Libraries are such an important part of family fun and an inexpensive way to explore your kids ever-changing passions. We are lucky to have so many options. The Twin Cities metro area is made up of seven counties, all with their own library system. Plus, Saint Paul operates its own library system. This gives us 8 separate library systems with a total of 101 local branches. All of these locations have books, ebooks and audiobooks, but you’ll also find tickets to museums and events, park passes, cake pans, games and puzzles, movies, music via CD and download, and tons more. Library services include story times, homework help, and literacy learning assistance. Once you’ve found your local library, follow the link to find our the best family-friendly offerings.
Find nearby Twin Cities libraries on the map below:
9 Anoka County Library Branches
Covering the north-central metro area, Anoka County Library has nine branches, including Columbia Heights, which is city-owned but is an affiliate of Anoka County Library.
Learn more about Anoka County Library’s family friendly offerings here.
Anoka Country patrons can check out cake pans, games, State Park passes and more.
Anoka Branch Library Locations
- Centennial Library, 100 Civic Heights Cir, Circle Pines, MN 55014,
- Columbia Heights Public Library, 3939 Central Ave. NE Columbia Heights, MN 55421
- Crooked Lake Library, 11440 Crooked Lake Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
- Johnsville Library, 12461 Oak Park Blvd., Blaine, MN 55434
- Mississippi Library, 410 Mississippi St NE, Fridley, MN 55432
- North Central Library, 17565 Central Ave NE, Ham Lake, MN 55304
- Northtown Library, 711 County Rd. 10 NE, Blaine, MN 55434
- Rum River Library, 4201 6th Ave, Anoka, MN 55303
- St. Francis Library, Â 3519 Bridge St NW, St. Francis, MN 55070
FIND ANOKA COUNTY LIBRARY STORYTIMES, KIDS EVENTS AND MORE WAYS TO PLAY AT THE LIBRARY!
6 Carver County Library Branches
Covering the southwest metro area, Carver County Library has 6 branches.
Carver County Library Locations
- Chanhassen Library, 7711 Kerber Blvd., Chanhassen, MN 55317
- Chaska Library, 3 City Hall Plaza, Chaska, MN 55318
- Norwood Young America Library, 314 Elm Street W., Norwood Young America, MN 55368
- Victoria Library, 1670 Stieger Lake Lane, Victoria, MN 55386
- Waconia Library,217 S Vine St, Waconia, MN 55387Â
- Watertown Library, 309 Lewis Ave S SW, Watertown, MN 55388
FIND CARVER COUNTY LIBRARY STORYTIMES, KIDS EVENTS AND MORE WAYS TO PLAY AT THE LIBRARY!
10 Dakota County Library Branches
Covering the southeast metro area, Dakota County Library has 10 branches.
Learn more about Dakota County Library System’s family friendly resources here.
Check out seeds for your garden, Nature exploration kits, book club kits, WiFi Hotspots & Chromebooks, and more.
Note: Wescott Library’s Mail Station (pictured to the right) is now gone, but find more to do in the play area.
Dakota County Library Locations:
- Burnhaven Library, 1101 W County Road 42 Burnsville, MN 55306
- Farmington Library, 508 Third St. Farmington, MN 55024
- Galaxie Library, 14955 Galaxie Ave. Apple Valley,
- Heritage Library, 20085 Heritage Drive Lakeville, MN 55044
- Inver Glen Library, 8098 Blaine Avenue Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
- Pleasant Hill Library, 1490 South Frontage Rd. Hastings, MN 55033
- Robert Trail Library, 14395 S. Robert Trail Rosemount, MN 55068
- Wentworth Library, 199 East Wentworth Ave, West St. Paul, MN 55118
- Wescott Library, 1340 Wescott Road, Eagan MN 55123-1029
- City of South St. Paul Library, 106 Third Ave. N., South St. Paul, MN 55075
FIND DAKOTA COUNTY LIBRARY STORYTIMES, KIDS EVENTS AND MORE WAYS TO PLAY AT THE LIBRARY!
41 Hennepin County Library Branches
Hennepin County Library has 41 branches, including all of the Minneapolis Libraries.
Learn more about Hennepin County Library System’s family friendly offerings here.
The downtown Minneapolis branch houses special collections on the fourth floor. Call 612-543-8200 to learn more and to request materials prior to visiting.
Hennepin County Branch Libraries:
- Arvonne Fraser Library, 1222 4th St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55414
- Augsburg Park Library, 7100 Nicollet Ave., Richfield, MN 55423
- Brookdale Library, 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy., Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
- Brooklyn Park Library, 8500 W. Broadway Ave., Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
- Champlin Library, 12154 Ensign Ave. N., Champlin, MN 55316
- East Lake Library, 2727 E. Lake St., Minneapolis, MN 55406
- Eden Prairie Library, 565 Prairie Center Dr.. Eden Prairie, MN 55344
- Edina Library, 5280 Grandview Square, Edina, MN 55436
- Excelsior Library, 337 Water St., Excelsior, MN 55331
- Franklin Library, 1314 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404
- Golden Valley Library, 830 Winnetka Ave. N., Golden Valley, MN 55427
- Hopkins Library, 22 11th Ave. N., Hopkins, MN 55343
- Hosmer Library, 347 E. 36th St., Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Linden Hills Library, 2900 W. 43rd St., Minneapolis, MN 55410
- Long Lake Library, 1865 Wayzata Blvd. W., Long Lake, MN 55356
- Maple Grove Library, 8001 Main St. N., Maple Grove, MN 55369
- Maple Plain Library, 5184 Main St. E., Maple Plain, MN 55359
- Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401
- Minnetonka Library, 17524 Excelsior Blvd., Minnetonka, MN 55345
- Nokomis Library, 5100 34th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55417
- North Regional Library, 1315 Lowry Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55411
- Northeast Library, 2200 Central Ave. N.E., Minneapolis, MN 55418
- Osseo Library, 415 Central Ave., Osseo, MN 55369
- Oxboro Library, 8801 Portland Ave. S., Bloomington, MN 55420
- Penn Lake Library, 8800 Penn Ave. S., Bloomington, MN 55431
- Pierre Bottineau Library, 55 Broadway St. N.E., Minneapolis, MN 55413
- Plymouth Library, 15700 36th Ave. N., Plymouth, MN 55446
- Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Dr., Minnetonka, MN 55305
- Rockford Road Library, 6401 42nd Ave. N., Crystal, MN 55427
- Rogers Library, 21300 John Milless Dr., Rogers, MN 55374
- Roosevelt Library, 4026 28th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406
- St. Anthony Library, 2941 Pentagon Dr. N.E., St. Anthony, MN 55418
- St. Bonifacius Library, 8624 Kennedy Memorial Dr., St. Bonifacius, MN 55375
- St. Louis Park Library, 3240 Library Lane, St. Louis Park, MN 55426
- Southdale Library, 7001 York Ave. S., Edina, MN 55435
- Sumner Library, 611 Van White Memorial Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55411
- Walker Library, 2880 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Washburn Library, 5244 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55419
- Wayzata Library, 620 Rice St., Wayzata, MN 55391
- Webber Park Library, 4440 Humboldt Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55412
- Westonka Library, 2079 Commerce Blvd., Mound, MN 55364
FIND HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY STORYTIMES, KIDS EVENTS AND MORE WAYS TO PLAY AT THE LIBRARY!
7 Ramsey County Library Branches
Learn more about Ramsey County Library services and family-friendly offerings here.
Check out a STEM kit, attend a story time or even use a sewing machine.
- Roseville Library, 2180 North Hamline Ave Roseville, MN 55113
- Maplewood Library, 3025 Southlawn Drive, Maplewood, MN 55109
- Mounds View Library, 2576 County Road 10, Mounds View, MN 55112
- New Brighton Library, 400 10th St NW, New Brighton, MN 55112
- North St. Paul Library, 2300 North St. Paul Drive, North St. Paul, MN 55109
- Shoreview Library, 4570 North Victoria Street, Shoreview, MN 55126
- White Bear Lake Library, 2150 2nd Street, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
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Current hours at all locations.
FIND RAMSEY COUNTY STORYTIMES, KIDS EVENTS AND MORE WAYS TO PLAY AT THE LIBRARY!
13 Saint Paul Library Branches
Saint Paul Library has 13 branches.
Learn more about Saint Paul Library’s family-friendly offerings here.
- Arlington Hills Library, 1200 Payne Ave, St Paul, MN 55130
- Dayton’s Bluff Library, 645 E 7th St, St Paul, MN 55106
- George Latimer Central Library, 90 W 4th St, St Paul, MN 55102
Hamline Midway Library, 1558 W Minnehaha Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55104 – Closed 5/28/23 for construction of new library (slated to reopen in 2025)- Hayden Heights Library, 1456 White Bear Ave, St Paul, MN 55106
- Highland Park Library, 1974 Ford Pkwy, St Paul, MN 55116
- Merriam Park Library, 1831 Marshall Ave, St Paul, MN 55104
- Rice Street Library, Rice Street, Saint Paul, MN, USA
- Riverview Library, 1 George St E, St Paul, MN 55107
- Rondo Community Library, 461 Dale St N, St Paul, MN 55103
- Saint Anthony Park Library, Como Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, USA
- Sun Ray Library, Wilson Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, USA
- West Seventh Library, Oneida Street, Saint Paul, MN, USA
FIND ST PAUL PUBLIC LIBRARY STORYTIMES, KIDS EVENTS AND MORE WAYS TO PLAY AT THE LIBRARY!
7 Scott County Library Branches
Covering the far mid southwest metro area, Scott County Library has 7 branches.
Learn more about Scott County Library System’s family friendly offerings here.
- Belle Plaine Library, 125 W Main Street, Belle Plaine, MN 56011. Phone: (952) 873-6767.
- Elko New Market Library, 110 J Roberts Way, Elko New Market, MN 55054. Phone: (952) 496-8030.Â
- Jordan Library, 275 Creek Lane S., Jordan, MN 55352. Phone: (952) 496-8050.
- New Prague Library, 400 E Main Street, New Prague, MN 56071. Phone: (952) 496-8026
- Prior Lake Library, 16210 Eagle Creek Avenue SE, Prior Lake, MN 55372. Phone:Â (952) 447-3375
- Savage Library, 13090 Alabama Avenue S., Savage, MN 55378. Phone: (952) 707-1770
- Shakopee Library, 235 Lewis Street S., Shakopee, MN 55379. Phone: (952) 233-9590.
Scott County Library Locations Hours.
FIND SCOTT COUNTY LIBRARY STORYTIMES, KIDS EVENTS AND MORE WAYS TO PLAY AT THE LIBRARY!
9 Washington County Library Branches
 Learn more about Washington County Library System’s family friendly offerings here.
- Hardwood Creek Library, 19955 Forest Rd N, Forest Lake, MNÂ 55025
- Oakdale Library, 1010 Heron Ave N, Oakdale, MNÂ 55128
- Park Grove Library, 7900 Hemingway Ave S, Cottage Grove, MNÂ 55016
- R.H. Stafford Library, 8595 Central Park Place, Woodbury, MNÂ 55125
- Valley Library, 380 St Croix Trail S, Lakeland, MNÂ 55043
- Wildwood Library, 763 Stillwater Rd, Mahtomedi, MNÂ 55115
- Bayport Public Library, 582 4th St N, Bayport, MNÂ 55003
- Stillwater Public Library, 224 3rd St N Stillwater, MNÂ 55082
Washington County Library Hours by Location
FIND WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY STORYTIMES, KIDS EVENTS AND MORE WAYS TO PLAY AT THE LIBRARY!
101 Twin Cities Libraries Tied Together by MELSA
What is MELSA? The Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA) is the alliance of the metro-area Twin Cities libraries. Many of our favorite library programs, like the smART pass and summer reading programs come through MELSA. If you can’t find what you are looking for at your own library, your local librarian can probably help you get it through MELSA’s inter-library loan. All the metro libraries now share e-books and audio books through one MELSA program.
More Fun with Twin Cities Libraries - PLAY & LEARN SPACES
Anne and her preschooler explored Library Play-and-Learn Spaces:
Minneapolis Toy Library – Toy Lending Program
Did you know that there is a toy lending program in Minneapolis? Visit a Minneapolis Toy Library to try out games, puzzles, learning toys and more. The Minneapolis Toy Library is a toy lending program which seeks to reduce waste, foster child development, and build community in the Minneapolis area. An annual membership allows families
Little Free Library: Family Fun in Miniature
There once was a man from Hudson, Wisconsin who wanted to read. And then he wanted to share his books. But how could he share his books with all who were interested? And created a little dollhouse-sized library for his front yard. Â Whoever wanted a book, could help themselves. Or whoever wanted to lend their
Whether your kids are taking a deep dive into a new subject or just getting an overview, you find tons of fun topics to explore at our local Twin Cities libraries.
Hello. . . I’m executive director of a nonprofit mental health counseling organization–Walk-In Counseling Center (though we’re all virtual right now). We offer free, anonymous, no-appointment services (during counseling clinic hours) for anyone who needs us, all by professional clinical volunteers.
It’s very difficult to get the word out, but I have a one-page flier that gives instruction about how to access us. Is there a way to get it to you so that you can forward it to all the libraries (over 100!). The instructions are also on our website: walkin.org
I greatly appreciate your help. We’ve been doing this for 52 years, but the pandemic has changed the game!
Thanks much,
Mary Weeks, MSW
Executive Director
Walk-In Counseling Center
walkin.org
612-423-2982 (my cell during the pandemic)
Hi Mary. This is a great idea. However, we are not associated with MELSA, we were simply writing about the library options out there for families.