The City of Prior Lake and Scott County Library are enhancing library services with new after-hours room reservations and Extended Access for residents. A ribbon-cutting event to celebrate these developments is scheduled for November 12, 1:30 – 3:00 pm at the Prior Lake Library. According to a release from the Scott County website, the event will also offer tours of the renovated Club Prior space, where attendees can sign up for Extended Access and enjoy some refreshments.
For those looking to use the Prior Lake Library's Large Meeting Room, reservations will be open outside the library's regular staffed hours starting in November. To reserve the space, library cardholders must check out a Rental Kit that includes a necessary keycard, with booking limits in place, to ensure fair community access. Potential bookers should watch the library's Meeting Rooms page, as the new schedule will be activated shortly.
Extended Access (EA) is another service launching in Prior Lake this November, adding self-service library access from 6 am to 10 pm daily, including holidays. This service has been available at other Scott County Library branches since 2021 and doesn't reduce regular staffed hours but rather expands them. During EA periods, no library staff is available, however, self-checkout machines, computers, and study rooms remain accessible. The Extended Access page on the Scott County Library website provides additional details about the service.
Residents 16 years of age and older can use their library card to take advantage of EA benefits across six Scott County Libraries, excluding the Shakopee Library. Parents must accompany teens aged 16 & 17 to co-participate in an orientation and sign the EA Agreement before they can use the service independently. Those interested in signing up for EA should visit any Scott County Library during staffed hours for a 15-minute orientation. For more information or questions, contact the Prior Lake Library directly at [email protected] or call 952-447-3375.
