Skip to main content

Rural areas considering how to deliver library services in a post-Bookmobile age

Beltrami County - like other rural areas around Minnesota - has decided the venerable old bookmobile is no longer the most cost-effective way to provide library services to residents far from any brick-and-mortar library. OK, then what is? There's not exactly any consensus on that yet.
  • Author:
  • Updated:
    Original:

Beltrami County - like other rural areas around Minnesota - has decided the venerable old bookmobile is no longer the most cost-effective way to provide library services to residents far from any brick-and-mortar library. OK, then what is? There's not exactly any consensus on that yet.

Next Up

MissingMankatoWomanSideBySide
MN News

Body of missing Mankato woman believed to have been found

A canoer found the body in a swamp near Eagle Lake Friday.

kim crockett facebook sos
MN News

MN GOP endorses attorney general, secretary of state candidates

Kim Crockett was endorsed as the party's candidate for secretary of state, while Jim Schultz won the endorsement for attorney general.

FSmb9kkWAB0UBqk
MN News

Volunteer firefighter identified as man killed during Thursday storms

The Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office confirmed that 63-year-old Ryan Erickson died when a grain bin fell on him.

Juan Ramos, standing outside of his Taco Chon Mexican Grill, in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
MN News

Firm takes on case defending Taco Chon against Taco John's lawsuit

The local Mexican restaurant is fighting a case presented by Taco John's over naming rights, among other things.

Screen Shot 2022-05-14 at 7.32.27 AM
MN News

Worker killed in skid loader accident was 23-year-old apprentice lineman

Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative called the incident "the unthinkable."

Cascade River 1
MN News

Raging North Shore rivers overtake bridges, snap trees in half

Pedestrian bridges near the Lutsen Resort have been damaged by the vast river flow.

u.s. attorney's office
MN News

St. Paul man sentenced for 2021 robbery spree

Warren Dean, 27, admitted to robbing seven St. Paul businesses in a span of three days.

1948 Riviera Ave S, Lake St Croix Beach, Minnesota - September 2013 (1)
MN News

Stillwater teen drowned while helping save friend struggling in river

The 17-year-old was identified Friday.

Evie Carshare
MN Travel

Nation's first city-owned EV car share service gets official Twin Cities launch

Subscriptions cost between $0-$30 a month.

FSmfYf0WABgrNhI
MN News

Stevens County may have been hit the hardest by Thursday storms

The entire county was without power after the storms blew through Thursday evening.

State Patrol
MN News

3 killed, 1 critical after trio of crashes in Minnesota Thursday

One person also faces life-threatening injuries in a crash that happened in Olmsted County.

Screen Shot 2022-05-13 at 1.25.08 PM
Minnesota Life

Mora woman saves pelican caught in fishing line for days

A birthday fishing trip shapes into a heroic tale.

Related

MN News

Country churches suffer as rural areas lose people

A growing number of rural Midwestern churches -- where generations have been baptized, married and buried -- are closing their doors as rural America loses residents to cities and suburbs. "There’s a kind of sadness to see the rural decline,” one observer says.

MN News

Minnesota cities are cutting back on library services

Financially squeezed cities generally try to avoid cutting back on public safety. That means many turn to libraries, where shorter hours, fewer staff, and smaller acquisitions budgets are becoming common.

MN News

St. Paul Library dry enough to reopen areas drenched in water mishap

Just over a week after parts of the St. Paul Central Library got drenched in a water mishap, the library is dry enough to resume business. The library director said a custodian left a sink faucet running overnight after a shift July 6, and workers found water pooling on a large section of the third floor the next day.

MN News

Social Security cuts would hit rural areas hardest

In Minnesota's metropolitan counties 14 percent of residents receive Social Security benefits. In rural counties it's more than 23 percent.

MN News

Franken says Congress is working to preserve rural mail service

The senator says he thinks some leaders on both sides of the aisle agree something should be done to prevent the impending closure of rural processing centers and post offices, but the Democrat admits putting a plan in place by the May 15th deadline could be tough.

MN News

Some libraries leery of erotic bestseller; it's Hennepin's biggest hit

The bestseller "Fifty Shades of Grey" is a little too steamy for some public libraries around the country. But up here in the northland we like steam. The Hennepin County Public Library tells the New York Times more people have requested holds on that book than any other the staff can remember. They've even offered a list of other spicy novels to read while you wait for "Shades of Grey" to be returned.

MN News

Trend: People in 30s, 40s moving to rural areas

People in their 30s and 40s have continued to move to parts of rural Minnesota, new research shows -- perhaps drawn by a higher quality of life, a slower pace, more security, cheaper housing and a better place to raise children. The results add nuance to larger trends of population decline, young people leaving and elderly populations increasing in rural areas.

MN News

A dozen Minnesota counties consider collaborating services

Twelve counties in southeast Minnesota are exploring ways to improve services and save money. The Twin Cities Daily Planet reports one idea would collaborate certain departments such as IT and finance as well as child support enforcement and child care licensing. The regional collaboration could offer a virtual services center accessible from a website or smartphone application. A report, detailing the implementation plans as well as an estimate of cost savings and job losses, is due in April.