About

Celebrating the past while embracing the future, the Northfield Public Library’s historic Carnegie setting provides a welcoming public gathering place with up-to-date technology and resources for an education and arts-oriented community. Whether you’re looking for a book or print magazine in the library, downloading an e-book or e-magazine, using our free WiFi in one of the library’s comfortable reading rooms or searching for family history on our databases,  you will find that the Northfield Public Library is buzzing with activity and opportunity. 

The Northfield Public Library is an independent member of Southeastern Libraries Cooperating (SELCO), which provides automation services and many of our electronic resources, as well as traditional ground delivery of materials shared among libraries. SELCO is also Northfield’s link to libraries all over the state of Minnesota – and a Northfield Public Library card can be used at all other SELCO locations and many public libraries throughout the state of Minnesota.

To learn about the history of the library, click here.

Mission Statement

Northfield Public Library strengthens community, supports literacy, provides access to information, and fosters lifelong learning and enrichment.

Values

Community

•    Provide a welcoming, public gathering space
•    Preserve and celebrate the community’s heritage, history and future
•    Establish partnerships with other community organizations

Service

•    Provide professional and responsive service to all
•    Offer convenient hours of service
•    Reach out to underserved areas and populations

Stewardship

•    Pledge responsible stewardship of public resources and private gifts
•   Maintain library facilities and equipment

Learning

•    Support intellectual freedom by collecting diverse resources
•   Support lifelong learning, education and enrichment

Access

•    Make collections and facilities physically accessible to all
•    Provide electronic resources and the education to use them (Information Literacy)
•    Establish and maintain connections with other libraries and library organizations for greater efficiency in sharing resources and staff expertise