About the Library

Metropolitan State University began in 1971 as the university without walls. For many years, there were neither dedicated classroom buildings nor a physical library. Later, as a campus formed on the East Side of Saint Paul, a small library was started in the New Main building. There, staff oversaw a tiny print collection and helped students use electronic resources and acquire computer skills at the same time. 

In 2004, the library moved into the newly-built Library and Learning Center, a space planned as a partnership between Metro State and Saint Paul Public Library. The combined public library and academic library also houses the Gordon Parks Gallery. For more information about the campus library, visit the library’s Wikipedia page.

Our mission

Library and Information Services exists to fulfill the information needs and foster the intellectual growth of the Metro State community. We achieve this by:

• Serving as the information hub for a diverse population of learners on and off each campus 
• Acquiring and providing connections to a variety of knowledge resources in print, electronic, and other formats
• Instructing students in information access and research skills
• Employing competent, committed, and caring personnel in all positions