The Anoka County Library has eight branches, two "On The Go" locations and two affiliate locations. With a mission to connect Anoka County residents to ideas, information and inspiration, the library strives to be a community hub offering resources and experiences to enrich the lives of its patrons.
This library is part of the MELSA system, allowing for patrons to get books from most metro libraries through inter-library loan. MELSA membership also offers patrons perks such as the smARTpass Program.
10 Family-Friendly Offerings at Anoka County Libraries:
Yes, books, books, books. We love the library for books but there are so many more resources for the savvy family. "Check Out" some of these offerings:
1. Free Tickets
Find Free or reduced priced tickets to Twin Cities arts activities and museums through the SmARTpass Program. I've found tickets for the family to traveling museum exhibits that would have otherwise been out of our price range, music performances and plays. If your family is on the larger size, you may have to take a smaller group or have more than one family member use their library card to access tickets.
2. Bike Fix-It Centers at Anoka County Library Branches
Keep your kids bikes running smoothly. Anoka County announced in July of 2018, as part of an initiative to create healthier communities across Minnesota, it was installing bike fix-it stations at eight library locations: Centennial, Crooked Lake, Johnsville, Mississippi, Northtown, Rum River, St. Francis, and Columbia Heights. (You can also find them at three park locations: Bunker Hills, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes, and Riverfront). Now library patrons can bike to the library and use these stations to make quick repairs to bikes and add air to tires for FREE!
3. Anoka County Library Loans Board Games & Video Games
Northtown Library houses a collection of video games, card games and board games that can be borrowed and taken home. Some of the games available include Exploding Kittens, Forbidden Island, Seven Wonders, Sushi Go, and Zombie Dice. These appear to be mostly games for older kids and adults. Board games have the same three-week checkout time as adult books and are renewable up to four times. The collection is housed at Northtown but can be requested through the catalog.
4. Digital & Audio Books
Recently, all the MELSA libraries switched to a single e-book carrier - Libby by OverDrive. This gives patrons a wider selection across the entire MELSA system, for e-books, electronic audio books and e-magazines. It also allows for readers to access their books across multiple platforms during their loan period.
5. BookFlix
BookFlix is a fun app aimed at kids in early grade school, but can be adapted to use with younger kids. Kids can read along with a couple books and then play some literacy games.
6. Book Club in a Bag
Check out a book club kit with enough books for your whole group and pre-made discussion questions to get the conversation going. There are kits with adult, juvenile and young adult books.
7. Find Movies & Music
Can't find that movie you've been wanting to see on any of your streaming devices, there is a good chance the library has it. Plan a FREE movie night. Introduce your kids to music you love by checking it out at the library.
8. Cake Pans!!
Yes! You can check out cake pans in a variety of shapes from Anoka County Library. Make that birthday cake special this year!
9. Discover Kits
If your kids are like mine, they get really excited about a subject just long enough for you to invest in it and then
10. Learning Resources
You can find birth to Kindergarten app recommendations and advice for setting your child up for a lifetime of reading. Grow with the library with similar resources as kids age into grade school and teens. Bigger kids can also find homework help through the library.
Anoka County Library Branches
The eight main branches are:
- Centennial Library
- Crooked Lake Library
- Johnsville Library
- Mississippi Library
- North Central Library
- Northtown Library
- Rum River Library
- St. Francis Library
Anoka County Library On The Go Locations
On The Go locations operate a little like a RedBox in that books and videos can be selected from a vending machine using your library card. You can also order items online for self-service pick up at these locations. On the Go locations are:
- On the Go - Andover, 15200 Hanson Blvd NW, Andover, MN 55304, 763-755-3238
- On the Go - Ramsey, 7550 Sunwood Dr NW, Ramsey, MN 55303, 763-427-1410
Anoka County History Center
Books can picked up or dropped off at the Anoka County History Center Anoka County History Center, but it is not a full service library.
Columbia Heights Library
Columbia Heights Library is run by the City of Columbia Heights but is an affiliate of Anoka County Library. Books may be picked up and dropped off there.