Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA)
🏢 Regional Library Cooperative · St Paul, Minnesota
Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA)
MELSA — the Metropolitan Library Service Agency — is not a public lending library. It is the regional cooperative headquartered at 1619 Dayton Avenue in St. Paul that coordinates shared resources, programs, and funding for eight Twin Cities metro library systems, including Hennepin County Library and Saint Paul Public Library. Residents access MELSA's benefits through their local branch, not by visiting MELSA's administrative offices.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 1619 Dayton Avenue, Suite 314, St Paul, MN 55104
Phone: (651) 645-5731
Website: melsa.org
Plus Code: 86P8WRXJ+4J (St Paul, MN)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA)
The Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA) is a Minnesota regional public library system created to promote cooperation among eight member library systems in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Its member systems collectively serve more than 2 million residents through hundreds of branches across Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties. MELSA does not operate a public lending branch or circulate materials directly to patrons — it functions as an administrative and funding body that makes shared programs possible. Benefits MELSA coordinates include the smARTpass arts-access program (free and discounted admission to Twin Cities theaters, museums, and cultural venues) and e-resource databases available to all metro cardholders. If you are looking to borrow books or use library services in St. Paul, please visit Saint Paul Public Library or another MELSA member system near you.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Regional cooperative headquartered at 1619 Dayton Ave, Suite 314, St. Paul — NOT a public lending branch
- Coordinates services for eight Twin Cities metro library systems serving 2+ million residents
- Administers smARTpass: free and discounted admission to Twin Cities arts & cultural venues for library cardholders
- Funds and coordinates shared e-resource databases across member systems
- Member systems include Hennepin County Library, Saint Paul Public Library, and six county systems
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
MELSA funds shared digital resources available to all Twin Cities library cardholders through their home system:
📚 Services
- Coordination of shared services across eight Twin Cities library systems
- smARTpass arts-access program for metro library cardholders
- Funding for shared e-resource databases
- Administrative and planning support for member library systems
- No public lending, browsing, or walk-in patron services at this location
🎸 Programs
- smARTpass — free and discounted arts and cultural admissions for library cardholders
- Shared literacy and community-partnership initiatives across member systems
- Coordinated summer reading programs across the Twin Cities metro
📍 Public Libraries Near St. Paul
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is MELSA a public library I can visit?
No. MELSA (Metropolitan Library Service Agency) is a regional administrative cooperative, not a public lending branch. Its office at 1619 Dayton Avenue, Suite 314 in St. Paul is not open to library patrons. To borrow materials or use library services in St. Paul, visit one of the Saint Paul Public Library branches.
What does MELSA actually do?
MELSA coordinates shared programs and resources across eight Twin Cities metro library systems — including Hennepin County Library, Saint Paul Public Library, and county systems in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties. It funds smARTpass, shared e-resource databases, and other initiatives that benefit all metro library cardholders.
What is smARTpass, and how do I get it?
smARTpass is an arts-access program administered by MELSA that gives Twin Cities library cardholders free or discounted admission to theaters, museums, and cultural venues such as First Avenue, Teatro del Pueblo, and Minnesota Fringe. You access it through smartpass.melsa.org using your library card barcode — no visit to MELSA's office is required.
Which library systems are MELSA members?
MELSA's eight member systems are: Anoka County Library, Carver County Library, Dakota County Library, Hennepin County Library, Ramsey County Library, Saint Paul Public Library, Scott County Library, and Washington County Library.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
