Minneapolis library to join county system.(U.S. & International)(Minneapolis Public Library to join Hennepin County Public Library)(Brief article)

The beleaguered Minneapolis Public Library voted 7-1 to merge with the Hennepin County Public Library at an emotional March 7 board meeting. If approved by the state legislature, the Minneapolis system--which has struggled since 2003 with reductions in local funding, staff reductions, and branch closings (AL, Dec. 2006, p. 28)--will become part of a new system to be called the Hennepin County Library.

At least three Minneapolis residents would be appointed to a new 10-member board, thus ending the MPL board's 80-year oversight of its system, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported March 8. "Times have changed," Board President Anita Duckor said before voting in favor of …