Bookstore inside Minneapolis Central Library to close

Friends of the Hennepin County Library Bookstore
The used bookstore operated by the Friends of the Hennepin County Library will close its doors on May 30, 2015.
Tracy Mumford | MPR News

Come May 30, there will be one less used book store in the Twin Cities. The Friends of the Hennepin County Library Bookstore will close its doors at the end of the month.

The store has operated out of the Minneapolis Central Library since the building opened in 2006. Staffed by volunteers and Friends employees, the store's stock included donated books and books removed from the library's collection. Profits from the bookstore went back to the library to fund programs and purchase new titles.

A combination of factors is behind the decision to close the store: declining sales, staffing changes and a decrease in volunteers. "There are better ways to get these used books into the hands of the community," said Friends executive director Kristi Pearson.

The excess stock will be distributed through the library's outreach program, and the Ridgedale Library's bookstore, which is entirely staffed by volunteers, will remain open.

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For those looking to fill their shelves (or their Little Free Libraries), the store's final sale is a doozy: $2 gets you an entire bag of books.

"We have a store room of back stock," said Pearson,"But we're bringing it out fast because bags fill up quickly."

If you go: The Friends of the Hennepin County Library Bookstore

Hurry; the store is only open for three more days.

Where: Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 55401

When:
Saturday, May 23: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Thursday, May 28: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 30: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.