Wescott Library - Hours, Address & Services | Eagan, Minnesota

📍 1340 Wescott Road, Eagan, MN 55123 | Open in Google Maps ↗

City of Eagan — Dakota County, Minnesota

Wescott Library

Dakota County Library System Headquarters — Serving Eagan Since 1981

📍 Address

1340 Wescott Road
Eagan, MN 55123

🕐 Hours

Mon–Thu: 9 AM–8 PM
Fri–Sat: 9 AM–5 PM | Sun: 1–5 PM

About Wescott Library

Wescott Library is the flagship branch and administrative headquarters of the Dakota County Library system, one of Minnesota's busiest public library networks. Located at 1340 Wescott Road in Eagan, the library has served the community since opening in 1981 and today anchors a countywide system of 10 branches serving approximately 420,000 residents across Dakota County.

The library recorded 230,455 in-person visitors in 2024 and is home to the system's iLAB Creative Space — a cutting-edge maker area offering 3D printers, Adobe Creative Suite workstations, sound booths, sewing machines, digitization equipment, and more, all free to use. In a landmark show of community support, longtime Eagan residents Elizabeth and Ed Kolstad donated $796,000 to Wescott Library to benefit future generations of patrons. Dakota County plans a major remodel of the building in 2027.

Wescott Library offers free WiFi, public computers, printing/scanning/faxing services, meeting room reservations, curbside pickup, home delivery, and extended self-service hours (6 a.m.–11 p.m. daily for ages 18+). Programs serve all ages — from infant storytimes and puppet shows to book clubs and career services for adults.

✅ Fine-Free Library! Dakota County Library charges no daily overdue fines for any age. Items overdue 42+ days are considered lost and replacement costs may apply. Accounts with $50 or more in charges are temporarily restricted from checkouts until resolved.


Library Hours

Monday 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

⏰ Self-Service Hours: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM daily for cardholders ages 18+ (includes WiFi access).

Services Offered

  • 📚 Books, DVDs, audiobooks & magazines
  • 💻 Free WiFi & public computers
  • 🔬 iLAB Creative Space (3D printing, Adobe, sound booth)
  • 🖨 Printing, scanning, copying & faxing
  • 🏢 Meeting room & conference room reservations
  • 🚗 Curbside pickup
  • 🚚 Home delivery service
  • 🌱 Seed library
  • 🏕 Minnesota State Parks passes
  • 🎨 smARTpass museum admission
  • 💼 Career services & job resources
  • 📝 Test administration & interlibrary loan (ILL)

Programs & Events

🧒 Children’s Programs

  • 📖

    Storytime (Ages 2–6)
    Tuesdays 6:30–7:15 PM & Fridays 10:00–10:45 AM. Stories, songs, movement, and early literacy activities.
  • 👶

    Baby & Infant Storytime
    Interactive sessions for newborns to age 2 with caregivers focused on early bonding and literacy.
  • 🎵

    Music & Movement with Miss Aimee
    Dancing, singing, and playing for ages 2–8 with caregivers — a beloved weekly favorite.
  • 🌈

    Sensory-Friendly Storytime
    Welcoming environment for children of all abilities, including those on the autism spectrum or with sensory sensitivities.
  • 🎭

    Spark! Puppet Shows & Summer Discovery
    Summer puppet show performances (Sundays 6–6:30 PM) plus the countywide Summer Discovery reading program for children.

📖 Adult & Teen Programs

  • 📚

    Book Discussion Groups
    Regular community reading and discussion events open to all adults interested in exploring books together.
  • 🎙

    Behind the Covers Podcast
    Dakota County Library’s own podcast featuring books, authors, and library topics — listen anytime.
  • 🎶

    Free Summer Music Events
    Live music performances throughout the summer months — free and open to the community.
  • 🔬

    iLAB Creative Workshops
    One-on-one mentoring for 3D printing, sewing, sound recording, and Adobe Creative Suite projects.
  • 💼

    Career Services & Test Administration
    Job search assistance, resume help, proctored exams, and English Language Learner resources.

Digital Resources — Access from Home

Your Wescott Library card unlocks a powerful suite of digital resources available 24/7, no matter where you are.

📺 eBooks, Audiobooks & Streaming

  • 📱

    Libby (by OverDrive)
    Thousands of eBooks, audiobooks & eMagazines. Install the Libby app, select MELSA, and log in with your library card number and PIN.
  • 📰

    eMagazines
    Hundreds of digital magazines available through Libby — download and read offline on any device.
  • 🔍

    NoveList Plus
    Readers’ advisory tool to discover your next great book based on titles you’ve loved — perfect for book clubs.
  • 🧒

    BookFlix, TumbleBook & PebbleGo
    Animated picture books, fiction/nonfiction video stories, and research databases for early learners and children. Note: Hoopla access ended December 30, 2025.

🎓 Learning & Research Databases

  • 💼

    LinkedIn Learning
    Thousands of courses on business, technology & creative skills — free with your library card.
  • 🌍

    Mango Languages & Transparent Language
    Learn a new language online with two comprehensive platforms covering dozens of languages.
  • 🔬

    EBSCO, ProQuest & Gale Databases
    Scholarly journals, NY Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Gale In Context reference databases for all ages.
  • 🌳

    Ancestry, Fold3, Consumer Reports & More
    Genealogy & military records, product ratings, Britannica, LearningExpress test prep, and JobNow!/HelpNow! live tutoring.

Getting a Library Card

Library cards are free for all Dakota County residents. Register online for instant digital access, or visit Wescott Library in person. A physical card will be mailed to you within 60 minutes of online registration.

📄 What You’ll Need

Photo ID (one of the following):

  • Driver’s license or state ID
  • Passport
  • Armed services ID
  • School ID or immigration cards

Proof of current address (one of the following):

  • Driver’s license or state ID (if current address shown)
  • Postmarked mail
  • Utility bill or lease agreement

Children’s cards: No age minimum — parent or guardian provides ID. Temporary accounts available with just address and phone (limited to 2 items, valid 60 days).

Non-residents can register their local library card with Dakota County by visiting in person with their card and photo ID.

🏛 Dakota County Library at a Glance

System founded 1969
Branch locations 10
County residents served ~420,000
Active borrowers 150,513
Annual checkouts 4.5 million+
Wescott 2024 visitors 230,455
Card cost Free
Overdue fines None (fine-free)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wescott Library fine-free?

Yes! Dakota County Library, including Wescott Library, is completely fine-free for all ages. There are no daily overdue fines charged on any materials. However, items that are 42 or more days overdue are considered lost, and replacement costs may be charged to your account. Library accounts with outstanding charges of $50 or more are temporarily restricted from checking out additional items until the balance is resolved.

What are Wescott Library's hours?

Wescott Library is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Friday and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Additionally, self-service access is available daily from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM for library cardholders who are 18 years or older.

How do I get a library card?

Library cards are free for all Dakota County residents. You can register online at dakotacountymn.gov/library for immediate access to digital resources — a physical card will be mailed to you within 60 minutes. You can also visit Wescott Library in person at 1340 Wescott Road, Eagan, MN 55123. You’ll need a photo ID and proof of your current address. Children’s cards are available with no age minimum when a parent or guardian provides identification.

Can I access digital resources from home?

Absolutely. Your Dakota County Library card gives you 24/7 access to a wide range of digital resources from home. Borrow eBooks and audiobooks with the Libby app (by OverDrive), take unlimited online courses through LinkedIn Learning, learn a new language with Mango Languages or Transparent Language, access scholarly databases like EBSCO and ProQuest, research your family tree with Ancestry Library Edition, get product advice from Consumer Reports, and much more — all free with your library card.

Does Wescott Library have free WiFi?

Yes, Wescott Library offers free wireless internet access throughout the building for all visitors. Public computers are also available for in-library use. Extended self-service access (6 AM–11 PM daily) also includes WiFi for cardholders 18 and older.

What children's programs are available at Wescott Library?

Wescott Library offers a rich lineup of children’s programs. Storytime for ages 2–6 runs on Tuesday evenings (6:30–7:15 PM) and Friday mornings (10:00–10:45 AM), featuring stories, songs, movement, and early literacy activities. There are also sessions for infants and babies (birth to age 2), a Music and Movement program with Miss Aimee for ages 2–8, sensory-friendly storytimes for children of all abilities, and summer puppet shows. During summer, the countywide Summer Discovery program offers reading challenges and activities for children. Check the library’s events calendar at dakotacountylibrary.libcal.com for the latest schedule.

Nearby Libraries

Wescott Library is part of the Dakota County Library system. These branches are convenient to Eagan residents:

Burnhaven Library

📍 Burnsville Center, Suite 2063
1101 W. County Road 42, Burnsville, MN 55306

📞 952-891-0300

Mon–Thu: 10 AM–6 PM | Fri–Sat: 10 AM–5 PM | Sun: Closed
Temporary mall location during renovation.

View library system →

Galaxie Library

📍 14955 Galaxie Avenue
Apple Valley, MN 55124

📞 952-891-7045

Mon–Thu: 9 AM–8 PM | Fri–Sat: 9 AM–5 PM | Sun: 1–5 PM
Full-service branch with iLAB Creative Space.

View library system →

Robert Trail Library

📍 14395 S. Robert Trail
Rosemount, MN 55068

📞 651-480-1200

Mon–Thu: 9 AM–8 PM | Fri–Sat: 9 AM–5 PM | Sun: 1–5 PM
Serving Rosemount and surrounding communities.

View library system →


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