MELSA (Metropolitan Library Service Agency) is an alliance of over 100 public libraries in the seven-county Twin Cities metro, working together to bring the best library services and programs to you. MELSA is a regional library system that promotes cooperation among its eight member library systems.
Here are some of the benefits MELSA brings to you and your library:
- MELSA subscribes to online resources that your library system makes available. Most metro public libraries identify the resources provided through MELSA on their websites. A list of online resources provided by MELSA can be found here.
- MELSA coordinates metro public library participation at a variety of community events. Events include the Minnesota State Fair, Hmong New Year festivities, the Twin Cities Book Festival, Cinco de Mayo, and others throughout the year.
- MELSA develops metrowide programs such as the Museum Adventure Pass program where you can check out passes to local cultural organizations free of charge, and the Quiet on the Set short film competition, which are offered at all metro public libraries.
- MELSA also plays an active role in the metro public libraries' Summer Reading Program, locally coordinating a joint kick-off event in June and supporting library programming.
- Residents with a metro public library card may check out items at any of the 100+ metro libraries.
In 2008, the 100+ metro public libraries collectively:
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Provided resources to 2.5 million library cardholders
- Answered more than 3,500,000 information requests
- Logged close to 30 million visits to their websites
- Provided access to more than 2,700 computer workstations for the public's use (some designated specifically for use by children and teens)
- Circulated more than 35,000,000 items (including books, DVDs, videos, audiotapes, and CDs)
- Offered more than 10,000 storytimes for children and their families
- Hosted 19,902 programs with 568,653 people attending
- Checked out 150,000 Museum Adventure Passes (translating to nearly 400,000 library user visits to participating cultural attractions)
- Participated in the Minnesota Summer Reading program, with over 100,000 children and nearly 20,000 teens involved with summer reading