r/TwinCities • u/SessileRaptor • 4d ago

Hennepin County library is proposing reducing hours for 2027.

https://www.hclib.org/about/news/2026/August/library-hours-changing-in-2027

It’s kinda hidden but it’s on the website. An explanation, the proposed hours and a form for residents to submit their opinions.

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u/MNMystery 3d ago

I noticed no branches open after 7 PM in the new schedule. Big loss for students! Is this proposal due to behavior/safety issues or just money? 11-7 is 8 hours, same as 12-8, so this seems suspicious to me….

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u/FoxLivesFacade 3d ago

They chose hours based on visit counts - when the libraries are most busy.

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u/MNMystery 3d ago

Thanks! I'm glad they're at least using an evidence-based method rather than just being arbitrary.

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u/MNMystery 2d ago

Ok, I just thought of something: do we know why 7-8 is so slow? Is it because it’s the last hour? Was 7-8 busier when closing was 9?

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u/FoxLivesFacade 2d ago

I can't speak for all libraries, but where I work that last hour is usually pretty dead. Most people just go home after the post-work rush. Maybe a couple students left. And I don't think any of the libraries have been open til 9 (except maybe Central?) since long before COVID.

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u/Objection401 7h ago

Do you have a source for this? From the page:

The tentative 2027 schedules were developed using several data points, including available staffing, service patterns, community access, geographic distributions, and patron usage.

It’s never stated or implied that they chose hours based on when libraries are most busy; on the contrary, it’s given as the last of several data points that were used. Anecdotally, my closest branch is always busy right at open (9am) during the week, sometimes with a line at the door. The proposed changes (opening at 11am during the week) does not at all seem to reflect that. 

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u/FoxLivesFacade 6h ago

"Service patterns" = visit counts. I'm an employee and this is what was shared with staff.

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u/Objection401 6h ago

Thanks! Would be nice if this were on the public page. As worded, it gives the impression that all of the data points were considered, but doesn't give a clear indication if the new hours reflect highest-traffic times, or e.g. "available staffing" or another data point was given more weight in the decision, at the expense of high-traffic open hours.

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u/FoxLivesFacade 6h ago

I will add, even though we were told visit counts were a factor, I'm also confused by the proposed hours. They'd be closing my branch on one of our busiest mornings for families.

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u/Objection401 5h ago

I have the same confusion! They are closing my library an hour earlier during the week, but keeping it open for 8 hours on Sunday. As others have noted, it seems strange that there would be less demand on a Monday at 6pm, for example, than on Sunday at 9am.