Each bag contains 10 copies of the title and a notebook with discussion questions, author information, recommended reading lists, bookmarks, information on the library, and information on how Book Club in a Bag works.
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Book Club in a Bag
Bags may be requested and picked up at any RCL branch, and can be kept for 6 weeks. You may request them in person, by phone, or online. At this time, the bags cannot be requested for a specific date. Patrons are limited to two bags at a time per library card.
You can find the list of titles available in the library's catalog by searching for "Book Club in a Bag."
The bags may be renewed up to two times if not requested, and must be returned to a Ramsey County Library branch.
Bags will not fit in book return slots; please return them to the Service Desk at any Ramsey County Library. Bags cannot be checked in until all copies of the books are in the bag; please do not return individual copies of the books separate from the bag.
When returning Book Club in a Bag titles, please check to be sure all 10 copies of the book are in the bag, as well as the resource notebook. If copies of the book, the notebook, or zipper bag are missing, the person who checked out the bag will be billed for the replacement cost of the missing items.
If a book is lost, the person who checked out the bag will be billed for the list price of a replacement copy of the book.
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Library Card & Account
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Library Catalog & Website
Yes, you sure can! Our website is mobile-friendly and will resize automatically to fit the size of your screen.
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Library Services & Facilities
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e-Books, e-Audiobooks & e-Magazines
Yes! You can download e-books, e-audiobooks and e-magazines using Libby, by OverDrive. Learn which devices work with Libby, by OverDrive and how to download items.
Borrowing and Renewal Policies:
- Metro area public library cardholders registered with Ramsey County Library may borrow e-books, e-audiobooks and e-magazines through Libby, by OverDrive.
- A maximum of 15 e-books or e-audiobooks may be borrowed at a time.
- An unlimited number of e-magazines may be borrowed at a time.
- e-books, e-audiobooks and e-magazines may be borrowed for 7, 14, or 21 days.
- e-books, e-audiobooks and e-magazines are renewable. A Renew option will appear on your Loans page three days before the item expires as long as there are no requests on that title.
- If a title has been borrowed by another user, a hold for the title may be placed. Hold limit is 15 items. Note: e-magazines are always available to be borrowed at all times and require no holds.
- e-Books and e-audiobooks cannot be downloaded to the Library's publicly used computers.
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Children's Services
Each Ramsey County Library has one or more Children's Librarians on staff, and we would love to help! Does your child need book ideas for a report? Are you wondering how to help your 4-year-old prepare for kindergarten? Or maybe you just need some ideas for your child who devours books like candy. Whatever your need, we can help!
Click on these links to email the Children's Librarian at your branch:
RCL - Maplewood: Patong Lee and Sarah Weinberg
RCL - Mounds View: Mary Wetterlin
RCL - New Brighton: Anna Smithberger
RCL - North St. Paul: Ann Wahlstrom
RCL - Roseville: Andrea Hermanson
RCL - Shoreview: Nicole Brinkman and Kristin Nordling
RCL - White Bear Lake: Jess GouldWatch a story on BookFlix, download a book using Libby, by OverDrive, or check out our collection of storytime videos for kids. You can sort the videos by category and follow along with your favorite librarians as they teach you to sing songs, share flannel stories and more!
Ramsey County Library is committed to early literacy. The most up-to-date information on programming for all kids is found on our event calendar.
Family Storytime (generally geared to ages 2 to 5) is a fun, dynamic program that includes books, songs, fingerplays, storytelling and movement activities to get kids fired up about reading while providing a strong foundation in early literacy skills.
Baby & Me storytime (generally geared towards infants 6 to 23 months) is a one-on-one storytime where babies sit on a caregiver’s lap for a short storytime followed by playtime. Baby and Me is intended to introduce the joys of reading, singing, and playing together to caregivers and their babies.
Hope you can join us!
We are very proud to offer a variety of things like eBooks, eAudiobooks, graphic novels, board books, beginning readers, DVDs, CDs...and of course a robust collection of fiction and nonfiction! We also have special collections like Storybags, which are two books and a toy packaged together, STEM Kits, which provide hands-on exploration of themes like magnets and buoyancy, and VOX Books, where you can listen to a story while following along with the printed text.
Still have questions? Ask a librarian!
Absolutely! Download a book using Libby, by OverDrive, where you will find a diverse collection of picture books, juvenile fiction, teen fiction, and non-fiction too. Ask a librarian for more info!
Ramsey County Library offers an excellent web-based tutoring site called HelpNow. Not only can students in grades K-12 use their computer to instant message with a live instructor, they can also upload papers for editing help, take sample tests in several subject areas, or get help with language learning. We hope your student finds it useful!
Additionally, the library offers you access to lots of databases and other powerful research tools. Whether your student is doing a presentation on a famous person or writing a pro-con essay, you’ll find an abundance of online resources for students in grades K-12.
Parents and legal guardians can sign their children up for a card at any age. However, many people choose to wait until their child is in kindergarten since Ramsey County Library holds an annual event to celebrate kindergartners obtaining their first library card. Ask your children’s librarian for more information about this program!
Minors under 15 are required to have a parent or legal guardian with picture ID and proof of current address present in order to obtain or replace a library card. Additionally, children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian in order to assign or change their PIN. With proper identification, a parent or legal guardian is authorized to impose specific restrictions on the library records of their minor children. Parents are responsible for their children's library use. The Library staff will attempt to honor those restrictions where technologically feasible.
Each library offers a special section dedicated to children's books and media as well as places for families to read and play together. Each children’s area offers a variety of puzzles, puppets and other toys intended to encourage creative play between kids and their caregivers. Several of our locations also have outdoor spaces to enjoy.
The library in Roseville also has a Children's Reading Garden that is always open for outdoor exploration. It is accessible only through the children's room, and families are encouraged to use this space as an extension of the library. You can even come have a picnic outdoors! Come explore and enjoy the kids’ spaces at Ramsey County Library! Get up-to-date information on building hours and closures.
Of course! Ramsey County Library invites all children to enjoy our facilities. That said, you may want to view outings with children to the library as great opportunities to model appropriate library behavior. While the children’s section of the library is generally a bit noisier than sections intended for adult use, “inside” voices are still encouraged!
Sure do! In addition to the Sensory Friendly Comfort Room at RCL - Shoreview, Ramsey County Libraries provides wellness rooms to use for short-term personal needs.
We would love to show you around our libraries! Tours of the buildings are available by contacting the children’s librarian at each specific branch. Tours include a detailed look at the children’s area and its collections and features, and a behind the scenes visit to the book return and check in area. Let us know if you have a specific focus or need. We will be happy to work with you to customize your tour.
Please allow at least two weeks planning time for any requested tour.
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Teen Services
Only the largest Ramsey County Library branches have Teen Services librarians on site, but we also offer programming and support teens at our smaller branches. If you are looking for book recommendations for your teen, research help, or have questions about teen events, we would love to help you!
Click on these links to email a Teen Services Librarian for your branch:
RCL-Shoreview, RCL-Maplewood, RCL-Mounds View, RCL-North St. Paul, and RCL-White Bear Lake: Alyssa Stevenski
RCL-Roseville and RCL-New Brighton: Devin WarnerWhether in person, or virtually, Ramsey County Library is committed to offering fun teen programming! We currently offer:
- Twice-weekly MakerTeen programs where teens can craft and explore technology and art
- Weekly virtual board gaming/video game sessions, and virtual Dungeons and Dragons sessions.
The most up-to-date information on programming for teens can be found on our event calendar.
Yes, we do! We are proud to offer a variety of things like DVDs, e-books, e-audiobooks, graphic novels... and of course a robust collection of fiction and nonfiction!
Still have questions? Ask a librarian!
Absolutely! Check out Libby, by OverDrive, where you will find a diverse collection of teen fiction and teen non-fiction, and graphic novels. For more info ask a librarian!
Ramsey County Library offers an excellent web-based tutoring site called HelpNow. Not only can students in grades K-12 use their computer to instant message with a live instructor, they can also upload papers for editing help, take sample tests in several subject areas, or get help with language learning. In the Skillsurfer section of HelpNow, teens can also find information about the GED, AP tests, and college admission exams like the SAT and ACT, as well as practice exams. We hope your student finds it useful!
Additionally, the library offers you access to lots of databases and other powerful research tools. Whether your student is doing a presentation on a famous person or writing a pro-con essay, you’ll find an abundance of online resources for students grades K-12.
Parents and legal guardians can sign their children up for a card at any age. Minors under 15 are required to have a parent or legal guardian with picture ID and proof of current address present in order to obtain or replace a library card. Additionally, children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian in order to assign or change their PIN. With proper identification, a parent or legal guardian is authorized to impose specific restrictions on the library records of their minor children. Parents are responsible for their children's library use. The Library staff will attempt to honor those restrictions where technologically feasible.
Tours of the buildings are available by contacting the Teen Services librarian for your branch. Tours include a detailed look at the Teen Area and its collections and features, and a behind the scenes visit to the book return and check in area. Let us know if you have a specific focus or need. We will be happy to work with you to customize your tour with instruction on resources, booktalks, or other highlights of library services.
Please allow at least two weeks planning time for any requested tour.
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Jobs at the Library
Library job openings are posted on the Ramsey County website. For information on employment opportunities with Ramsey County, including Library jobs, please visit Ramsey County Human Resources.