Libraries among the nation’s best he Edina and Southdale libraries are part of the Hennepin County Library system, nationally recognized as one of the top libraries in the United States. Hennepin County Library serves 1.2 million residents in Hennepin County and offers about five million books, CDs, DVDs, electronic resources, and other items in more than 40 languages, and 1,775 public computers. Last year, there were an estimated 5.6 million in-person visits to Hennepin County libraries and an estimated 15.6 million visits to Hennepin County Library’s website, www.hclib.org. Library customers checked out about 17 million items and asked more than 900,000 reference questions. More than 2,500 volunteers contributed more than 86,000 hours of service to Hennepin County Library in 2009. Job and small business resources are available at all libraries and online. Five libraries, including Southdale, have more extensive resources in their Jobs & Small Business Centers. Free programs for children, teen, and adults include storytimes, author programs and technology classes.
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•The Edina Aquatic Center opened in 1958. Today there are six main attractions: Ship Wreck Express, Oakwood Forest, Pirate’s Plunge, water playground, diving boards and water cannons.
Historic Grange House
All libraries offer free use of public access computers. Adaptive technology for people with low vision and other disabilities is available at many libraries. Hennepin County Library Outreach liaisons assist customers in Spanish, Hmong and Somali at several libraries, over the phone, and via the website. Outreach Service delivers library books and other materials free of charge to county residents who have barriers in getting to the library. The Museum Adventure Pass program available at all libraries offers free 22
admission to some area museums and other organizations, thanks to the participating museums, in collaboration with Macy’s and the Metropolitan Library Service Agency, an alliance of public libraries in the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. Residents who have a library card from any of those libraries (Hennepin, Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington county library systems and the St. Paul Public Library) may check out items from any of their 100plus libraries. For Hennepin County Library locations, hours, and other information, call your local library or go online to www.hclib.org/locations Library cards are free. Apply for a card at your local library or online at http://www.hclib.org/pub/info/library_c ards.cfm Henn. County Library – Edina 5280 Grandview Square, Edina 952-847-5425 Henn. County Library - Southdale 7001 York Ave. S., Edina 952-847-5900