The AOU has produced the definitive set of volumes describing the life histories in detail of all American birds. These volumes are the Birds of North America, (the BNA). I was thrilled a new Hennepin County Library was built on Shingle Creek in Brooklyn Center, and I couldn't wait to get in there and access some of the volumes I travel miles to read, the BNA is one of them. This library doesn't carry it. Only Ridgedale and Southdale have it in the Hennepin County System and it does not circulate so it is not possible to view it at this library. When the Library was built, it was touted as one of the full access libraries, the same scale as Ridgedale and Southdale, and when I called the Collection Management - Special Materials person; I was told that the demographics are different so the collections are different. I told them about the Mou Youth Mentorship Program and asked them why it was not reasonable to find some volume on Natural Histories of MN birds in this library? They said they would look into it. It is a vital reference set, if they carry only one set of books, this is it fro a reference on American Birds. I ask each of you to inquire at your local library and see if the BNA is available, if it is, check it out, you will be amazed. If it isn't try and get a copy for that library. The set costs $2500, so it is a major purchase. Let me know how it works out.
If you live north of 394 on the west metro of the Twin Cities, please contact: Collection Management - Special Materials person @ 952-847-8584 Please be positive and heartily suggest they purchase this vital set of books so we can impart knowledge to the citizens of Hennepin County, yes event he ones that live north of 394.=20 Mark Alt=20 President,=20 Minnesota Ornithologists Union J. F. Bell Museum of Natural History University of Minnesota 10 Church Street SE Minneapolis, MN 55455-0104 MOU.mn.org mark....@bestbuy.com Cell: 612-803-9085
