up for this free reminder service, please visit the circulation desk at your Ramsey County Library.

Maplewood Nationally Recognized

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Fireplace	DVD Area	Kids Area

Since its opening in March 2007, Ramsey County Library in Maplewood has won several awards and been featured in several publications.

The building, designed by Minneapolis-based HGA architects, has received awards for its interior design and architecture, and has been nationally recognized for its modern, sustainable design.

In June, the library in Maplewood received the American Library Association (ALA) and International Interior Design Association's (IIDA) national award honoring excellence in library interior design for libraries over 30,000 square feet. The Library was also awarded the Best of Competition award from IIDA Wisconsin and the 2007 American Institute of Architect's Minnesota Honor Award for Design Excellence.

"The Library has become the living room for the community because of its easy access to reading materials, fireplace and artwork, comfortable chairs, and views to the trees and wetlands outside," says Jane Dedering, Library Planner and Senior Interior Designer with HGA.

In addition to these awards, the Library has been featured in local and national publications including Metal Architecture, American Libraries, Architecture Minnesota and Metro.

"The citizens of Ramsey County really enjoy the Library's welcoming design, its natural setting and how comfortable it is," says Ramsey County Library Director Susan Nemitz. "The library in Maplewood is a unique and valuable community asset."

RCL Children's Librarian on Kare 11

Watch Ramsey County Library children's librarian, Jennifer Dietrich, as she does a job swap with Kare 11 reporter Rena Sarigianopoulos. Rena assists with Baby & Me storytime and Jennifer takes the reins from Rena and reports live from the library in Roseville.

Ramsey County Library Expands Hours

In its ongoing effort to enhance services offered to its many users, Ramsey County Library will be open an additional 15 hours per week beginning Sunday, January 27, 2008.

The library in Shoreview will be open on Sundays from 12 to 5 p.m. and the Maplewood and Roseville libraries will each get an extra hour on Sunday (12 to 5 p.m.). Two hours will be added on Tuesdays and Thursdays at North St. Paul (1 to 8 p.m.) and White Bear Lake will get three hours on Monday evenings (10 to 8 p.m.).

"The extended hours are all part of the library's commitment to our patrons," says Library Director Susan Nemitz. "We requested funding to expand geographic access to programs and services, and to improve customer service by creating intuitively understandable schedules."

Results from the 2007 Decision Resources Ltd. telephone survey showed that increasing hours was the number one improvement requested by suburban Ramsey County residents. Library hours have not increased since 1998, but overall system circulation figures increased 54 percent during the same period.

"Libraries are vital community centers," says Ramsey County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt. "Adding hours to the library system means computers will be more readily available, people will have access to meeting rooms more days of the week, and services to children and their families will be increased."

The Ramsey County Commissioners approved the expanded hours and two FTE on Tuesday, December 18, 2007, as part of the 2008-2009 budget process.

Click here for a complete schedule of library hours and locations.

Fine Threshold Change

Effective January 1, 2008, the fine threshold will increase to $10 dollars. Patrons with charges exceeding $10 will not be allowed to check out library materials.

Maplewood Wins Architectural Honor

Ramsey County's newest library is not even a year old and is already an award winner. The Minnesota Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) named the Library one of seven architectural Honor Award winners for 2007. The library in Maplewood was selected from a field of 117 honor submissions.

"This is a wonderful recognition," says Susan Nemitz, Ramsey County Library Director. "We're incredibly honored. We've felt this facility was a community treasure even before construction was complete."

The jury, consisting of three nationally recognized architects from out-of-state firms, noted the great use of a limited budget, the thoughtful design and architectural principles, and the outdoor spaces that preserved and incorporated trees as key elements that set the Library apart from the rest.

Nemitz gives credit to the Library Board and the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners for their thoughtful planning, as well as excellent project management from Ramsey County Property Management department and, of course, the architects Hammel, Green and Abrahamson, Inc.

The Friends of the Ramsey County Suburban Libraries also played a large role by providing an extra $63,342 in funding to add enhancements including gifts such as the fireplace, self-checkout machines and artwork design.

"The citizens of Ramsey County are already enjoying this unique and valuable community asset," says Nemitz. "The Library's circulation is up 15% and we are attracting teens to the library in numbers never before seen."