Many of the libraries in the CMLE system serve small and rural communities, as do many libraries across Minnesota. Wouldn’t it be convenient to combine the great things libraries provide with the necessary services of the post office??
No need to dream about it: this already exists! (Yes: libraries are such cool places, other people want to join with us!!)
Village Post Offices
You can get their FAQs, and also find a list of post offices to use yourself!
“The U.S. Postal Service announced the concept of the Village Post Office in July 2011 as a way to continue providing convenient access to postal products and services in more rural communities across the nation.
The first Village Post Office (VPO) opened in Malone, WA, in August 2011. On Dec. 19, 2012, the100th VPO, located in Linden, IN, began operations.
- VPOs are located within existing communities in a variety of locations, including convenience stores, local businesses and libraries, and are operated by the management of those locations.
- VPOs offer a range of popular products and services — the ones most used by customers — including PO Boxes, Forever stamps, Pre-paid Priority Mail Flat Rate envelopes and a mail collection box.
- By being located inside established businesses and other places consumers already frequent, VPOs offer Postal Service customers time-saving convenience, and in most cases, longer hours than regular Post Offices.
- VPOs provide operators — in most cases, the local business owners — with opportunities for increased customer foot traffic and revenue, as well as providing additional services for their customers and clients.”
Here are our Minnesota Village Post Office locations – I’m not sure if any of these are in libraries, but it’s a possibility!
| Badger VPO | 201 N Main St | Badger | MN | 56714 | 11/26/2013 |
| Bejou VPO | 218 Hwy 59 | Bejou | MN | 56516 | 4/22/2014 |
| Brooks VPO | 106 Hwy 59 S | Brooks | MN | 56715 | 11/22/2013 |
| Buckman VPO | 9394 Hwy 25 | Buckman | MN | 56317 | 12/1/2013 |
| Fifty Lakes VPO | 40447 Town Hall Rd | Fifty Lakes | MN | 56448 | 7/25/2014 |
| Miltona VPO | 233 Main St | Miltona | MN | 56354 | 10/22/2014 |
| Plummer VPO | 131 Central Ave E | Plummer | MN | 56748 | 3/15/2013 |
| Red Lake Falls VPO | 405 Bridge St | Red Lake Falls | MN | 56750 | 5/15/2014 |
| Rothsay VPO | 106 2nd St SW | Rothsay | MN | 56579 | 4/28/2014 |
| Vergas VPO | 105 E Main St | Vergas | MN | 56587-0219 | 6/21/2013 |
| Wahkon VPO | 104 N Main | Wahkon | MN | 56386 | 10/23/2014 |