Albert Lea Public Library Newsletter
July 2025
 
 
Strategic Plan Survey Coming Soon
 
The Albert Lea Public Library will be undergoing a strategic planning process to help shape library services for the next three years. An anonymous public survey will be available starting Monday, July 7. Look for the link on our website, alplonline.org, or take the survey in the library. The survey will be open until July 25.
 
 

NEWS
 
Upcoming Closures
 
The Albert Lea Public Library will be closed on Friday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day.
 
Visit our calendar for a full listing of upcoming closures.
 
 
 
  
Automatic Renewals 
 
The Albert Lea Public Library now has automatic renewals for physical library items.
  • Three days before the due date, the system will automatically renew all eligible physical items.
  • If you receive email notifications, you will receive a notice alerting you as to whether or not items were renewed.
  • Items will not renew if there are requests on the items or you have reached the maximum renewals.
  • You can still manually renew items over the phone or online by logging into your account.
 
Visit our new catalog to log in to your account or search for items.
 
 
Make Your Own Paper with Paper Plains
 
Create your own unique piece of paper from regionally-harvested invasive plants with Paper Plains on Wednesday, July 9 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Wind Down Wednesday. Come to the corner of Broadway and Clark St to participate in this program. No registration is required.
 
This program is made possible by the people of Minnesota through Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Library Legacy Fund, in cooperation with our regional library system, SELCO.
 
Learn more about the Paper Plains program.
 
Summer Reading Program 
 
There's still time to join the 2025 Summer Reading Program. From now until August 17, individuals of all ages can read books and earn prizes. Learn more by visiting our website or stop by the library to sign up! 
 
Visit our website to learn more.

UPCOMING EVENTS
 
Tabletop Game Night for Adults
 
Tuesday, July 1, 4 to 8 p.m.
Fiction Library
 
Learn more about
Tabletop Game Night
 
 
Tween and Teen Drop-in Crafts 
Wednesday, July 9, 2 to 4 p.m.
Fiction Library
 
Learn more about
Drop-in Crafts
 
 
B.Y.O Lunch and Learn
 
Thursday, July 10, Noon
City Council Chambers 
 
Learn more about
July's Lunch and Learn
 
This program is made possible by the people of Minnesota through Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Library Legacy fund, in cooperation with our regional public library system, SELCO.
 
  
Read to a Dog
 
 Sunday, July 13, 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Children's Library
Registration required
 
Learn more about
Read to a Dog
 
 
Teen Reads: YA Book Club
 
Monday, July 21, 2 p.m.
Computer Lab
 
Learn more about
Teen Reads
 
 
Drop-in '90s Crafts for Adults
 
Tuesday, July 29, 4 to 8 p.m.
Fiction Library
 
Learn more about
Drop-in '90s Crafts
 
For a full listing of our events, check out our online calendar.
 
STAFF PICKS
Looking for your next read?
Check out some of our recent favorites!
 
My friends : a novel
by Fredrik Backman

Four teenagers' friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a complete stranger's life 25 years later.
Dear writer : pep talks & practical advice for the creative life
by Maggie Smith

Drawing from her twenty years of teaching experience and her bestselling Substack newsletter, For Dear Life, Maggie Smith breaks down creativity into ten essential elements: attention, wonder, vision, play, surprise, vulnerability, restlessness, tenacity, connection, and hope. Each element is explored through short, inspiring, and craft-focused essays, followed by generative writing prompts.
As the world goes by
by Jonathan Lambert

A story that celebrates finding stillness in a busy world, and appreciating the little things in life.

Albert Lea Public Library
211 E Clark St.
Albert Lea, Minnesota 56007
(507) 377-4350
alplonline.org