Ramsey County Library was nominated and awarded the Gold seal, opens a new window by the Star Tribune's Minnesota's Best—an interactive and community-oriented contest where businesses earn recognition through audience participation. Nominations originate from various sources, including owners, managers, customers and devoted fans.
Being chosen as one of Minnesota's Best is an immense honor for Ramsey County Library, reflecting the dedication and hard work of our staff in providing exceptional services and resources to our community. As a premier public space, we take profound pride in enhancing the quality of life for Ramsey County residents and continuously strive to create welcoming, anti-racist, equitable, responsive and effective spaces for all communities. This accolade inspires us to pursue excellence and innovate ways to cater to the diverse needs of our patrons. We deeply appreciate the unwavering support of our community and eagerly look forward to welcoming both familiar faces and newcomers, as we continue our mission to be a beacon of education and enrichment in Minnesota.
Over the past year, the Library has witnessed steady recovery in service utilization and spaces, reflecting the value and relevance it provides to the community. In-person visits have rebounded by 50% from 2021, as the Library continues to emerge from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents checked out an impressive 2.73 million items, including books, audiobooks, electronic books, movies, music and games. Learning opportunities and library events totaled 2,240 programs, attracting 35,178 participants, both in-person and virtually. Notably, Ramsey County Library welcomed 11,472 new library cardholders in 2022.
Sustaining partnerships with county departments remains crucial to the Library's success. A newly equitable check out process between the library and Ramsey County Correctional Facility has enabled residents to gain access to the current library collection. The Parks and Library's Books and Bikes program continues, allowing patrons to explore trails around the libraries by trying out different types of bikes. Additionally, Service Centers and Workforce Career Labs at the Roseville and Maplewood libraries facilitate connections to essential county services and programs.
Last year's Summer Break, Ramsey County Library's summer reading program, engaged 1,895 kids and teens. The participants read 20,725 books and wrote 2,970 book reviews, resulting in the distribution of 2,575 books to program participants. This year’s program is currently wrapping up and statistics will be available soon.
For more information about Minnesota’s Best awards, visit their website at votedminnesotasbest.com, opens a new window. Delve into all of the Library's remarkable accomplishments, opens a new window, circulation numbers, opens a new window and more by exploring Ramsey County's Open Data Portal, opens a new window. For the latest information on our services, programs and events, visit the Library's website, opens a new window.
