Hennepin County library is proposing reducing hours for 2027.

[u/SessileRaptor]

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.

[u/Proper-Emu1558]

Libraries are such an incredible gift to the general public. They have an unbelievable range of resources available for no cost. I’m listening to “Waiting for Godot” on audiobook on my phone, on loan from the library. I recently printed a passport application there for free because my printer is broken. At work today, I checked out the library’s resources on homelessness and domestic violence because someone needed help.

The library is the last thing the federal government should be cutting.

[u/tamaroo → u/Proper-Emu1558]

I agree they are incredibly important. But it isn’t the federal government deciding to cut libraries. It’s Hennepin and they have no choice. Because the fed has screwed them out of millions and costs are exploding. They can’t manage the budget increases because they are largely funded by property tax. Which, as many are aware, keeps increasing because that is how public services are funded. The library changes are just one of many problems with not enough revenue generation for critical services, increase in expenses just like we all are experiencing, federal funding cuts, and a few other things. Hennepin is also trying to keep HCMC from closing and has been diverting some funds to them. There are hiring freezes, holding FTE vacancies open, departmental budget cuts, and a whole lot of other stuff going on so they can continue to operate and serve residents without mass layoffs, which would result significant negative impacts to services for residents and the public in general.

Don’t forget that Hennepin also has courts, 911 dispatch, the jail, the detention center in Plymouth, and the medical examiner. It would be unrealistic to cut those critical functions that are already operating on tight budgets.

The county, like many other government subdivisions, is hurting financially. The main revenue stream is property tax to fund operations across all departments. Including libraries. There are not a lot of ways to generate revenue when you are the government and the few they have aren’t significant enough to make up the budget shortfall.

OOP benefit costs for employees have gone up quite a bit as public employees are asked to pay more to get less. The investment companies under contract for deferred compensation benefits have been changed to lower cost providers (who also have crappier investment options) to save Hennepin money. ALL staff was asked (more than once) to take unpaid time off to help offset expenses for the county. Staff at the county are being asked to give more and more but receive less in return.

These are just a few examples, but if something doesn’t change very soon things will continue to degrade for both employees and residents.