Hosmer Technology Center, Hosmer Branch, Minneapolis Public Library, 347 East 36th Street, funded by the community and Minneapolis Public Library, has run at near capacity since it opened. The Center has a full-time software instructor and provides 11,000 computer user sessions per year. They are Open lab time and classes are available for everyone. Special classes in Spanish will continue through December 31, 2001. http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/htc.asp

Central Library, Minneapolis Public Library, 300 Nicollet Mall: The library currently provides several services for people with disabilities including adaptive World Wide Web browsing workstations equipped for people with visual impairments. This project is funded by a "Libraries Online!" grant from Microsoft. http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/disability.asp

Lexington Outreach Library Branch, Saint Paul Public Library, 1080 University Ave: The local office of U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), Saint Paul Public Library and area immigrant organizations, provide an interactive kiosk with public access to information on immigration topics, as well as information from other state and federal government agencies. The Kiosk features a touch-screen interface and can print INS and other forms on demand. October 2001.
http://www.stpaul.lib.mn.us/mediareleases/ins-lex.HTM

Rochester Public Library, 101 2nd Street SE: An ongoing discussion among PACTT (People Achieving Change Through Technology), SEMCIL (Southeastern Minnesota Council for Independent Living), State Services for the Blind, National Federation of the Blind, Rochester Public Schools, and the Rochester Public Library led to donations from each of the three Rochester Lions Clubs and IBM. These donations were used to purchase a new up-to-date adaptive computer workstation, which is available for the blind, visually or reading/learning disabled people. This workstation includes internet access and software that translates computer commands and text into voice, a scanner, headphones, and software that enlarges text on the screen. SEMCIL has a similar workstation and will provide extensive training for library staff. December 2000 Library News Bulletin http://www.rochesterpubliclibrary.org/library/homepage/NBdec00.HTM

Attack on America, Duluth Public Library, 520 W. Superior St: The library is currently providing a web page that includes access to a group of websites for all ages with general information about the September 11th attacks, Afghanistan, Islam, the groups involved, what the United States is doing and what we can do to protect ourselves and our families. There are also websites listed to help children deal with their feelings about the events. http://www.duluth.lib.mn.us/WhatsNew.html

Future Directions: 2000 - 2004, Minneapolis Public Library System, Minneapolis, Minnesota: On November 7, 2000 the citizens of Minneapolis voted to approve a $140,000,000 referendum to build a new Central Library and improve 14 branches. This project will lead the library into the 21st century. The improvements will provide for library technology upgrades, including computers and the internet, among other things. This project will double the computers and add emerging technologies to computers. http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/futuredir.asp