Mission statement

The mission of the Arrowhead Library System is to deliver highly responsive and accessible library service to its member libraries and people of the region through a collaborative network of coordinated programs.

History

The Arrowhead Library System traces its roots to the Arrowhead Area Library Study Committee formed in 1964. This group, which involved 61 people over a two year period, was directly responsible for the formation of the System in 1965. Carlton, Koochiching, and St. Louis Counties were the first members, followed by Itasca County in 1966, Cook in 1967, Lake of the Woods in 1968, and Lake in 1974. William R. Gordon was the first Director, followed by Kenneth R. Nielsen in 1977, and Jim Weikum in 1992.

Orginal services offered by the new Arrowhead Library System included reciprocal borrowing, library consultant service, interlibrary loan and centralized registration of borrowers. In 1967 bookmobile service was initiated and in 1972 books by mail began. A print shop was founded in 1975. Today a wide variety of services is offered, including delivery van service, video/audio formats, online newspaper and magazine databases, and a regional online catalog.