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WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY <br />A Report on Preliminary Directions <br />for Facilities Planning <br />Summary of Current Situation <br />The Washington County Library is a complicated system serving a large, diverse and <br />geographically disparate population. The Library Department currently includes six branches, <br />three express libraries and a law library. Of the six branches, three would be classified as <br />regional, full-service facilities (Hardwood Creek, R. H. Stafford, and Park Grove). Two libraries <br />are medium-sized facilities offering most services but are somewhat more restricted by space. <br />(Wildwood and Oakdale), one library is small with limited services (Lakeland), and there is a <br />small law library at the Government Center in Stillwater. The Library also has three express <br />libraries in Hugo, Marine on St. Croix, and Newport, which are locker systems for pickup and <br />drop-off of materials. The express libraries in Marine on St. Croix and Newport are also <br />connected to small community libraries operated independently. <br />There also are two associate libraries in Washington County in Stillwater and Bayport, which <br />receive some services from the County system and collaborate in a number of areas, but are <br />funded and operated independently by their municipalities. Residents in those communities <br />have full lending privileges in the County system and vice versa. The Stillwater Public Library <br />would be considered a large branch, and Bayport a small branch in comparison to the libraries <br />in the Washington County system. In addition to the independent associate libraries, there is <br />also a small, independent library in Lake Elmo, which is not affiliated with the County system. <br />A significant portion of Washington County residents also regularly use the public libraries in <br />surrounding counties and municipalities (the use of other libraries may be as high as 25%). <br />Minnesota and metro area libraries have cooperative agreements which permit residents of <br />one community to use other Minnesota and metro area libraries free of charge. Because a high <br />percentage of Washington County residents work and shop outside the County, and significant <br />portions of the population live in close proximity to Ramsey, Anoka, and Dakota counties and <br />the city of Saint Paul, one would expect this trend to continue. In particular, in the community <br />resident survey conducted as a part of this strategic planning process, the use of Ramsey <br />County libraries by Washington County residents was notable and should be considered in <br />