Friends of the Hennepin County Library

10/13/2026

Megha Majumdar's "A Guardian and a Thief" was longlisted for the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction. Check out this article to read more about Majumdar's inspirations, creative process, favorite authors and more!

There's still time to join us next week when she takes the Pen Pals stage! Secure your in-person ticket (while they last!) or virtual ticket here: supporthclib.org/megha-majumdar

Special thanks to our generous sponsor, Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis.

Longlisted for the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction, judge Annie Macmanus said: “A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar follows a family in a near future Kolkata in the midst of the climate crisis. Incredibly well-written, it is a book about the moral ambiguity of humanity that constantly challe...

10/10/2026

Today marks the end of Banned Books Week, a time to highlight the value of free and open access to information and bring together the entire book community in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas.

We encourage you to get involved by learning more about censorship or picking up a challenged book to read at your next library visit! bit.ly/hclBannedBookWeek

10/09/2026

In case you missed it, we have good news! Hennepin County Library hours will stay the same in 2027! 🎉

More than 2,500 dedicated library champions contacted their elected officials. Thanks to you, our county commissioners saw how important our libraries are to you and your neighbors. Thank you for lending your voice, sharing your passion, and showing up for your library!

10/07/2026

If you liked Megha Majumdar's "A Burning" and "A Guardian and a Thief," check out this list of similar titles chosen by our expert librarians! bit.ly/3TIsiEc

Are you joining us for Pen Pals on October 19 or 20? There's still time to grab a virtual ticket or put your name on the in-person waitlist! supporthclib.org/megha-majumdar

Special thank you to our generous sponsor, Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis.

10/01/2026

‼️Next up at Talk of the Stacks‼️

Pulitzer Prize winner Ayad Akhtar will join us on Tuesday, November 10 to discuss his recently released novel, "The Radiance." The story begins with a writer involved in a mysterious accident along a country road. When the hit-and-run shatters more than his body, the ensuing revelations paint a provocative portrait of academic and cultural warfare, erotic entanglement, and family secrets.

This is a ✨free✨ event but registration is required. Save your spot in person or virtually today!

Talk of the Stacks - Free Event

09/30/2026

"It takes a lot of courage to face who we truly are and who we can truly be." —Megha Majumdar

Pen Pals continues in less than three weeks with National Book Award finalist Megha Majumdar, author of "A Burning" and her newest novel, "A Guardian and a Thief."

Grab your virtual ticket or join our in-person waitlist today!

And a special thank you to our generous sponsor, Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis.

Pen Pals - Ticketed In-person + Virtual Event

09/29/2026

We had a blast kicking off the 30th season of Pen Pals with Lily King! She kept us laughing, tugged at our heartstrings, and charmed us with tales of her childhood, her writing quirks, and her love for stories about love. Thanks for joining us!

And a huge thank you to Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis for hosting our guest of honor!

09/27/2026

Starting tomorrow, it's the season premiere of Pen Pals featuring New York Times bestselling author, Lily King! ✨

Whether you join us in person or online, we can't wait to see you at this season's kick off!

A huge thank you to our generous sponsor, Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis.

Pen Pals - Ticketed In-person + Virtual Event

09/22/2026

Next week, the 30th season of Pen Pals opens with an eagerly-awaited appearance from Lily King! We are looking forward to hearing her speak about her newest novel, "Heart the Lover," a deeply moving exploration of literature, forgiveness, and the transformative bonds that shape our lives.

We'll see you in Hopkins next week! Still need tickets? There's still time to join the virtual livestream.

Thank you to our generous sponsor Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis!

Pen Pals - Ticketed In-person + Virtual Event

09/17/2026

We book enthusiasts always have our eye on literature’s latest and greatest, and there are plenty of titles to get excited about in the coming weeks. Here’s a list of new and forthcoming releases to check out as you dive into this bustling publishing season—and you can even add unreleased titles to your hold list to get ahead of the game! supporthclib.org/most-anticipated-fall-2026-releases

What are you most excited to read this fall?