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Library News

Written by the alley on 30 March 2021

By CARZ NELSON

We live in changing times. For updated information on Hennepin County Library services during the Coronavirus Pandemic, visit www.hclib.org. All information is accurate as of March 16, 2021.

LIBRARY UPDATES: HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY QUITS CHARGING FINES

The library has gone fine free. Patrons will no longer be charged for overdue material, but they will continue to be responsible for the replacement cost of unreturned or lost items. An item is considered unreturned 41 days after its due date.

To kick off the new policy, the county extended amnesty to residents with outstanding fines. On March 10, all Hennepin County Library cards were reset to a $0 balance.

LABOR PROGRAMS LED BY UMN”™S LABOR EDUCATION SERVICEÂ

We got a hot tip that HCLib is sponsoring programs that will be led by the University of Minnesota”™s Labor Education Service. Registration information for these events will be made available on the library website.

Thursday April 29th at 6:00 PM- Know Your Rights in the Workplace- Learn about your rights whether or not you”™re represented by a union. Learn about legislations and organizations that protect workers”™ rights.

Thursday May 6th at 6:30 PM-Celebrating May Day: Workers of the Twin Cities Labor Movement- Workers from Tattersall Distilling, Ausburg University, and the Awood Center talk about recent organizing campaigns in their workplaces. … Read the rest “Library News”

Better Days Are Coming

Written by the alley on 30 March 2021

METRO TRANSIT

By JOHN CHARLES WILSON

There are two big pieces of news this month. One isn”™t transit-specific but will have a major impact in the next few months on transit, and that is we seem to be turning the corner on the coronavirus pandemic. Masks may soon become historical relics, as forgotten as they were after the 1918 flu. In addition, our transit service will probably return to normal soon, though “normal” may not be the same as what it was before. Ironically, for many of us it may be even better. The suburban commuter market tanked during the pandemicÂ due to many office jobs being done from home instead. Quite a few companies may find the work-at-home model to be cheaper as they won”™t have to rent, buy, or maintain as much office space. In addition, some companies are pulling out of downtown Minneapolis due to uncertainty about the safety of doing business there. Personally, I find that sad, but the implications for transit are actually good. That is because there will be less need for rush-hour-only bus routes that run empty to and from the garage and only carry passengers one way, usually from the suburbs to downtown in the morning and back to the suburbs in the evening.… Read the rest “Better Days Are Coming”