Hours and Appointments

Make an appointment to research in-person at the Gale Family Library!

In-person research hours:

Thursday: 10am to 4pm 
Friday: 10am to 4pm 
Saturday: 10am to 4pm

     [Library staff also assist researchers via phone, email, virtual viewings, and other distance services.]

Upcoming Holiday Hours 

  • Veterans Day (Tuesday, November 11) - CLOSED (Library is always closed on Tuesdays)
  • Thanksgiving Weekend
    • Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 27) - CLOSED
    • Day after Thanksgiving (Friday, November 28) - CLOSED
    • Thanksgiving Saturday (Saturday, November 29) - Open 10am to 4pm
  • Christmas Week
    • Christmas Eve (Wednesday, December 24) - CLOSED (Library is always closed on Wednesdays)
    • Christmas Day (Thursday, December 25) - CLOSED
    • Friday, December 26 - Open 10am to 4pm
    • Saturday, December 27 - Open 10am to 4pm
  • New Year’s Weekend
    • New Year's Eve (Wednesday, December 31) - CLOSED (Library is always closed on Wednesdays)
    • New Year's Day (Thursday, January 1) - CLOSED
    • Friday, January 2 - Open 10am to 4pm
    • Saturday, January 3 - Open 10am to 4pm

Making an appointment guarantees your research table/station. Other advantages include:  

  • Items can be waiting at your table when you arrive--use the link in your confirmation email to request up to 6 items in advance.
  • Save waiting time on your next visit by holding materials for a future date/time.
  • Reserve a specific type of microfilm machine (scanner, printer) or a dedicated computer-only station
  • Receive direct email communication in cases of unplanned closures like winter weather.
  • Specify if you have particular needs for your workstation (near an electrical outlet, accessible table, number of chairs at your table)--we’ll do our best to accommodate.  

To make an appointment in advance

Use our online self-service system to make your own appointment up to 8 hours before the start time. Or call us and we can help (651-259-3300).

If you have a research emergency (e.g. an immediate court filing deadline) and cannot find an available research time that will work for you, please call 651-259-3300. We will do our best to help you through either an in-person research visit or a distance option.  

Walk-in appointments:

While walk-in or same-day appointments are sometimes possible, without an appointment in advance we cannot guarantee that there will be a table or station available when you arrive.

  • If there is one available immediately, we will assign it to you for the amount of time it is available.
  • If there is not one available, we will help you make the next available appointment.  This may be later the same day, but it may be another day or even another week.
  • There is no waiting list for same-day appointments.  
  • You must make an appointment to request materials in advance OR to hold materials for use on another day.

For more information please see

Have any questions or need assistance?  
We’re here to help!

Please contact us via:

And see our research self-help page for quick answers to the most commonly asked questions.