Circulation Department

Information, History, and Background

General Information:
    Our collection  consists of books with good selection of large print and paperbacks. It also includes books on tape and CDs, foreign language learning tapes, compact discs, videos, DVD's, newspapers, magazines, phone books, pamphlets, story time kits, current US census materials, the Minnesota Statues, maps, tax forms, and microfilm (the local newspaper back to 1860 and census records).
    In addition to this range of physical materials, the library provides electronic access to its own catalog, Minnesota library catalogs, magazine and newspaper indexes, and business and telephone directories. Internet searching is also available. There are public access terminals for these resources, and the staff is always glad to explain how to use them. Also, there are word processors, microfilm reader/printers and copy machines available for public use.
    For its annual summer reading program, the Children's Department stages a full schedule of festive events. Throughout the year, it continues to provide story hours, tours and programs.

The circulation staff will help you register for a library card, check out your materials and find the video you want.

It is possible to find a quiet place to read at the Winona Public Library but you can also look up the value of a used car during your lunch hour, find the ratings on toasters while your child is enjoying story hour or grab a recorded book or CD to listen to on a trip.
                                    


Frequently asked questions:

Where Is The Library Located?
151 West 5th Street Winona MN 55987
(On the corner of 5th and Johnson Streets)
if you are "MAILING" us something, PLEASE send to: PO BOX 1247! (thank-you!)

How do I contact the library?
Hours 507-452-4582
Select #3 to hear our recording of Library Hours

Reference Desk 507-452-4860 This is the number to call for information or find out where to get information you need. Also, you may place reserves or request interlibrary loans.

Circulation Desk 507-452-4582 Call this number to ask about your library card, fines, overdue or lost books and videos.

Children's Department 507-452-4592 Call here to ask about programs, reserve children's materials and discuss overdue or lost children's books.

Director's Office 507-457-8204 Call the director with any administrative concerns.
 
To connect to the SELCO database from your home computer click HERE.
 

How Many Items Can I Take and How Long May I Keep them?
No more than 50 items OR a set dollar value limit, may be checked out to one person.

                                

Check out periods and overdue fine charges effective January 1, 2002

 We ask that you try not to deplete an entire non-fiction subject area by taking no more than six books per subject.  
Children's HOLIDAY books are limited to FOUR during that particular holiday season.

Do You Charge Fines or Fees?
The library charges fines on all overdue materials. The fine is 10 CENTS per day per book, pamphlet, magazine, CD, kit, or audiobook.
Best sellers ARE checked out for ONLY 14 days, and the overdue fine is 25 CENTS per day per book.
Interlibrary loan materials returned late accrue fines of $.10 per day per item.
Videos, DVD's software and storysack fines are $1.00 a day per item.

Minnesota Non-resident Library Card Fee is $40 per year per household.

Do you have Internet  Access for public use?
Yes we do.  We have two computers in the Children's Department and ten in the Reference Department.   

 Please click here for our Internet Use Policy.

Historical Background

The Winona Public Library is an elegant gray Bedford stone building with a copper dome sitting  slightly back from the street at the corner of 5th and Johnson Streets. It was given to the town by William Laird in 1899 and is now registered as a National Historic Place.

In the Bell Art room is a lovely Antonio Canova reproduction of "Hebe."  The statue of "Hebe" was presented to the Library Board by Mrs. William H. Laird on July 8, 1899. Mrs. Laid purchased the statue in Florence, Italy, while on a vacation. The statue is a Carrara marble copy of the original work by Antonio Canova.

Under the dome, there is an allegorical painting by Kenyon Cox called "The Light of Learning."  The mural was presented to the library in 1910 by William Hayes as a memorial to his wife  Charlotte Prentiss Hayes.

The stack area is original and still has ornate copper faced shelving and glass floors. In 1901, the library housed a collection of 20,000 books and provided a place for mostly adult male citizens to read at huge oak tables. An addition was built in 1987, and today the library has 141,563  items.

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