Hennepin County Law Library: Supporting equal access to justice

High above the busy streets of downtown Minneapolis, on the 24th floor of the Government Center, sits the Hennepin County Law Library.  

The tranquility of the space and sweeping skyline views of Minneapolis and Saint Paul create an atmosphere that feels far removed from the city’s hurried pace. Visitors are warmly greeted by a law librarian at the reference desk, ready to guide them to find exactly what they're looking for.

“We take time to help people understand the legal process and what resources are available,” said Ed Carroll, the Law Library’s acting director. “Our mission is to ensure access to the body of law and legal materials for all.” 

The Law Library is open to the public. Anyone is welcome to visit during open hours, use a computer to research legal issues, ask questions, check email, or simply enjoy the view. 

“We help a lot of groups,” said Carroll, “attorneys, public defenders, judges – but a lot of people coming up are members of the public – self-represented litigants who need help understanding court procedures or finding the right forms. We guide them where they need to go.” 

A team of five law librarians are trained in both library and legal research, specializing in online law databases Westlaw and LexisNexis, respectively, as well as legal forms and judiciary processes.  

“The databases are free for anyone to use here in the library,” said Carroll. “For individuals representing themselves, this is a critical resource. Knowledge is power. It’s important people know what’s available and that we’re a resource for them.” 

A Minneapolis institution

The Law Library’s roots stretch back more than a century. It began in 1883 when the Minneapolis Bar Association established a collection using books donated by members. It was originally housed in a small room in a building on Nicollet Avenue, and within 12 years, had amassed 7,000 legal volumes.  

The original library was destroyed by fire twice in those early days, rebuilt each time by the Minneapolis Bar Association. In 1934, the collection was donated to Hennepin County, and for a time, housed in Minneapolis City Hall.

In 1976, the Law Library and its 35,000 volumes moved to its present space in the Government Center. While much of that collection has since been digitized, the library still houses more than 9,000 physical legal volumes, with some dating back hundreds of years. 

In 2009, the Hennepin County Law Library was renamed the Anne W. Grande Law Library by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners in “appreciation of Ms. Grande’s many years of dedicated service." During her 37-year tenure as a law librarian (33 of those as director), she oversaw the introduction of computers and online resources and grew the collection to include a variety of free self-help resources for the public. 

A vital resource for county staff 

Beyond serving attorneys and the public, the Law Library offers valuable resources to county employees through its Government Information Service. This specialized service assists staff who are researching complex topics by conducting comprehensive literature searches across academic and professional databases. 

“By leveraging partnerships with institutions such as the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Law Library system, the Law Library can access materials that go far beyond what a standard internet search provides,” said Carroll. “When articles are behind paywalls or otherwise difficult to obtain, the Law Library steps in to secure access – saving staff time and expanding the depth of their research.” 

In addition to research support, the Law Library also provides free monthly continuing legal education (CLE) webinars. These sessions attract hundreds of participants and help attorneys maintain required credits while staying informed on emerging legal issues. 

Through these services, and several others, the Law Library helps more than 13,000 people each year. It continues to serve as an indispensable resource for all. 

“At the end of the day, the law affects everyone,” said Carroll. “Our job is to make sure no one feels shut out from understanding it.”